Vision
The Woods Fund of Chicago seeks to help create a society where people of all racial and ethnic groups, across all levels of social and economic status, are empowered and have a voice to influence policies that impact their lives, and where all communities are free of poverty and racism. Core Principles
The Woods Fund strongly believes in the need for and effectiveness of including communities that are most impacted by economic and racial injustice in the entire process of addressing issues that affect them. To this end, the Woods Fund encourages and supports organizations and initiatives that promote community driven solutions. Woods Fund values:
Community organizing and public policy advocacy efforts that lead to comprehensive, authentic, relevant, and sustainable solutions. Woods Fund believes:
Systemic change is the only way to eradicate poverty and structural racism. People most affected by economic and racial inequity should be the leaders and participants in the process of addressing issues that impact them. Woods Fund asserts:
Communities have greater strength, authority, and power through collaborative practice and collective voice. Woods Fund commits:
To be an active partner and catalyst with organizations that share our mission and values. Woods Fund recognizes:
Structural racism is a root cause of many challenges facing communities and serves as a significant barrier to eradicating poverty. Dismantling structural racism in society is a means to right social and economic injustices. This page is for anyone interested in learning more about the work that we fund, and sharing information on how others are working to eradicate poverty and structural racism. To that end, we will not allow derogatory comments, insulting language, and/or otherwise offensive communication. We will monitor this page for misuse, and bar anyone deemed to have violated what we consider reasonable conduct.
