Rallies held around the country are calling for an end to racism and police brutality, but the folks at home are looking for ways to support the cause locally.

Some local businesses, such as Howell’s Sandwich Co., Sweet Seed Flower Farm and others have shown support for the anti-racist movement by donating proceeds to the Jefferson County Anti-Racist Fund, a mutual -aid organization founded in 2019 that supports Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in Jefferson County.

The fund was started by Xat.se, a local Indigenous woman and grassroots anti-racist organizer.

“We know that there is a huge wealth gap in our country due to systemic racism, and so Xat.se saw this fund as an opportunity to begin to acknowledge that wealth gap and do some of the material work that we can do to provide basic needs and services,” said Anya Callahan, a volunteer with the organization.

JCARF works to uplift people in Jefferson County who are marginalized through the sharing of resources. By raising money from one-time and monthly donors, the fund provides needs for BIPOC, such as access to wellness treatments or therapies, access to educational opportunities, and assistance with bills or expenses, emergency situations, family support, transportation, access to land, and healing or traditional foods.

In addition, the organization supports BIPOC-led projects and causes, organizes around anti-racism efforts and coordinates resource sharing between people who have access and those who don’t.

“We’ve been growing through relationship-building and building trust with the community,” Callahan said.

Last year, the organization started a seed fund and raised more than $10,000. Now, they are raising money for COVID-19 relief for BIPOC families and individuals.

Raising money to give directly to BIPOC members in Jefferson County is a form of reparations.

“I donate and volunteer with JCARF because I have personally benefited from these systems that continue to oppress Black, Indigenous and people of color,” Callahan said. “My parents never faced any racism when they went to get loans to buy their home. My parents didn’t face redlining and racist housing policies.”

Reparations for slavery is a political justice concept that argues financial amends should be paid to the descendants of enslaved people.

In his article, “The Case for Reparations,” writer Ta-Nehisi Coates argues that “until we reckon with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole.”

Even though there is no governmental system in place to pay reparations, the organization offers white people the opportunity to support their fellow BIPOC community members — JCARF’s version of reparations extends to Indigenous people and all people of color still oppressed by systemic racism.

“I see the word anti-racist as an active verb,” Callahan said. “In order to be authentically accountable for the atrocious genocide and crimes against humanity that white people have done to people on the land I currently live, I feel we need to put our money where our mouth is.”

But JCARF’s goal goes beyond giving money. The organization also wants to uplift BIPOC in Jefferson County, by supporting art projects, businesses, or movements.

“We want to celebrate Black brilliance and uplifting folks’ projects,” Callahan said.

To learn more about JCARF, visit JCARF.org.