USA
USA
California
Incarceration and the Prison Industrial Complex: Prison Activist PARC is a prison abolitionist group committed to exposing and challenging all forms of institutionalized racism, sexism, able-ism, heterosexism, and classism, specifically within the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) (http://www.prisonactivist.org/projects). Also meeting with Angela Davis (http://video.feministing.com/2010/10/21/angela-davis-talks-prison-abolition-on-democracy-now/)
Schooling in Unity and Liberation: SOUL is a school to build a movement. SOUL is working to lay the groundwork for a strong social justice movement by supporting the development of a new generation of organizers rooted in a systemic change analysis -especially people of color, young women, queer and transgender youth and low-income people (http://www.schoolofunityandliberation.org/soul_sec/prog_calendar/pc-prog_calendar.html).
Putting ECOAPARTHEID on the Map: The Ella Baker Center is named for anunsung hero of the civil rights movement who inspired and guided emerging leaders. We build on her legacy by giving people opportunities and skills to work together to strengthen our communities so that all of us can thrive. (www.ellabakercenter.org)
Majora Carter Group: Health and Unemployment: Right now 1 in 4 kids in the South Bronx has asthma and the unemployment rate is the highest in the city at 24%. These may seem unrelated, but Sussex works to find solutions to both issues. Greening our neighborhood increases the focus on green jobs and brings more parks and green industry to the South Bronx. (http://www.majoracartergroup.com/)
Community Self Determination and Support Systems: People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO) is a multi-ethnic, multi-issue community membership organization. We use organizing, direct action, policy research and analysis, leadership development, popular education, and coalition building to confront the issues that affect the lives of our membership. (http://peopleunited.org/). Also linking up with Urban Habitat Program who build power in low-income communities and communities of color by combining education, advocacy, research and coalition building to advance environmental, economic and social justice in the Bay Area (urbanhabitat.org).
Framing ‘Community Defence’ and ‘The War Without Bullets’: SmartMeme re-imagines methods to achieve fundamental social change with effective story-based approaches to framing that amplify the impact of grassroots organizing and challenge the underlying assumptions that shape the status quo.wwwsmartmeme.org
Gay Shame, Pink Panthers and Sexual Determination: *GAY SHAME* is a Virus in the System. We are committed to a queer extravaganza that brings direct action to astounding levels of theatricality (http://www.gayshamesf.org/index2.php). Pink Panthers Also meeting with the Pink Panther Party – a reinvention of the Black Panther Party<http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Panther_Party>, an attempt to reconcile the black separatism of the party with homosexual tendencies that were becoming more pronounced. The new name was an attempt to reach out to Negroes’ gay inner selves.http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Pink_Panther_Party(http://pinkpanthers.tumblr.com/)
Multiracial Justice: Institute for Multiracial Justice Founded in 1997, the Institute for Multiracial Justice works toward eroding white supremacy. If you think “Aryan Resistance” when you hear the term “white supremacy,” it’s time to hit the history books. They print a newsletter and organize a wonderful film festival. These folks are focused on building alliances (http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/storysection=resources/lifestyle_community/community&id=344319<http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=resources/lifestyle_community/community&id=344319>).
Pranksterism: Getting up to mischief with Berkeley University Professor Larry Bogad. From the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army who teaches political street theatre at the uni. Organization (http://www.lmbogad.com/). Also collaborating with the legendary Yes Men (http://theyesmen.org/lab) and (http://billionairesforbush.com/), The Yes Lab is a series of brainstorms and trainings to help activist groups carry out Yes-Men-style projects on their own.
Gay-Positive Gods: Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, the Congregation of the Golden Gate, is a progressive Reform synagogue, established in 1977. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews, together with family and friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish. We come from a wide range of religious, ethnic, class and cultural backgrounds to worship God with egalitarian, feminist and gay-positive Jewish liturgy (http://www.shaarzahav.org/).
New York
Art – Activism – Coming to Terms with Commodity Culture: Lower East Side Collective (http://uppingtheanti.org/journal/article/07-coming-to-terms-with-commodity-culture/) http://artisticactivism.org/about-the-founders/
Police Brutality: Malcolm X Grassroots Movement – A brilliant organization out of Central Brooklyn. MXGM has chapters all over the United States. They sponsor programs to feed, clothe and educate people in their communities. They offer protection by organizing programs like Cop Watch. Part of MXGM’s mission is to defend the human rights of our people and promote self-determination in our community. can think of many, many groups and organizations that would benefit from patterning themselves after this movement – http://www.mxgm.org/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thKo0sUhXb4.
Truth and Reconciliation: The Poverty Initiative of Union Theological Seminary – Founding mission: *to raise up generations of religious and community leaders dedicated to building a social movement to end poverty, led by the poor. *The Poverty Initiative’s signature event is Poverty Truth Commissions inspired by Truth Commissions held in South Africa and elsewhere. Poverty Truth Commissions are organized to hear the stories of people from around the country whose lives are in jeopardy due to poverty (www.povertyinitiative.org/uts).
Popular Education: Meeting with prolific author on popular education, class, race, gender and more – every writing is a blessing. bell hooks (www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUuHFKP-9)
The South
Fighting Climate Change and Drought: Welcome to the Texas Drought Project – a project to address climate change and the state’s precious water resources in the face of perpetual drought. (http://texasdroughtproject.org/)
Humour Recovery: The New Orleans Humor Recovery Action Group – An organization for the coordination of flashmobs & other such good-natured mischief for the discerning resident of the 504 proper. Because if we’velearned anything in the last 3 years, it’s that if we’re gonna stay, we’d better make it fun. – The Urban Prankster Network<http://improveverywhere.ning.com/>- We Cause Scenes (http://improveverywhere.ning.com/group/NOHRAG?xg_source=activity)
Middle America
Fuel Poverty: The Affordable Power Alliance is an ad hoc coalition of civil rights, African American, Latino, small business, senior citizens and faith-based advocacy organizations. The mission of the Alliance is heart a humanitarian one. Thousands of Americans become sick and die each year because high energy costs that prevent them from adequately heating or cooling their homes; buying the medicines they need; and practicing better health prevention measures. Millions more lose opportunities to better themselves and their families because rising energy costs eat away at a large portion of their disposable income – Las Vegas (http://www.affordablepoweralliance.org/).
Challenging the ‘Poverty Industry’: The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) aims to organize a majority constituency of low- to moderate-income people across the United States. The members of ACORN take on issues of relevance to their communities, whether those issues are discrimination, affordable housing, a quality education, or better public services. ACORN believes that low- to moderate-income people are the best advocates for their communities, and so ACORN’s low- to moderate-income members act as leaders, spokespeople, and decision-makers within the organization (http://www.acorn.org/).
Environmental Racism: Little Village Environmental Justice Organization challenges massive coal extraction through defence programmes and direct action. Their mission is to work with our families, coworkers, and neighbors to improve our environment and lives in Little Village and through out Chicago through democracy in action. http://lvejo.org/ – Chicago
Indigenous Resistance: Black Mesa is located in Arizona, and the government wants the resources that are located on sacred Indian land. The Peabody Western Coal Company, in particular, wants the uranium inside of Big Mountain, which many believe to be one of the earth’s heart chakras. Find out how to help in this struggle for the earth. The site fills you in on this history and offers many ways to get involved in this imperative resistance – Black Mesa Indigenous Support (http://www.blackmesawatercoalition.org/http://blackmesais.org/http://cookielovescake.blogspot.com/2007/08/black-mesa-sheepherding-on-navajo.html). Also meeting with Ward Churchill (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Churchill )
Supporting the Soul: Reciprocity helps community organizations learn how to work together, repair entrenched problems (such as racism and homophobia), and heal frustration and burnout. A very cool organization primarily focused on, but not limited to, the southeastern states. P.O. Box 25244, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611, (919) 832-7406.
Education born out of civil rights movements: Clark Atlanta Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Provides a wealth of information about milestones in the environmental justice movement: main players, major programs, history, and current issues (http://www.ejrc.cau.edu/).
Girl’s Action Foundation http://www.girlsactionfoundation.ca/en/taxonomy/term/321
Black Mesa Indigenous Support (BMIS) is a grassroots, all volunteer run collective dedicated to working with and supporting the indigenous peoples of Black Mesa in their Struggle for Life and Land who are targeted by & resisting unjust large-scale coal mining operations and forced relocation policies of the US government.http://blackmesais.org/
For gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer youth all over the country. A veritable mall of resources and opportunities to create community.http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/youthresource
People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO) is a multi-ethnic, multi-issue community membership organization. We use organizing, direct action, policy research and analysis, leadership development, popular education, and coalition building to confront the issues that affect the lives of our membership. Our mission is to advocate for the needs of low-income residents of Oakland, most of them people of color, by grassroots organizing, offering leadership training and initiating policy reform.http://peopleunited.org/
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement is an organization of Afrikans in America/New Afrikans whose mission is to defend its people’s human rights and promote self-determination. http://ccrjustice.org/about-us/movement-support/malcolm-x-grassroots-movement-%28mxgm%29
Urban Ecology was founded in 1975 by visionary architects and activists who believed that cities should serve both people and nature. From the beginning, Urban Ecology has used urban planning, ecology, and public participation to help design and build healthier cities. http://www.urbanecology.org/