Larry, I can feel your frustration and I while I can't sit in your shoes I do think I understand where you are coming from.   You shouldn't be alone in your fight. I don't know enough about the communities you represent, but the pictures that you and others have presented show a traveling community that try to solve their own problems. In a case of civil rights abuse, help from outside of the community is needed.   The case last year of the supposed a child abuse shocked a lot of people into the realization that an traveling community even existed here in the U.S.   Education takes time and patience, which I understand is extremely difficult.

Finding funding is extremely difficult for ANY project.   I've worked in commercial and non-commercial broadcasting and production for over 23 years. I've seen many worthwhile projects get turned down.   You can't let one (or even dozens) of slammed doors stop you if you truly believe in the project.   I once interviewed Marjorie Guthrie, the late widow of Woody Guthrie, who talked to me about her attempts to find funding for research for Huntington's Disease.   She finally reached a congressman who was willing to help and she said something that will always stick with me - "never underestimate the power of a single individual". Keeping focused on the goal will eventual get the result.

Outrage tends to polarize. Working with people gets results.