The Four Directions Fund was founded to inspire care for Creation through educational programs. The program seeks to inspire your faith community members, youth programs, and religious leaders towards concrete eco-action. After participating in an Active Hope workshop (more information below), seed grants are offered as funding assistance for eco-projects.
In these changing times, we are committed to growing the Four Directions Fund to support acts of compassion for our neighbors and for the earth. The Four Directions Fund is now expanding to include projects that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis relief (natural disaster, fire, etc.) projects, as-needed, throughout the year.
“The central purpose of The Work That Reconnects is to help people uncover and experience their innate connections with each other and with the systemic, self-healing powers of the web of life, so that they may be enlivened and motivated to play their part in creating a sustainable civilization.”
— Joanna Macy
Active Hope Workshop
Taught by GIPL Board member, Beth Remmes, this workshop is based on the work of Joanna Macy. Active Hope is an interactive workshop which addresses the environmental and cultural problems that we are currently facing. It is based on over four decades of community-based work with thousands of people around the world and designed to help you transform fear and despair into inspiration and a sense of empowerment.
We will explore gratitude, anger, grief, and hope and move into a deeper understanding of how to create our best collective future. The workshop will end with exercises to help us support one another as we go forth and work towards a more sustainable, just, and peaceful world where all beings can thrive.
Reach out to us at info@gipl.org, and we will help schedule a workshop for your faith community.
GRANTS (UP TO $500)
The Four Directions Fund also provides grants for environmental projects which are conceived by attendees during these workshops. Attending an Active Hope Workshop makes one eligible to fill out a brief application to be considered for this seed money of up to $500.
RECENTLY FUNDED PROJECTS:
Guardians of Gaia (Unity Atlanta)
Saving Bats in your Backyard (Georgia Mountains UUC)
Planting Trees in Yahoola Creek Park (Georgia Mountains UUC)
Creating a Butterfly Garden (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church)
Reforestation Project in Guatemala (Georgia Mountains UUC)
Landfill Phytoremediation (Emerson UUC)
