Over the past week we’ve seen two instances where grassroots movements, both supported by Crossroads Fund, have won historic victories. On June 8^th, President Obama announced that undocumented youth who met certain criteria would be eligible for deportation waivers and work permits.

Over the past year, Crossroads Fund has been working hard to improve our communications, both online and off. We revamped our website, added a blog, created grantee profile videos, revamped our newsletter, and upped our game on Facebook. Often our media ideas and inspiration come from our grantees, many of whom are grassroots media superstars!

Here are a couple of current and former Crossroads Fund grantees who are using media to get their message out in new and exciting ways:

When hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Chicago in 2006 to protest unjust immigration laws, Crossroads Fund’s grantees were there. We support groups that have grown over the years to take leadership roles in immigrant rights organizing, like the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center and the United African Organization, as well as emerging leaders like the Immigrant Youth Justice League.

In my work at Crossroads Fund, it is always a privilege to witness grassroots leaders giving voice to the social justice issues that directly affect them. One of my most memorable site visits from this past spring’s grantmaking cycle was facilitated entirely by volunteer leaders from the organization’s constituency – in this case, low-income seniors from Jane Addams Senior Caucus working for better, more affordable housing and healthcare.