The Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards
A Partnership of WHY and the Harry Chapin Foundation

With the generous support of the Harry Chapin Foundation, the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards program distributes cash grants ($7,000 maximum award) to outstanding grassroots organizations in the United States that have moved beyond charity to creating change in their communities. Organizations selected as Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award winners are judged outstanding for their innovative and creative approaches to fighting domestic hunger and poverty by empowering people and building self-reliance.

The 2007 winners are:

National Farm Worker Ministry - St. Louis, MO
nfwm.org
National Farmworker Ministry (NFWM) began as a ministry of charity and service, providing food, clothing and day care to farmworkers. In the 1960s, when United Farm Worker founder Cesar Chavez began organizing, he called on the religious community to change its emphasis from charity to justice. NFWM became the answer to that call. With its HCSRA award, NFWM will expose new consumers and members of the religious community to the realities of farmworkers' lives through visits to migrant labor camps and then engage them in local, state and national efforts to curb labor abuses.

Workers Defense Project - Austin, TX
workersdefense.org
Workers Defense Project is an organization that empowers Latina/o immigrant workers to act collectively for racial and economic justice in the workplace through leadership development, education, organizing, and collaborating with strategic allies. Workers Defense Project will use its award to support its Dignity for Dry Cleaners campaign as part of its Workplace Justice Initiative that seeks to build the collective power of immigrant workers to improve their working and living conditions. Please click HERE to read a profile by Ellie Hurley.

Unity Barn Raisers - Unity, ME (Chapin)
unitybarnraisers.org
Unity Barn Raisers (UBR) is a non-profit community organization with open membership that works pro-actively to enhance small-town character and rural environment, while nurturing a thriving community-based economy. Unity Barn Raisers will use its award to support its Community Farm Share program that provides low-income individuals and families with local farm produce each growing season. Please click HERE to read a profile by Ellie Hurley.

The Alpha Workshops - New York, NY
alphaworkshops.org
Alpha Workshops, Inc.'s mission has four important components: to draw on the powerful healing potential of useful work and creative self-expression; to provide training and employment in a flexible, compassionate workplace where the special needs of its employees can be met; to compete in the marketplace successfully at the highest level of craftsmanship and artistry; and to provide a new model of economic development for people living with HIV or other disabilities. Alpha will use their award to support their innovative basic and advanced job training programs. Please click HERE to read a profile by Ellie Hurley.

Merrimack Valley Project - Lawrence, MA
merrimackvalleyproject.org
The Merrimack Valley Project (MVP) is a regional coalition of religious, community, ethnic, labor, and small business organizations working to save and create jobs and ensure access to needed public services and public and private investment in the Merrimack Valley, one of the nation's oldest and poorest industrial areas. The Project combines citizen action organizing and democratic economic development strategies to unite its communities and bring about economic empowerment. MVP will use its award to expand its pioneering Career Ladders program for low-wage workers. Please click HERE to read a profile by Ellie Hurley.

United Community Centers - East New York Farms! - Brooklyn, NY
www.eastnewyorkfarms.org
East New York Farms! grows food for the community, engages youth in hands-on agricultural learning and leadership trainings, develops economic opportunities for small-scale producers and other entrepreneurs through a neighborhood farmers' market, preserves community gardens as open space, and educates residents about healthy food and healthy environments. East NY Farms! will use its award to support its various urban agriculture and market projects.

A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project - Los Angeles, CA
anewwayoflife.org
A New Way of Life provides a safe, sober, re-entry home for indigent women ex-offenders and their children and gives them the skills to learn to live independent, fulfilling lives. A New Way of Life will use its award to start a seed fund to help women transition into independent living once they have completed its program.

White Earth Land Recovery Project - Callaway, MN
nativeharvest.com
The mission of the White Earth Land Recovery Project is to facilitate recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation, while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development, and strengthening its spiritual and cultural heritage. It will use its award to support its Mino-Miijim Program which provides traditional foods to elderly and diabetic individuals who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes.

Community Food Initiatives - Athens, OH
communityfoodinitiatives.com
Community Food Initiatives (CFI) works in Athens County to promote self-sufficiency as it relates to basic food production, preservation, and preparation, rooting that work in community and the development of a strong local food system. CFI will use its award to give support to two new counties to develop a culturally appropriate sustainable food system developed by the residents.

The Intervale Center - Burlington, VT
intervale.org
The mission of the Intervale Center is to develop farm- and land-based enterprises that generate economic and social opportunity while protecting natural resources. Interval Center will use its award to support its Healthy City program, which works to increase access to fresh food and provide food education in the impoverished communities in Burlington.

If your organization wishes to be added to the Reinvesting In America database to assure receipt of the annual application, please contact us at HCSRA@worldhungeryear.org.

View Past Winners:

2006 Winners
2005 Winners
2004 Winners
2003 Winners
2002 Winners
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1999 Winners
1998 Winners
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1985 Winners