Gulf Coast Organizing, Advocacy and Leadership Initiative (GOAL)
(formerly the Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund)

Twenty-First Century Foundation’s (21CF) GOAL Initiative has been propelled by our understanding that racial inequalities have historical and structural origins in the South that must be addressed in a direct and sustained manner by supporting local and regional organizations that are engaged in organizing and policy advocacy towards systemic change.

The impact of Hurricane Katrina on the South, which many organizers say is one of the most significant events to unfold in the region since the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s, cannot be overstated. The 2005 storms directly affected much of the South – 90,000 square miles were declared a federal disaster area, over 1.5 million people were directly impacted with the majority of those that were negatively impacted were disproportionately poor, female and of African descent, and more than 1,800 residents were killed.

The GOAL Initiative (formerly the Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund) was created in 2005 based on a belief that all residents affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – particularly the poor, who are predominantly people of color – should have a voice in the rebuilding process and involved in developing long-term solutions for the socioeconomic inequities that have long characterized the region. Since its inception, the GOAL Fund has made $3,927,115 in general support grants to Black-led community organizations engaged in community organizing, public policy advocacy and leadership development along the Gulf Coast around issues of education, health and reproductive justice, community-based economic development, and housing. Our strategy encompasses three core elements: (1) strategic grantmaking; (2) capacity-building and leadership development towards greater organizational sustainability; and (3) donor mobilization towards greater investment in social justice organizing and advocacy in the region.

To make a donation to support the ongoing work of the initiative, please click here.

Please click here for a full listing of 2008-2009 grantees.

GOAL Grantees on video

Coastal Women for Change (CWC)

Friends and Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC)

Kids Rethinking New Orleans Schools

Upcoming Dates

Donor Tour - New Orleans

Katrina@5 - New Orleans

Grantee Spotlight: VOTE-NOLA

Twenty-First Century Foundation (21CF) recently provided seed funding for VOTE-NOLA, which is a grassroots, membership based organization based in New Orleans, LA founded and run by Formerly Incarcerated Persons (FIPs) in partnership with allies dedicated to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against of FIPs. VOTE believes that FIPs, their loved ones, allies and communities can use their experiences and expertise to improve public safety in New Orleans. Through civic engagement and training FIPs in the legal system, policy and legislation as well as other job and leadership skills VOTE will create a strong group of reformers to lead the transformation of our city’s criminal justice system. For more information about VOTE-NOLA visit their website at: www.vote-nola.org

Louisiana Parent Group Receives the National Organization of Distinction Award for Their Efforts in Reforming the Juvenile Justice System (May 7, 2009)

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) and the National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) presented the National Organization of Distinction Award to Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC). This honor is presented each Mother’s Day to one or more mothers who have made an outstanding contribution to the juvenile justice field through working for reform in the juvenile justice system or changing the practice of trying, sentencing, or incarcerating youth in the adult criminal justice system. This year the award was presented to the entire FFLIC office.

“FFLIC is a one of a kind organization that has become a leading voice for change in Louisiana,” said Liz Ryan, Executive Director of CFYJ. “They’ve accomplished so much and should be commended for their efforts in juvenile justice reform.”

FFLIC is a statewide membership-based organization that fights for a better life for all of Louisiana's youth, especially those involved in or at risk of being involved in the juvenile justice system. The parents that make up this group have kids that have been in both the juvenile and adult justice system.

Every year, hundreds of children are placed in Louisiana's youth prisons, only to be returned to their communities with few skills, and limited education. FFLIC engages in education, community building, and leadership development advocacy through strategically chosen goals in order to empower individuals, families and communities to transform currently oppressive systems and institutions into ones that uphold justice for families, to build strong, powerful families and communities and to fight for justice of youth.