#nonprofit ⁠community justice

[transformationsproject]

Good News This Week!

We are kicking off this week by celebrating good news from New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Missouri! Learn more below.

[bfpnola]

ID by our volunteer Wren: all slides have a background of a pale green-yellow to light blue gradient. The first slide is titled "who are we?" in light blue text with a thin dark blue outline. The title follows the curve of a large white ring in the center of the slide, which circles BFP's logo. Inside the ring and below the logo, blue text reads "building a better future worldwide for youth. by youth." End ID.

ID: all slides except the first have a dashed-line white border around the slide. the second slide is titled "welcome!" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on a white background that reads, "hey! we're better future program (BFP)! founded in 2016 in bulbancha (so-called new orleans, louisiana, usa), we are an entirely youth-run registered nonprofit [globe emoji]

our mission is to globally expand peer-led political education, support, and imagination for marginalized youth!

we actually achieve this goal through offering 3,000+ free resources through our liberation library, providing 60+ youth with the leadership roles and tools to host their very own social justice teach-ins, 24/7 peer support through our discord server, mutual aid-based fundraising campaigns, and so much more to come! [speaking emoji].” in the bottom right corner, the number 1 is circled. End ID.

ID: the third slide is titled "guiding principles" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "what sort of values guide our work?" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "[chick emojil youth-centricity [arrow] we understand youth as an oppressed class and thus we center the voices of youth in everything that we do!

[fist emoji] self-liberation [arrow] all volunteers should be at the forefront of their own liberation. allies are meant to uplift, not overstep

[window emoji] transparency [arrow] staying open and honest about all BFP-related actions and intentions

[check emoji] accountability [arrow] holding ourselves and our peers responsible, with an eye to fairness regarding capabilities and knowledge". in the bottom right corner, the number 2 is circled. End ID.

ID: the fourth slide is titled "guiding principles" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "just a few more! keep going!" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "[equal sign emoji] horizontality [arrow] valuing the decision-making abilities of our volunteers and thus, fostering power alongside one another rather than over each other

[hug emoji] community [arrow] valuing the impact of a shared story, collaboration, and an effective, non-carceral support system

[woman emoji] intersectionality [arrow] recognizing how various aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege". in the bottom right corner, the number 3 is circled. End ID.

ID: the fifth slide is titled "core beliefs" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "we wholeheartedly believe in and support:" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide's text is a list, starting with red text at the top, with each list item changing to another colour of the rainbow until the list ends with red again.

The list reads: "the right to organize, youth liberation, religious liberty, climate action, gender equity, bodily autonomy, abolition, anti-authoritarianism, educational equity, anti-racism, disability justice, decolonization, queer/lgbtq+ liberation, fat liberation, caste abolition, anti capitalism.”

at the bottom of the slide, blue text on a white background reads "[magnifying glass emoji] betterfutureprogram.org/about-bfp". in the bottom right corner, the number 4 is circled. End ID.

ID: the sixth slide is titled "our structure" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "BFP reinforces our principle of horizontality through committees! each committee forms its own interdependent goals and initiatives to fulfill which are discussed during international, weekly meetings via zoom [film camera emoji].

additionally, we use 'consensus-based decision making', in which every concern is acknowledged before moving forward

this horizontal structure also allows for more flexibility and adaptability in terms of our roles! this doesn't mean there aren't challenges, of course, but we think those challenges are worth the benefits! [green heart emoji]”. in the bottom right corner, the number 5 is circled. End ID.

ID: the seventh slide is titled "upcoming" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "what we've been working on lately [hand clapping emoji]" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "we're in the process of starting global liberation schools, inspired by Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, the Black Panther Party's Oakland Community School, and Huey P. Newton's theory of ractionary and revolutionary intercommunalism.

and we've already got 3 schools in the making! look out for BFP in washington, dcand new orleans, la in the united states as well as sydney, nsw in australia! [australian flag emoji]

if you're confused about any of those names/titles/theories above or want to start political education classes near you, join us (& bring a friend!) [smiling covering mouth emoji]". in the bottom right corner, the number 6 is circled. End ID.

the eighth slide is titled "getting involved" in blue text on a white rectangle. the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "1) BFP is always looking for new youth volunteers to uplift and empower. if you're 25 or younger, you may be eligible for a leadership position! application in our bio!

2) if you still want to get involved but with fewer responsibilities, we've also got a general volunteers committee just for you! same application, same bio [hand holding pencil emoji]

3) if you don't have the time or capacity? don't worry! we'll still be here. instead, you can interact with our international community via discord! we've got game nights, cultural presentations, study sessions, and more, so feel free to join us! ([link emoji] in bio. again. lol)". in the bottom right corner, the number 7 is circled. End ID.

ID: the ninth slide is titled "donate" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "feeling a lil generous? [looking eyes emoji]" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "we're now accepting donations! your gift will go towards promotional and material resources for our teach-ins, supporting artists of color, our mutual aid network, and even creating paid internships in the future!"

below, blue text with a dark blue outline reads "scan the qr code.” it's beside a qr code.

below, blue text on a white background reads "EIN: 88-2043966.”

[magnifying glass emoji] betterfutureprogram.org/donate". in the bottom right corner, the number 8 is circled. End ID.

Welcome, welcome! We'd like to reintroduce ourselves, especially with such an exciting initiative on the way! BFP (@bfpnola) is starting GLOBAL liberation schools and we'd love your support. Get the word out! And if anyone ever asks, "Oh, what's BFP? What are they working on?," just send them this post! 🤍

[usadvlottery]

Immigrant Legal Aid Policies in the United States encompass a set of regulations and initiatives designed to provide legal assistance and support to individuals navigating the complex immigration system. These policies aim to ensure that immigrants, regardless of their status, have access to fair representation, information, and resources. Legal aid organizations collaborate with government agencies, pro bono attorneys, and community partners to offer services such as legal consultations, representation in immigration court proceedings, and advocacy for the protection of immigrants' rights. These policies reflect the commitment to upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and inclusive, recognizing the importance of a robust legal framework to address the diverse needs of the immigrant population in the United States.

[windsails]

nonprofits are overrated. if you really wanted to help people you would prove economic democracy, helping others, and improving communities is popular and profitable and actually start taking over huge sections of the economy to democratize them and organize apps, software, logistical systems, communities to run it all. in other words, profiting collectively from the redistribution wealth and power to the people of the world

[theshedding]

On this day of the gutting of #AffirmativeAction, advocacy and a few other things-here's a thought about the Atheist "Community" as I've experienced it:

(1) "Community” is not having a few drinks and laughs together at a conference or rally. (2) When a person is perceived as “useful”, people will cover-up for them. When they are not, they will be treated with indifference. (3) The George Floyd & "BLM" social justice wave provided non-profits everywhere a platform of opportunism disguised as care.

____________

So many thoughts worth comment on regarding blatant hypocrisy of the formalized Secular Humanist & Atheist Community-especially concerning its use of Black people for #DEI bona fides. However in general, this one resonates with me the most:

-> Opportunism disguised as "care" is not "community".

[froggin777]

Recently was talking with a person from a bigger city who was visiting my town and they asked me how I get conservatives to listen to my activism work. And like I did give them the like quick answer of I use talking points that they agree with and that we develop talking points for everyone, but I really wanted to say that everyone is human.

We love and hate things all the same. If you are good at talking and debate you can get people to at least side with you or think about what they are saying more critically. We had a guest that was stopping by to talk about something on our table that their org provide materials on and I watched them over and over not get or keep people attention.

They would try to find the root cause of what the person was saying was wrong instead of just falling back on the talking points that they literally made. I tried giving them advice at one point (don’t just keep walking up to people to talk wait for them to come to you) and they responded that all the people they spoke with for like a few seconds took their paper.

Papers that I bet almost none of them had read and just threw away at their earliest convenience. Small town or big city everyone is the same. We don’t want people bothering us! I had deeper conversations with a few people and even changed some people minds because I treat them as a fellow human, not just their age or sexuality or whatever status.

It just saddens me that many people don’t realize that small towns, red states, rural areas, etc have just as much wealth of knowledge and diverse thinking. As long as you don’t come on strong and really talk with people, connect with your neighbors you can change things. Everyone is human, please treat each other as such.

Occasionally I wonder if people sometimes forget not every gay person lives in New York or Seattle

[fiercemillennial]

Nonprofit Spotlight: 10 Organizations Making a Difference

👑 Let’s talk impact! These 10 African American nonprofits are leading the charge in social justice, health, education, and more. From dismantling systemic inequality to empowering Black women and youth, they’re putting in the WORK. Get inspired and get involved. #FierceImpact #BlackNonprofits #CommunityChange #SocialJustice #FierceMillennial

Powerhouses Driving Change in Communities, Careers, and Beyond Nonprofits are the heart and soul of social change. They are the unsung heroes doing the groundwork to elevate marginalized communities, tackle systemic challenges, and give back where it’s needed the most. For the Black community, African American-led nonprofits are essential in everything from healthcare disparities and educational…

[therealmattnappo]

Youth Activism - How Today's Generation Sparks Change! #shorts

[screechingcollectorfun]

[astrongcity]

Southeast Healthcare, Inc. Client Rights Officer Attempts to Intimidate A STRONG CITY

After leaving a client all but dead three years ago following a series of nearly deadly brutal attacks, yesterday Jennifer O’Leary, Client Rights Officer at Southeast Healthcare, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio, sent an email, left a voicemail message, and called attempting to intimidate a client and A STRONG CITY into removing truthful videos posted to its YouTube channel showing, among other neglectful…

[cascadia-stack-blog]

Social Entrepreneur Update

It's been way too long since I've posted. Cascadia Stack is now a fiscally sponsored project of CascadiaNow a 501c3 nonprofit, which means for a portion of Stack's donations, I get all of the backend financial stuff taken from me, the project gets to work on it's programs without those stresses.

Cascadia Stack has held 3 events. Two Climate Resilience Circle gatherings and one Spanish preparedness workshop. The response has been lukewarm, although the Instagram followers are now over 150.

Our next Circle is Feb. 18 and the next Spanish preparedness workshop is Mar. 16. Our new website just landed, through Squarespace: www cascadiastack org

The problem is two-fold. One, finding free or very cheap indoor gathering spaces. And I believe we can solve that by partnering with organizations whose client base is our target audience, too. And that is precisely what I am working on now. Second problem is, just getting people at organizations to trust so that they spread the word to their base. Our events have had less than 10 people at each one. The money raised has not been close to what the professional facilitators should be paid.

That is the rant for now, but I am very excited for the upcoming partnerships that may be shaping!

[rodspurethoughts]

Walmart Foundation and LISC launch $1.5M Equitable Food Access Grant Program to Address Food Inequity in Under-Resourced Communities

The Walmart Foundation has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to launch a $1.5 million grant program aimed at expanding access to healthy, affordable food in under-resourced communities. The program, known as the Equitable Food Access grant program, is focused on the Southeast region and will fund eight community-based nonprofits led by people of color. The program…

[rsabmp]

WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE सामाजिक न्याय का विश्व दिवस सदस्य राज्यों, युवाओं, सामाजिक भागीदारों, नागरिक समाज, संयुक्त राष्ट्र संगठनों और अन्य हितधारकों के साथ सामाजिक अनुबंध को मजबूत करने के लिए आवश्यक कार्यों पर बातचीत को बढ़ावा देने का अवसर प्रदान करता है जो बढ़ती असमानताओं, संघर्षों और कमजोर संस्थानों से टूट गया है। श्रमिकों के अधिकारों की रक्षा करना है। इन कई संकटों के बावजूद, सामाजिक न्याय के लिए एक गठबंधन बनाने और हरित, डिजिटल और देखभाल अर्थव्यवस्था और युवा लोगों पर विशेष ध्यान देने के साथ अच्छी नौकरियों में अधिक निवेश करने के कई अवसर हैं। इस वर्ष की थीम वैश्विक एकजुटता को मजबूत करने और "सामाजिक न्याय के लिए बाधाओं पर काबू पाने और अवसरों को उजागर करने" द्वारा सरकार में विश्वास को फिर से बनाने के लिए हमारे आम एजेंडा की सिफारिशों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करेगी। #socialjustice #blacklivesmatter #justice #humanrights #equality #blm #activism #love #community #racism #education #covid #criminaljusticereform #mentalhealth #nonprofit #racialjustice #feminism #antiracism #bethechange #activist #politics #equity #civilrights #freedom #nojusticenopeace #criminaljustice #diversity #socialchange #prisonreform #vote (at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co6Mvd0p3r7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fluidsberlin]

#activism #activist #blacklivesmatter #feminism #humanrights #equality #socialjustice #love #change #nonprofit #community #blm #feminist #justice #art #protest #politics #charity #dogood #climatechange #socialgood #intersectional #volunteer #actup #speakyourmind #lgbtq #education #philanthropy #causes #raiseawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn9FCbIsuMF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[reasonsforhope]

"Tuesday’s [April 9, 2024] definition-shifting court ruling means nearly 50 governments must now contend with a new era of climate litigation.

Governments be warned: You must protect your citizens from climate change — it’s their human right.

The prescient message was laced throughout a dense ruling Tuesday from Europe’s top human rights court. The court’s conclusion? Humans have a right to safety from climate catastrophes that is rooted in their right to life, privacy and family.

The definition-shifting decision from the European Court of Human Rights means nearly 50 governments representing almost 700 million people will now have to contend with a new era of litigation from climate-stricken communities alleging inaction. 

While the judgment itself doesn’t include any penalties — the case featured several women accusing Switzerland of failing to shield them from climate dangers — it does establish a potent precedent that people can use to sue governments in national courts.

The verdict will serve “as a blueprint for how to successfully sue your own government over climate failures,” said Ruth Delbaere, a legal specialist at Avaaz, a U.S.-based nonprofit that promotes climate activism...

Courting the courts on climate

The European Court of Human Rights was established in the decade following World War II but has grown in importance over the last generation. As the judicial arm of the Council of Europe, an international human rights organization, the court’s rulings are binding on the council’s 46 members, spanning all of Europe and numerous countries on its borders.

As a result, Tuesday’s [April 9, 2024] ruling will help elevate climate litigation from a country-by-country battle to one that stretches across continents.

Previously, climate activists had mostly found success in suing individual countries to force climate action. 

A 2019 Dutch Supreme Court verdict forced the Netherlands to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, while in 2021 a French court ruled the government was responsible for environmental damage after it failed to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals. That same year, Germany’s Constitutional Court issued a sweeping judgment that the country’s 2019 climate law was partly “unconstitutional” because it put too much of the emissions-cutting burden on future generations.

Even in the U.S., young environmental activists won a local case last year against state agencies after arguing that the continued use of fossil fuels violated their right to a "clean and healthful environment."

But 2024 is shaping up to be a turning point for climate litigation, redefining who has a right to sue over climate issues, what arguments they can use, and whom they can target. 

To start, experts overwhelmingly expect that Tuesday’s ruling will reverberate across future lawsuits — both in Europe and globally. The judgment even includes specifics about what steps governments must take to comply with their new climate-related human rights obligations. The list includes things like a concrete deadline to reach climate neutrality, a pathway to getting there, and evidence the country is actually on that path...

Concretely, the verdict could also affect the outcomes of six other high-profile climate lawsuits pending before the human rights court, including a Greenpeace-backed suit questioning whether Norway's decision to grant new oil and gas licenses complies with its carbon-cutting strategy.

An emerging legal strategy

In the coming months, other international bodies are also expected to issue their own rulings on the same thorny legal issues, which could further solidify the evolving trend. 

The International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights all have similar cases working through the system.

"All these cases together will clarify the legal obligations of states to protect rights in the context of climate change — and will set the stage for decades to come," said Chowdhury, from the environmental law center."

-via Politico, April 9, 2024