By Abha Thakkar
Northside Planning Council

The Northside Planning Council (NPC) was recently awarded $105,000 from the Farwell Foundation to fund three years in its role as a backbone organization for the Northside Peace & Resilience Plan (NPRP). 

Samantha Weston, Chair of the Farwell Foundation, spent her childhood years on the Northside. The foundation was established by Weston’s mother, with the hope that it would one day engage her grandchildren in giving, as well. “I think that this gift is something that my mother, a Northsider, would have been very much in favor of,” shared Weston. “Giving has always been very important to her, and has become one of the key components of her legacy to us. Issues of social justice and well-being for all will remain at the core of what matters to us.” 

Along with convening partners and fundraising to support the NPRP, NPC’s role will include establishing a Northside Peace & Resilience Center; developing a Northside Crisis Response Plan; facilitating partners in developing a Peaceful Cultures Audit for organizations; establishing mediation services; and working with partners to develop a community peace-building series of trainings, films and book discussions.