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The following was submitted by the Network for Social Justice:
The Network for Social Justice is proud to announce it was recently awarded a three-year, $120,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation as part of its highly competitive $30 Million Grant Program.
The Network is one of 125 Massachusetts-based nonprofits selected to receive a three-year grant. An additional 25 organizations received 10-year grants.
This new award follows a 10-year sustaining grant from the Cummings Foundation that transformed the Network between 2014 and 2024 from an all-volunteer organization to one with professional staff and expanded programming.
“This is SO great!” shared Sandy Thompson, founder of the Network - originally the Winchester Multicultural Network in 1991. “That initial support from the Cummings Foundation allowed us to grow in ways we never thought possible.”
The past year marked a transition period for the Network, which paused its funding from the Foundation as required, while ushering in new leadership and exploring alternative strategies for sustainability.
Under the guidance of Board President Susan Verdicchio, the organization hired a new executive director, Rebecca Slisz, and prioritized building relationships within the community.
“We focused a lot in this past year on cultivating individual relationships and community partnerships,” said Verdicchio. “These are critical elements to sustain a community organization.”
Slisz added, “We are incredibly grateful to the Cummings Foundation for once again investing in our mission. In a climate of uncertainty, this kind of funding empowers us to plan intentionally and deepen our impact in the community.”
Over the past year, the Network for Social Justice has partnered with organizations such as Wright-Locke Farm, Winchester ABC, the Griffin Museum of Photography, and Winchester High School students to present a range of public events, including Indigenous Peoples Day, Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Celebration and PRIDEfest.
The Network also engaged in capacity-building initiatives, such as work with Essential Partners to facilitate structured dialogues on complex topics where there are different perspectives, such as affordable housing.
An integral part of Network programming is its year-round high school internship program, which focuses on the intersection of youth mental health and social and racial justice. This initiative, offered in partnership with Woburn-based Social Capital Inc. (SCI) and supported by a grant from Winchester Hospital, engages five to ten students each fall, spring, and summer.
With renewed support from the Cummings Foundation, the Network is poised to continue and expand its work to engage, educate, and activate community members of all ages and backgrounds.
For more information about the Network for Social Justice, visit nfsj.org or contact Executive Director Rebecca Slisz at director@nfsj.org.
