Lyft’s Racial Justice Alliance Supports Community Organizations Working to Address Inequality

By: Larry Gallegos, Public Engagement –New York

This June marks one year since Lyft launched the New York Racial Justice Alliance. The last few years have seen the

United States go through a public reckoning with its history of racial injustice, shining a light on the longstanding disadvantages faced by communities of color across the nation. The goal of this program is to help support grassroots efforts to create a more equitable society for all.

Since its launch, Lyft’s New York Racial Justice Alliance, which is made up of nonprofit leaders with decades of experience providing much-needed services and resources to communities citywide, has awarded thousands in transportation access and funding grants to New York City-based nonprofit organizations working to address the impacts of systemic racism. Grant awards and recipients are selected by alliance members, and, by proactively empowering and leveraging their expertise, Lyft hopes it can support ongoing efforts to address inequities that are oftentimes overlooked. For far too long, communities throughout the city and state have faced disparities in opportunities, outcomes and the distribution of resources, and the Alliance aims to break these longstanding patterns.

Alliance members include the Chinese-American Planning Council, UrbanUpbound, Arab American Association of New York, BronxWorks, the Haitian American Caucus and the Hispanic Federation, all of whom are leading service providers who recognize the impact unreliable and inaccessible transportation has on the communities they serve.

The Alliance has awarded grants to a wide variety of organizations including Avenues for Justice, which has diverted thousands of NYC youth from incarceration since 1979; the Korean American Family Service Center, a primary dual agency that addresses domestic violence and sexual assault victims from a combined prevention and intervention perspective; and Murals for Good, a dedicated group of New Yorkers who curate and design mural art. All of the grantees are chosen after they can demonstrate how their organization works to address the impacts of systemic racism and empower people of color through expanding access to community and essential services. Priority is granted to applicants who demonstrate their staff and board reflect the communities they serve.

Lyft’s efforts to break down barriers to transportation access continue this year, as it works with

Alliance members to award even more funding, which grantees can use to advance their programs and mission. The application process is already underway for this quarter. The grants include two for $5,000 that organizations can use as they see fit, from programming to operational expenses, and four $2,000 ride credits grants. Transportation access grantees can then use those ride credits to access things like groceries, healthcare, employment, community resources and other services. We’ve found that when communities of color can more easily access essential needs and opportunities, they’re better able to tackle the systemic issues that have plagued their members for far too long.

In all, a total of $50,000 in grants was awarded to New York City-based nonprofit organizations in 2022. Lyft looks forward to continuing this work in 2023.