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Keeping the grassroots green

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Executive Director Anne Frederick, far right, with other representatives of the Hester Street Collaborative, above, and Executive Director Juana Ponce de León, left, with Communications Manager Jehangir Khatta, right, of the New York Community Media Alliance, below, celebrated being honored as Union Square Award recipients at a ceremony at Riverside Church last Friday. Based in Chinatown, Hester Street Collaborative — which was awarded a $35,000 grant — joins architects and artists with students, teachers and community residents to improve and transform neglected public spaces. With offices in Chelsea, New York Community Media Alliance — which received a $50,000 grant — promotes the ethnic and community press and elevates the voices of low-income, immigrant and communities of color in the media. In all, 13 New York City grassroots, nonprofit organizations were honored, receiving a total of $545,000 grants. The Union Square Awards is a project of the Tides Center, whose mission is to promote change founded on principles of social justice, equal economic opportunity, a democratic process and environmental sustainability. “Union Square Award recipients make extraordinary contributions to the city in spite of their limited financial resources,” said Iris Morales, Union Square Awards executive director. “The award supports these efforts by covering operating expenses, seeding new programs, expanding existing services and leveraging additional funding.” Since 1998, the group has distributed $16 million — funded by an anonymous donor — to hundreds of grassroots organizations. The award is named after Union Square Park for its history as a place to speak out about major social issues.