SDOP disburses nearly $600,000 to 17 self-help projects

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) approved grants recently totaling $582,215 to 17 self-help projects. The money is from the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering.

The national SDOP, which met virtually, enables members and non-members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to form partnerships with oppressed and disadvantaged people to help them achieve self-sufficiency. SDOP National Committee Chair Julia Hill said, “Reflecting over this past year of the work that the National Committee of SDOP has done, I am in total awe! We have partnered with groups from New York, Hawaii and South Carolina to Panama City, Panama. We will continue the mission of SDOP and look forward to another year of successful partnerships.”

The projects and grants:

• Juan Gallego Pro-Tourism Committee, Juan Gallego, Colón, Panamá, $15,000 — The group will purchase a boat to conduct tours on the adjacent islands (instead of renting boats, which dramatically increases costs) and build a unit to store and sell crafts made by members of the community. The proceeds will help group members increase their income and economic security.

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• The HomeMore Project, Los Angeles, $ 15,000 — This project serves unhoused people who have received solar backpack devices that give them the ability to charge their cell phones to keep up to date on training and workshop program opportunities. They will also be able to enroll in these programs and participate in any online training on their phones. The phones will make it possible for individuals to obtain employment and transitional housing and gain access to community work training programs.
• Sea Goat Farms, Eureka, California, $10,000 — The group emerged in response to the need for safe spaces to connect, grow food and build self-sufficiency. Its initial urban farmstand model uses sustainable practices like low-till, composting, and vermiculture, quickly expanded to include a weekly farmstand, a CSA program and an online store. This growth has allowed the group members not only to provide fresh, local produce for their own homes, but also for their local community with sales of surplus going back to their families.

• Made New Foundation, Inglewood, California, $20,000— This project encourages returning citizens with a mission to give back to the community, including other citizens recently released from incarceration. The foundation also works with young people impacted by the prison system and people experiencing homelessness. Overall, the group provides motivation, inspiration, and a “hand up,” not a handout. Using Virtual Reality technology, the goal of this program is to harness individual experiences and forge strong community partnerships to create lasting impacts that break cycles of recidivism and poverty. By providing immersive virtual reality experiences, they seek to equip participants with essential skills in emotional resilience, job readiness, and interpersonal communication.

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• Original Scraper Bike Team, Oakland, California, $20,000  — The Scraper Bike Team is a youth-led program focused on empowering themselves and other East Oakland youth through bike building and riding. Their mission is to provide a positive and supportive environment where young people can develop life skills, leadership opportunities, and a sense of community. SDOP funds will be used to fund bike parts, tools, and supplies, as well as to cover the costs of workshops, field trips and community events.
• Community Group, Buruna Barriada 2000, $12,900 — This is an income-generating project by a worker-owned business cooperative. Project members are focused on making pastry products. Income is equally distributed amongst group members.
• BriBri Women’s Group, Changuinola, Panamá, $15,000— The project consists of building infrastructure (wooden cabin) equipped with utensils to produce cocoa and all its derivatives for sale, promotion and consumption.
• La Victoria Community, La Victoria Community Panama, $15,000 — This project will be used to provide safe potable water for a community that lacks the fundamental necessity on a reliable basis.
• Potrerillo Paneleras Group, Potrerillo, Panama, $16,000 — The project entails training “panelera” leaders to raise awareness on sustainable use of the Heliocarpus Americanus species, its reproduction and propagation in natural ecosystems of Potrerillo. Group members will also be trained in becoming transforming agents for all honeycomb producers.
• Morrillo Community, Morrillo, Panama, $15,000 — This income-generating project focuses on ecotourism and sea turtle preservation. To enhance their skills in business and fiscal management, operations, and social media, project members will also receive so they can be self-sustaining. The project also seeks to build accessibility infrastructure in the visitor center to increase the pool of potential visitors.
• Boca la Caja Women Group Community, Panama, $15,000 — The project aims to increase its capacity and establish itself as a legally recognized micro-enterprise. This venture will give the opportunity to strengthen the economic initiative that has been conducted until now and will give direct economic benefits to each of the entrepreneurs.
• CINEP Panama, Panama City, $ 31,000 — This project aims to empower women participating in community initiatives through training in digital skills. By strengthening their digital communication skills, participants will be able to amplify their impact in their communities and build stronger networks. Through producing a documentary and holding exhibitions, the work of these women will be made visible, inspiring others and promoting gender equality.
• United Renters for Justice/ Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia, Minneapolis, $15,000 — This policy advisory group consists of tenant leaders specializing in technical learning and engagement in public policy. The project’s organizing model provides training and leadership development for members who are tenant advocates seeking accountability of landlords to achieve improvements in living conditions, create systems change and promote housing equity justice. Collectively they are trained in advocating strategies, leadership development and capacity building. 

Additionally, Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People and other OGHS programs, Presbyterian Hunger Program and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, have jointly funded four partners in Hawaii. SDOP awarded a total of $30,000 to the four groups which include:

• Lahaina Community Land Trust, $5,000 — Funds will support the land acquisition capacity building of the Lahaina Community Land Trust.
• E kūpaku ka ʻāina, $5,000 — The grant will go towards restoring traditional terracing on recently acquired farmland and forest restoration.
• Āina Momona, $10,000. — Members seek to increase production of native crops and working on forest restoration.
• Hawai’i Alliance for Progressive Action, $10,000 — Advocacy efforts to mitigate food insecurity, strengthen food sovereignty and resist harm caused by agrochemical corporations on the islands.

The total amount awarded to the four Hawaii projects by SDOP, PHP and PDA was $180,000.

The Rev. Dr. Carolyne Grice, SDOP National Committee vice chair’s summary of "poverty has no place in the economy of God," accurately reflects the need and urgency of the church’s work in poverty eradication within the U.S. and globally in collaboration with our church and community partners.

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The Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, SDOP’s coordinator, said, “The tireless and imaginative work of these organizations are reflective of Jesus’ call to bring the Good News to those whose lives are ravaged by poverty, oppression, and struggle. SDOP is truly blessed to be engaged in partnership and solidarity with these diverse, local, and global organizations who understand best what it means to do the engaging work of anti-poverty by creating spaces of hope and possibility in their communities.”

SDOP is constantly looking for ways to engage communities of economically poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people in partnership as well as to promote and interpret the ministry in Presbyterian congregations. For information on upcoming community grant workshops for community-based groups interested in learning about possible future partnerships, to help set up a community grant workshop, or to participate in a webinar on poverty alleviation or an educational webinar on various social and economic justice issues, please contact the National Office at:

Self-Development of People

100 Witherspoon Street

Louisville, KY 40202-1396

Toll-free telephone:

English (888) 728-7228 X5792

Spanish (888) 728-7228 X5790

Celebrate SDOP Sunday on March 16. Learn more here. More information is on SDOP’s website.