In line with the mission of our Center for Race, Equity, Justice and Inclusion, during Black History Month we are proud to highlight some of the region's most prominent organizations that focus their missions on justice, inclusion, and equity for Black communities today.
ACLU of DC
The ACLU of the District of Columbia is a nonprofit organization with more than 14,000 local members that fights to protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights through litigation, legislation, and public education for people who live in, work in, and visit D.C., and in matters involving federal employees and agencies. The ACLU of the District of Columbia is an affiliate of the national ACLU organization.
The ACLU-D.C. focuses on a wide array of civil rights issues, including, but not limited to, Racial Justice, D.C. Statehood, Free Speech, Voting Rights, and Criminal Justice Reform. In tandem. the organization has compiled a comprehensive "Know Your Rights" resource center and information to request legal help for civil liberties and civil rights violations on their website.
The ACLU-D.C. was founded in 1961 as the ACLU of the National Capital Area. It was officially renamed as the ACLU of the District of Columbia in 2017. It has been a Center member since 2021. Read more about their great work.
National Black Church Initiative
NBCI's mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public by utilizing faith and sound health science. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the box and cutting-edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues and partners with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above.
In 2021, the National Black Church Initiative launched "The NBCI 5 Plan," which includes expanding staff, increasing financial literacy, and tackling both adult and childhood obesity in the community.
Rev. Anthony Evans became President/CEO of the NBCI in 1992 and has since lead the coalition of 34,000 churches through initiatives on behalf of social and economic justice issues. The NBCI was founded in 1991 and has been a Center member since 2019. Read more about their great work.
The National Black Caucus of State Legislators
NBCSL’s primary mission is to develop, conduct and promote educational, research, and training programs designed to enhance the effectiveness of its members, as they consider legislation and issues of public policy which impact, either directly or indirectly, upon "the general welfare" of African American constituents within their respective jurisdictions.
NBCSL is the nation's premier organization exclusively representing and serving the interests of African American State legislators and their constituents. Their 700 members hail from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands, and represent more than 60 million Americans.
Billy Mitchell, State Representative from Georgia, serves as president of the Executive Committee. The NBCSL was founded in 1977 and has been a Center member since 2021. Read more about their great work.
The National Black Justice Coalition
Their mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ+/SGL bias and stigma. NBJC supports Black individuals, families, and communities in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ+/SGL equity.
Executive Director David J. Johns is known for his passion, public policy acumen and fierce advocacy for youth and started at the NBJC in 2017. Recently, he presented a testimony to the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion in November of 2021.
The NBJC formed in 2003 and has been a Center member since 2011. Read more about their great work.
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
The National Coalition strives to create an enlightened community by building institutional capacity at both the national and local levels that provides and develops African American leadership. By educating, organizing and mobilizing citizens in our communities, the Coalition seeks to encourage full participation in a barrier-free democracy. The National Coalition adopted a year-round civic engagement program structure in 2003 and has established twelve (12) state-based affiliates and networks to maximize its ability to increase Black civic engagement and voter participation on a year-round basis.
President and CEO Melanie L. Campbell started in 1995. Recently, she signed a letter with other Black women leaders to President Biden about the recent announcement to nominate a Black woman on the Supreme Court.
The NBJC was founded in 1976 and has been a Center member since 2019. Read more about their great work.
National Forum for Black Public Administrators
The NFBPA's mission is to serve as a catalyst for linking public and private organizations, as well as academic institutions to support the professional development of African-Americans choosing public service careers. Its work surrounds the Core Values of accountability, commitment, excellence, inspiring, and integrity.
Members of the organization are leaders and managers of public programs and agencies in more than 350 jurisdictions nationwide and thirty-six chapters at the local level. Additionally, the NFBPA has a huge amount of resources from Racial Bias resources to a Mentor Program that extend throughout their membership sectors. In March, the NFBPA is hosting its FORUM 2022, an annual conference that provides educational tracks for administrators, students, and sponsors over four days.
The NFBPA was founded in 1983 and has been a Center member since 1999. Read more about their great work.
OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, & Falls Church
OAR is a community-based nonprofit which envisions a safe and thriving community where those impacted by the legal system enjoy equal civil and human rights. OAR focuses on both upstream and downstream work in order to create this environment, including confronting and dismantling racism in the legal system and aid individuals returning to the community from incarceration.
In recent years, OAR and others have recognized and started to challenge the systemic racism responsible for mass incarceration and other structural inequalities in the community and country. OAR journeys with individuals who have been affected by mass incarceration and works to end the systemic injustices created by racism across all systems. In FY 2019, OAR worked with 1,990 unique individuals of all genders and their families. Community Service program participants included 1,334 adults and youth of all genders, and 708 adults of all genders received reentry support before and/or after release from incarceration.
Executive Director Elizabeth Jones Valderrama won the Center's 2020 EXCEL Award and spoke about Ethical Storytelling and Diversifying Your Staff in the video series.
The Offender Aid and Restoration movement was launched in 1968, but OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, & Falls Church was founded in 1974 and has been a Center member since 2019. Read more about their great work.
YWCA National Capital Area
YWCA National Capital Area dismantles barriers faced by women, girls, and people of color as they work to develop and sustain healthy lives. Through trainings in digital literacy, certification training, GED test preparation, and in many other subjects, the organization meets educational goals designed for participants to succeed. Outside of structured educational training, the organization also offers middle and high school girls academic and personal enrichment through mentoring, tutoring, field trips, and community service projects.
CEO Monica Gray is an outspoken leader in her community, and her speech at the 2021 Stand Against Racism Rally can be found here.
The YWCA National Capital Area was founded in 1905 and has been a Center member since 2010. Read more about their great work.