T HE FIRST THING TO KNOW about Monica Ruiz and her career as a public policy advocate for Pittsburgh’s Latino community is that her workday to-do list can change in an instant. “I might be meeting with families on a school lunch issue, then I’ll get a phone call and I am running to the ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] office because they’ve detained 10 people,” says Ruiz, the community organizer for Casa San Jose. “Every day is different.” In this period of tense political and social divisiveness over immigration, she’s busier than ever. Amid the uncertainty (and at times, outright hostility) experienced by the people she serves, there’s critical work to do. Whether it’s finding food for hungry children or mobilizing young people to push for a policy change, it’s part of Ruiz’s mission to make Pittsburgh a more livable, welcoming place for Latinos. But improving life circumstances requires hands-on attention and money. Both are in short supply in the current climate — especially for social justice advocates, who often work at society’s margins. “I always say, you can find money for little Chihuahuas left on the street corner,” says Ruiz, “because everyone loves Chihuahuas. But when it comes to undocumented people, it’s a lot more difficult to find help.” She knows she’s not alone: “Pittsburgh has some great organizers working directly with communities,” she says, “but they often have a hard time securing funding.” THE FOUNDATION’S NEW SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND BRINGS COMMUNITY VOICE TO THE FOREFRONT PRIMING THE PUMP FOR SOCIAL CHANGE T H E P I T T S B U R G H F O U N D AT I O N 1 0 F O R U M