Center for Community Change

Center for Community Change is a non-profit organization that focuses on social justice and community development, working closely with National Council of La Raza, Service Employees International Union, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The organization has been involved in various initiatives, including immigration reform, voting rights, and economic justice, often collaborating with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American Civil Liberties Union, and Sierra Club. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Center for Community Change has been a key player in shaping public policy and advocating for the rights of low-income communities, working alongside Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democratic National Committee, and Republican National Committee.

● History

The Center for Community Change was founded in 1968 by Jack Heaney, Jim Gollin, and other social activists, with the goal of supporting community organizing and social change efforts, inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-War Movement. Over the years, the organization has been led by notable figures such as Heaney, Gollin, and Deepak Bhargava, who have played a crucial role in shaping its mission and activities, often working with Martin Luther King III, Jesse Jackson, and Ralph Nader. The Center for Community Change has also been influenced by the work of Saul Alinsky, Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta, and has collaborated with organizations such as United Farm Workers, National Organization for Women, and Greenpeace.

● Mission and Activities

The mission of the Center for Community Change is to build the power and capacity of low-income communities to improve their economic and social conditions, often working with AFL-CIO, National Education Association, and American Federation of Teachers. The organization achieves this through a range of activities, including community organizing, policy advocacy, and leadership development, frequently partnering with Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. The Center for Community Change also works to promote social justice and human rights, addressing issues such as income inequality, racial justice, and immigrant rights, in collaboration with Southern Poverty Law Center, Human Rights Campaign, and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

● Organization and Leadership

The Center for Community Change is led by a team of experienced social justice leaders, including Dorian Warren, who serves as the organization's president, and has worked with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. The organization's board of directors includes notable figures such as Ana Maria Archila, Linda Sarsour, and Ai-jen Poo, who have been involved in various social movements and have worked with organizations such as National Domestic Workers Alliance, Women's March, and Black Lives Matter. The Center for Community Change also has a network of community organizers and leaders who work on the ground to build power and promote social change, often collaborating with ACORN, National People's Action, and PICO National Network.

● Programs and Initiatives

The Center for Community Change has a range of programs and initiatives that focus on community organizing, policy advocacy, and leadership development, including the Community Change Fellowship, which provides training and support to community organizers, and has partnered with Rockefeller Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The organization also has initiatives such as the Economic Justice Program, which works to promote economic justice and address income inequality, often working with Economic Policy Institute, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Institute for Policy Studies. Additionally, the Center for Community Change has programs such as the Immigrant Rights Program, which advocates for the rights of immigrants and refugees, in collaboration with American Immigration Council, National Immigration Law Center, and Refugee Council USA.

● Impact and Notable Achievements

The Center for Community Change has had a significant impact on social justice and community development efforts, working with organizations such as Oxfam America, Save the Children, and Habitat for Humanity. The organization has been involved in various notable achievements, including the passage of the Dream Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and has collaborated with United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, and White House. The Center for Community Change has also played a key role in promoting voting rights and democracy reform, working with League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and Brennan Center for Justice. Overall, the organization's work has helped to build power and promote social change in low-income communities, often working with National Urban League, United Way, and Catholic Charities USA. Category:Social justice organizations