Support the Freedom of the Press – The Fight Goes On
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“You know it when you see it.” A favorite saying of our Executive Director, Richard Logan. That’s how we felt about NY Focus when we met founders Akash Mehta and Lee Harris on a Zoom call a couple years ago. Determined, excited about the possibility of filling a journalistic gap, fearless and maybe just a little crazy – all essential qualities for a young team creating a non-profit journalism outlet from the ground up.
We were so impressed, we decided to take a punt on them and offer them a transformational grant.
Fast forward a couple years. Now, they are taking on lawmakers across New York State, causing havoc, and being profiled in the New York Times.
The NYT article highlights two telling examples of the tangible impact NY Focus has had on policymakers/policy : NY Focus reported on a new prison policy that would block incarcerated people from publishing their work… Just one day later, the prison agency rescinded the policy. And after their disturbing investigation into the severe mishandling of sexual assault allegations against prison guards, the state senate passed a measure to delegate authority over sexual assault allegations to independent outside investigators.
We are so proud to be part of the rise of this unique newsroom investigating power in the Empire State. Great work, NY Focus!
Mustafa (pronounced MOOS-tah-fah) Abdul-Maboud is our Building Operations and In Kind Manager at The Reva and David Logan Foundation. He is the lynchpin in our Food Rescue program. As seen in the picture above, he is responsible for picking up food donations of all kinds from our corporate partners and then overseeing distribution of our rescued products to our many pantry and non-profit partners. Here’s what he’s got to say:
Tell us about your background.
Mustafa: “I’m originally from Iraq. I lived there until after the war, and I left the country in 2006. During the war, my brothers worked as US Army interpreters. Eventually we left the country and went to Egypt. We lived there for a couple years, and during that process we qualified to come to this country as refugees. Back in 2008, on July 15th (I remember that day. Ask me what I had for lunch yesterday and I won’t remember, but I’ll remember that day vividly). We’ve lived here ever since in Chicago. We did not move around to different states, some people did. But so many times in our lives we had moved houses, moved countries, so that desire slowed down for me to move to different places or try another state.”
Which neighborhood did you first move into?
Mustafa: “Edgewater. It was one of those buildings that worked with non-profit organizations to accept refugees. We went into the building as the only Iraqi family, everyone else around us were Burmese. It was four floors. We ended up moving out and lived in the Rogers Park neighborhood because we wanted a bigger unit. At that time, my brother was taking care of us, and he wanted me to go back to school which I did. I went to Truman College and got my Associate’s degree over there. And then I went to Loyola after that. I went to school for Biology and Pre-Med.”
Did you want to become a doctor? What changed?
Mustafa: “I needed to start paying for myself. Working two jobs, one part time and one full time, and then going to school at the same time, was very energy draining. At that point, my brother had contributed more than enough and he wanted to have his own place and his own life, which I respect that. So I had to pay for things and find a job. Why didn’t I work in something closer to biology? Because it would have been like working in a lab somewhere and that was it. And that was not something that I was interested in. I was interested in doing research, but never interested in working in a lab. So I’ve been working in non-profit for a while, and it’s one of those things that fascinates me because it’s a whole sector dedicated to helping people.”
Why did you decide to work in non-profit?
Mustafa: “When I came to the United States, I was told that if you need stuff and your food stamps don’t cover it, you can go to a food pantry. But this is not something we were told by the agency that brought us. We learned it from the other Iraqis in the area. That’s when we went to Care for Real for the first time. It was an interesting moment when we saw how many people were standing in line. And the numbers were only going up because it was 2008. I remember hearing from the director at the time that they went from serving somewhere around 60-150 households per month to 100-150 per day. The numbers just skyrocketed. It was not a feel-good moment. For a country so powerful, so involved in aid in different parts of the world, it’s shameful that your backyard is going hungry.
“I was also fascinated by the fact that aid comes from this private entity, when in Iraq it was government subsidized, and it was garbage. The government would give you flour that has gnats, or very low quality stuff. There was no interest in nutrition whatsoever, so you ended up with subpar items that are not good for you. But here the people who work in these fields think about, ‘I need to give these people protein, vegetables, fruits, canned goods, fresh goods, with some extra.’
“And it was interesting to me that we can provide so many different options for people. I realized that it’s almost like all these grocery stores lumped up in one place. As a client you have the dignity of choice and at the same time it’s nothing bad, nothing spoiled. I love that idea. So providing these options to people is something I feel good about. Because it helps a lot of people and at the same time the products don’t go into a landfill. Somebody benefits from it. And people love it because it’s brand-name products.”
What drew you to work at the Logan Foundation?
Mustafa: “Realizing how diverse its work is. The Foundation does not have a single focus, unlike other non-profits and foundations. And they fund areas that traditionally lack funding, like journalism and the arts. When I worked in a food pantry, there was a program for pet food. And some people said, unsolicited, “Why would I donate money for pets? I only care about people.” But you do realize that if you lose your job, and you have a pet, what are you gonna do? Give your pet away? That’s your companion for god’s sake. It’s the same thing happening with arts, with journalism – “Why would I fund this when there’s hungry people outside?” But the fact is it all matters. Because it provides that social net that we so depend on. Some people tend to forget how important and effective it is.
“Also I was fascinated that the Foundation was acquiring buildings and purposing them for specific non-profit organizations. Buildings can tend to be one of your biggest expenses. And having this partnership with non-profits where they can occupy the space and they don’t have to think about spending that large amount of money for rent is fascinating because it can help them do so much work. When I worked on the receiving end of non-profit, I realized no matter what your space is, you end up outgrowing it at some point. I went from working in a space that used to be a storefront to a space that is three times the size of it. And we were joking about how we’re gonna need to start using walkie-talkies. So, seeing that the Foundation helps these non-profits with these buildings demonstrated that it helps them succeed and do better.”
What do you want to see change in Chicago?
Mustafa: “A lot. One of the things is the violence rate. I’ve heard it said so many times in the worst and most racist way possible: Black on Black. Brown on Brown. And, “Because I’m not part of that race, I’m not involved in it whatsoever.” When the fact is it’s impacting us as a whole. It’s so desensitized. In the evening news, it won’t be a main story. Instead, it’s “X amount of people got shot this weekend.” They lump it up and you become part of the statistic instead of an individual. You’re a human being, for god’s sake. Somebody tended to you since you were a baby. That’s what you’re worth at the end of the day? You’re a number? I truly dislike that.
“I also dislike that Chicago is so segregated. We have so many diverse populations, but it’s still extremely segregated. You can truly see it where I live in Austin. It almost feels gray in Austin, and when you hit Oak Park it’s full color. That’s terrible. This is something they systematically put in place to keep people away from each other.
“Food is expensive in Chicago. Even pet food is not cheap. There was a time when food pantries were mainly for seniors, unemployed people, refugees. But that has changed. We’re seeing younger crowds that will leave work and then stand in line at the food pantry. And that tells me that what they’re getting paid is not covering their expenses.
“It bothers me to see so many people on the street panhandling. When I first came to the United States, it was one or two people here or there. There’s a couple people on the North Side here whose faces I recognize, because they’ve been there for more than five years. So there’s a lot to be said about what needs to be changed in Chicago.”
What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?
Mustafa: “Interacting with people. It’s a very diverse place with a lot of people with rich histories. A long time ago when we would go pick up furniture donations, we would visit this one person around Wilmette. While we were taking the furniture from him, he told us about how he went to Harvard. He used to spend some time in the library. And he said this one guy would come in and they’d chat it up, and he’d try to invite him to go drinking and hang out. And he said, “You know who that guy was? A former US President! (Name withheld.)” It’s stuff like that, just give people enough time and they will tell you their life story, and there’s so much that you can learn from that.”
What’s the weirdest product you’ve seen in the pantry so far?
Mustafa: “Do you really want to know?” (It seemed like many of the things he wanted to say were not family friendly.) “Peepsi (Peeps flavored Pepsi) might be one of them. Also, cheddar flavored chocolate bars. I didn’t try it but I gave some to Richard. He said it was interesting.”
Anything else you’d like to share?
Mustafa: “If all the trees combined together and became one giant tree, and all the men combined together and became one giant man, and all the lakes combined together and became one giant lake, and all the axes combined together and became one giant ax, and the giant man came in with the giant ax and cut the giant tree, and the giant tree fell into the giant lake, it would be a big splash of water.”
Last month, we were proud to see three partners recognized for their outstanding work in their respective fields.
According to the Rockwood Leadership Institute, The MacArthur Foundation Art of Leadership will bring together 24 leaders from across the nation. These leaders work within grantee organizations in documentary film support, participatory civic media, and investigative reporting. Its purpose is to increase the individual leadership effectiveness of these leaders and provide opportunities for relationship building and collaboration. This will support the movement for equity across leaders in the field.
On Instagram, Elijah McKinnon of Open TV expressed his gratitude. “Feeling incredibly grateful to be on this journey. I can’t wait to expand my mind while learning, building and sharing alongside a cohort of leaders working to imagine a brave, new world.”
Published and aired in December, the story disclosed a cluster of the incurable lung disease silicosis among fabricators of artificial-stone countertops. Public Health Watch and KPCC won first place in the Press Club’s audio journalism/investigative category for the collaboration. It included a television segment on Univision’s news magazine show Aqui y Ahora.
Overall, congratulations to our three partners: Open TV, American Documentary, and Public Health Watch.
Photo credit: Heather Coit, The News-Gazette
When program staff at the Foundation design grants, we try to find creative and innovative ways to challenge both grantees and other potential funders. We believe that the organizations that we fund should always be looking to diversify revenue streams, whether that be with individual membership drives, new corporate or institutional funders or even endowments. We always ensure that we give challenge matching grants when we feel that organizations have the internal capability to find those additional funds and leverage the opportunity.
Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting (MCIR), also known as Investigate Midwest, is a key example of this. With a secure $100,000 grant for general operating costs ensuring business as usual, and a solid staff and board of directors, we presented them with an opportunity to raise $125,000 in additional funds through one $25,000 and two $50,000 matching grants.
They did not disappoint – finding three new funders guaranteeing matching funds while forging new relationships and ensuring further sustainability of their operations:
MCIR is an independent, nonprofit newsroom. Their mission is to serve the public interest by exposing dangerous and costly practices of influential agricultural corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism.
Congratulations to MCIR on their achievement.
Author: Crystal Logan
Recently, two of our board members were featured on screen. Jamyle Cannon, founder of The Bloc, speaks as one of the creators in the “TikTok Sparks Good” series. And Patric McCoy, co-founder of Diasporal Rhythms and avid African art collector, talks about his “Take My Picture” project on WGN News.
Jamyle’s TikTok following of almost 120,000 has proven to be instrumental in broadcasting The Bloc’s mission. “What TikTok does better than anyone else,” Jamyle says, “is it puts you in front of the right audience. You get to speak directly to the people who are looking for your message. Kids learn about our program through TikTok and say ‘This is something I want to be a part of.'” In addition, through TikTok he receives wide support from people around the world (as far as New Zealand) through volunteer hours, monetary donations, and spreading awareness.
Working as an environmental scientist in the 1980’s, Patric decided to take on a new hobby. Little did he know, he would briefly become a photojo-historian for Black gay men in Chicago. In WGN’s news story, Patric delves into his experience wearing a camera around his neck and taking a photo of just about anyone who asked. Each of his subjects had agency in their pose and expression, creating a candid representation of gay Black life during the 80’s. Currently, you can see some of his photographs at Wrightwood 659. The exhibition runs through July 15th.
Each of our board members was chosen because of the unique perspective they bring to our Foundation. In addition to supporting us to create radical change through grantmaking, they make their own waves in the community. Congratulations Jamyle and Patric on the much-deserved recognition!
Joel Hall and Dr. Christopher Balthazar receiving their award from Dr. Keith Green, Executive Director of Chicago Black Gay Mens’ Caucus.
The Reva and David Logan Foundation extends a warm congratulations to two of our partners: Joel Hall Dancers & Center and Taskforce. During “A Spring Fling,” the Chicago Black Gay Mens’ Caucus inducted our partners’ leadership into the Chicago Black Gay Hall of Fame.
Joel Hall is the Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Joel Hall Dancers & Center. Since 1974, they have championed the artistry of Black and Brown LGBTQ+ performers. They actively pursue opportunities to dismantle oppressive systems, amplify oppressed voices, and cultivate a better world for all. With our support, they are currently in development of their new space THE HALL. The building is located in Albany Park and is dedicated to the creation, performance, and instruction of Chicago’s dance artists.
Dr. Christopher (Chris) Balthazar is the Executive Director of TaskForce Prevention & Community Services. Since 1990, TaskForce is committed to addressing the HIV/STI-related needs of adolescents and young adults living in systemically disenfranchised communities. They provide HIV/STI prevention education, testing, treatment, and care services. They serve hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth each year on Chicago’s West Side. In addition to his induction into the Chicago Black Gay Hall of Fame, Chris also received the Sidney Thomas Health Advocacy Award.
We are proud to partner with organizations and individuals who are being recognized for making positive change in their communities. Congratulations to our partners Joel and Chris!
2022 – an exciting year! Our team has grown and we’ve moved offices. Also, we’ve witnessed wonderful achievements by stellar organizations in the Arts, Journalism, and Social Justice.
The Reva and David Logan Foundation implemented a creative Fresh Produce Program that connects farmers to distributors to food pantries to our neighbors in need. During 2022, over 16,800 individuals received hyper fresh fruits and vegetables. Our regional food system sources the majority of produce. Consequently, this creates a unique circular economic, environmental and social model of production and consumption to combat food apartheid, with a focus on encouraging healthy lifestyles and making available nutritious, delicious options.
Community Resource Center Launch
Through our due diligence, research, and communications, we have secured a building in the Belmont/Cragin neighborhood. This building will serve as the launch of a Community Resource Center. Strategic in our work, approach, and planning of an appropriate site was identifying an anchor partner. We found that in Onward House. An integrated vision of the center will engage partners in working together in solidarity, and give them the opportunity to establish long-term goals so their clients can thrive. We continue to learn and stay informed and now have a blueprint for launching other similar centers in communities of great need.
Winter Wear
Each year, brutal winters leave hundreds of Chicagoans struggling for warmth and places of safety. During 2022, the Reva and David Logan Foundation invested $1.4M in warm winter gear for 63 partner organizations in Chicagoland. While this effort cannot begin to scratch the surface, we have deep gratitude to our partners who distribute these items to those who need it most – from the cheerful faces of elementary school children to the thousands of asylum seekers who have arrived in Chicago since August.
At this critical time, with attacks on democracy and the advancement of authoritarian governments and policies, journalism has never been so vital. During 2022, we have continued to support those organizations. At local, regional and national levels, they provide quality coverage and engagement to gain back audience trust in the media.
Support of symposia, education and trainings has continued with increased access in regions such as Latin America. We were thrilled to welcome so many of our grantees at the Logan Symposium in Berkeley. Due to the connections our grantees made, we watched throughout the year as they came to fruition through new investigations and partnerships.
Awards abound with our journalism grantees, but impact is what really matters. Through their work, we have seen policy change, community engagement, legislation passed and corporations and governments being held to account.
Now is the time to fund in journalism. We encourage our foundation colleagues and peers to actively support the field to help ensure that the very liberties we hold dear are not slowly eroded… and taken away completely.
Some of the excellent work of our Journalism grantees in 2022:
A couple of our grantees won awards at the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for its 37th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards.
San Francisco Public Press: Community Journalism winners for Noah Arroyo and Madison Alvarado for their reporting on rent debt, public housing conditions, power outages on Treasure Island and tenant organizing rights in San Francisco.
The Foundation’s arts team is made up of practicing artists. These members of staff have experience in and out of the Chicago-ecosystem in: visual arts, choreography and dance performance, arts administration, writing, theatre-making, and filmmaking. It has created a direct line of knowledge to advocacy as we champion for our arts leaders in general operating support, multi-year support when applicable, as well as thought-partnership and networking.
Supporting Arts Workers
Consideration must be taken for the individuals who make up the workforce of an arts organization, the majority of which is contracted labor that does not always equate into equitable pay. We hope to support wage equity goals through capacity building, resource sharing, bridging connections, and inviting risk-taking into building bolder budgets.
Creating Space
Many arts organizations and individual artists are feeling the strain of limited access to physical spaces or increasing rental prices. We have a continued focus on expanding artist residencies and have garnered capital investments to provide spaces for partner organizations. During the pandemic, when many venues and spaces shuttered their doors, these welcoming environments helped solidify placemaking and foster bold new work without the burden of rent.
The Artist Grant
In 2021, we successfully gathered 7 Chicago-based artists to design and build an individual artist application and evaluate 682 submitted applications. 20 artists were selected and were granted $2,500, no strings attached. Our team has taken a period of reflection to build an even stronger and smoother process in 2023. If you would like to nominate an artist to be a Designer on the next iteration, please contact us at contact@loganfdn.org.
Dream Warriors On Tour, Frank Waln, Tall Paul, Tanaya Winder, and Mic Jordan. Photo by Lyla June.
Roman Susan – ‘between all saints day and halloween’ by Kevin Stuart. December 2021-January 2022
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The Bloc is so much more than a nonprofit boxing gym. After Jamyle and Juli Cannon started The Bloc in 2016, they have been transforming the lives of Chicago’s youth by providing them with an enriching social and emotional support system, mentoring, and the resources to maximize their potential. The Bloc offers Olympic-style boxing training, academic support, exploratory learning, and bi-weekly food pantries out of their new facility in West Humbold Park. Supporting 150 youth annually, they are set to reach 300 by Fall 2022. At The Bloc they talk about their holistic approach. Besides pastoral care for the youth, they run a hugely successful pantry.
The Bloc’s Food Pantry
Everything about their pantry bag build is intentional. They source high-quality ingredients from Gordon Food Services, and pantry staples locally. And so, each bag contains well balanced, culturally thoughtful, fresh foods.
On Thursdays before the pantry, Fighters join in their civic service by prepping stations and building the shelf-stable pantry bags as well as household goods. With the help of Fighters and Volunteer Members, they build 300 bags and distribute to 150 neighbors/families every first and third Friday of the month. They build fresh bags with tomatoes, onions, carrots, potatoes, celery, lettuce, broccoli, bell peppers, garlic, apples, oranges, and lemons. The dry bags contain rice, dry pinto and black beans, vegetable canned goods, broth, pastas, oatmeal and breakfast granola bars.
By partnering with Gordon Food Services, we distribute over 2,200 pounds of high-quality produce directly into their communities. This is significant because The Bloc is located in one of the highest ranked neighborhoods in Chicago experiencing poverty with limited access to fresh markets. This disparity makes it particularly difficult for the elderly and disabled community members, who now rely on the Bloc’s accessible nutritional food.
Typically, Friday pantry days begin with a delivery from Gordon Food Services. Not an easy task for the dedicated drivers that drop-off as early as 8am. However, no matter how heavy the load; Gilbert, Manny, Richard, and Luis always deliver with a smile. This summer, The Bloc hopes to invite the community to help grow their own foods and fight for self-determination.
