Change Labs selected for national grant to advance economic mobility in communities of color

Grant enables funding to make local businesses in Tuba City more visible to non-locals

(TUBA CITY, Arizona) -- Tuba City-based Change Labs was selected through a nationwide RFP process as a part of the Elevate Initiative, a national effort led by Frontline Solutions, with funding support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support organizations doing on-the-ground work to remove structural barriers and accelerate economic mobility for communities of color. The initiative is also aimed at learning about how grant-makers of all kinds and sizes can better support organizations that are rooted in communities of color.

“Many of the businesses we work with operate from their home due to the severe shortage of affordable workspace and physical infrastructure on Indigenous land. However, the downside of home-based businesses is the lack of visibility,” says Change Labs Executive Director, Heather Fleming (Diné). “We’re thrilled that this funding will allow us to showcase local businesses and entrepreneurship in Tuba City.” 

Change Labs grant proposal included funds for flea market signage in Tuba City, helping non-locals and tourists find local food vendors, jewelers, and artisans. The grant will also fund the design and construction of micro-retail stalls at the new Change Labs headquarters in Tuba City as well as build the brand of participating businesses by funding logo design, photography sessions, and professional storytelling. To implement this work, Change Labs included funds to hire local artists to design and visualize these outputs. 

While there are many dynamic organizations working to address these gaps in deep partnership with communities of color, and by centering the perspectives of those with relevant lived experience, several of them struggle to secure philanthropic funding. Efforts like the Elevate Initiative are important as it prioritizes resources toward organizations that are often under resourced. In addition, grantees of the Elevate Initiative will participate in a year-long learning community aimed at building relationships, sharing promising approaches, and providing technical assistance in areas such as storytelling and communications, approaches to advocacy, staff leadership development, evaluation, and fundraising. 

Engaging local creative talent is critical to this work. If you’re a local Native artist or designer located on or around the Navajo or Hopi Nations and you’re interested in participating in this work, please contact us.