Our Transition to Grassroots International
The Martín-Baró Fund for Mental Health and Human Rights has been hard at work since its inception thirty years ago after the assassination of its namesake, Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J, who, alongside many others, worked to promote peace, justice, and equity in El Salvador. Since then, the 21st century and the ever more globalized world has brought new challenges. Among these are increasing repression against human rights activists and those seeking to accompany communities in the global South, which are frequently sites of persistent international and global incursions, including extractive industries, as well as multiple armed conflicts and increasingly authoritarian regimes that benefit from inequities in wealth that are generated by global capital.
In response, we have sought new ways to continue and expand our efforts in supporting local activists working to enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of their communities in response to these and many longstanding inequities. Through a systematic evaluation of our first three decades of work and lengthy conversations we determined that the best way to sustain and enhance our work was through a new partnership with Grassroots International (GRI) as the Martín-Baró Initiative for Wellbeing and Human Rights at Grassroots International. MBI and GRI share a vision of supporting the wellbeing and human rights of community activists and grassroots organizing throughout the world. We are confident that together we can connect the energy and resources of donors and activists in the United States with a global grant-making strategy that advances social reparation and supports the collective power of communities to heal some of the multiple effects of violence, injustice, and repression as they struggle for a more equitable world that supports our collective wellbeing.
Though we have a new name and a new partner, we are still who we have been, and our spirit and mission remains the same – to be, as Ignacio’s brother, Carlos Martín-Baró, says, “the voice of Ignacio, moving forward, as it is institutionalized through the efforts of so many on the ground and those who accompany them.”
Thank you very much for your continued support. Any and all questions may be referred to us via email: martinbarofund@gmail.com.