Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is a nonprofit organization founded by Van Jones in 1996, named after the renowned African American Civil Rights Movement leader Ella Baker. The center is located in Oakland, California, and its work is inspired by the legacy of Ella Baker, who worked closely with prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and W.E.B. Du Bois. The organization's efforts are also informed by the principles of social justice and human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United States Constitution. The center's work is often compared to that of other notable organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● History

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights was established in 1996 by Van Jones, a Yale Law School graduate and civil rights activist, with the goal of promoting social justice and human rights in the United States. The center's early work focused on issues such as police brutality, mass incarceration, and racial profiling, which were also being addressed by organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center's founders were influenced by the work of Ella Baker, who played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, working alongside leaders such as Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Stokely Carmichael. The center's history is also connected to the broader context of social movements in the United States, including the Labor Movement, the Women's Suffrage Movement, and the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

● Mission and Work

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is dedicated to advancing human rights and social justice through a variety of programs and initiatives. The center's mission is to challenge systemic inequality and promote community-led solutions to social problems, in partnership with organizations such as the ACLU of Northern California and the California Endowment. The center's work is guided by the principles of participatory democracy, community empowerment, and human rights, as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The center's staff and board members have worked with a range of organizations, including the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the National Council of Churches, to advance social justice and human rights.

● Programs and Initiatives

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights operates a range of programs and initiatives focused on issues such as criminal justice reform, youth empowerment, and community development. The center's programs include the Books Not Bars initiative, which aims to reduce youth incarceration and promote education and job training for young people, in partnership with organizations such as the California Department of Education and the Oakland Unified School District. The center also operates the Heal the Streets initiative, which provides community-based services and support to individuals and families affected by violence and trauma, in collaboration with organizations such as the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency and the City of Oakland. The center's work is also connected to the broader context of social welfare and human services, including the work of organizations such as the United Way and the Salvation Army.

● Notable Campaigns and Achievements

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights has been involved in a number of notable campaigns and achievements, including the California Proposition 47 campaign, which aimed to reduce mass incarceration and promote community-based solutions to crime, in partnership with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of California and the California NAACP. The center has also worked on campaigns to promote police accountability and community policing, in collaboration with organizations such as the Oakland Police Department and the National Association of Police Organizations. The center's work has been recognized by a range of organizations, including the Ford Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which have provided funding and support for the center's programs and initiatives.

● Leadership and Partnerships

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is led by a team of experienced social justice activists and community leaders, including Van Jones, who serves as the center's co-founder and president. The center's board of directors includes a range of notable figures, such as Angela Davis, Cornel West, and Danny Glover, who have worked with organizations such as the National Council of Churches and the American Friends Service Committee. The center has also partnered with a range of organizations, including the ACLU of Northern California, the California Endowment, and the Ford Foundation, to advance social justice and human rights in the United States and around the world, including in countries such as South Africa, Brazil, and India. The center's partnerships are also connected to the broader context of international human rights law, including the work of organizations such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.