This year, two organizations that advance food justice in Chicagoland will receive the 2022 MacArthur Annual Staff Award. Just Roots Chicago and Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP) will each receive $50,000 in general operating support for their work to make nutritious, affordable food accessible on Chicago’s South Side and South suburbs and support low-income food chain workers, respectively.
Just Roots Chicago volunteers interacting while harvesting green beans.
Just Roots Chicago works in collaboration with communities to develop and expand access to local, sustainably grown food, with farms located in predominantly Black, low-income communities on Chicago's South Side and South suburbs that lack affordable access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant food. Just Roots responds to that need by organically growing fresh produce at scale for communities, selling 50 percent at an affordable price and donating 50 percent to food pantries and mutual aid organizations. The organization also facilitates educational programs that equip residents with the skills and resources to grow their own food.
FLAP’s Executive Director Alexandra Sossa providing one-on-one outreach at the Mexican Consulate of Chicago’s Mobile Unit in Aurora, Illinois. Photo taken by FLAP.
FLAP improves the working conditions and opportunities for workers from traditionally marginalized communities and/or low-income households in Illinois. It serves workers in the cannery, poultry, meatpacking, farming, restaurant, greenhouse, landscaping, and snow plowing industries. FLAP’s programs include advocacy, community outreach and education, litigation, referrals, and cash assistance. FLAP advances social justice by addressing cases of exploitation, discrimination, and eviction through pro bono legal services and helps to emancipate victims of labor trafficking and return lost wages to workers.
Since 1989, a committee of Staff volunteers from across the Foundation have recommended one or two special end-of-year Annual Staff Awards. The award typically recognizes work at Chicago-based and Chicago-serving organizations that fall outside of our current grantmaking guidelines. Each one-time, $50,000 award supports general operations of the selected organizations.
