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• 1 2016-11-28T14:42:39-08:00 Social Justice Nonprofits 35 plain 352554 2016-12-05T12:56:01-08:00

  What is Social Justice?

  According to the National Association of Social Workers, social justice "is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities." This idea is central to the concept of being a free country that accepts people of all races, ethnicities, religions, beliefs, and values. However, in practice, our society lacks social justice. For example, Shawn Ginwright found that  "African American youth are six times more likely to be incarcerated and receive longer sentences than do their white counterparts" (Ginwright 82). Such a vast difference in sentencing rates shows a great injustice to a specific race, something that goes against what our law dictates. In order to ameliorate this problem, Ginwright suggests that "a social justice model for youth development provides youth workers, researchers, policymakers, and young people with a new lens for examining old problems" (93). In essence, social justice is a viewpoint that encourages equality for all, and justice for those experiencing unequal treatment. 
   

  A Brief History of Social Justice

  The concept of social justice emerged in late 18th century when society first started to have thoughts on the eradication of poverty and people began to discuss issues of inequality and resource allocation. Factions with varying views on the outcomes of this new movement formed, but it wasn't until the 20th century that political leaders started to acknowledge social justice issues. As a consequence of this increased awareness of the problems plaguing society, people started to form organizations, nonprofits, and many other form of advocacy groups to combat these issues.

  Why are Social Justice Nonprofits Important?

  These types of nonprofits are important because their supporters protect and fight for the human rights of all citizens. Society may be more progressive in modern times, but various laws and systemic issues exist that hinder more progress from happening and promotion of inequality. These oppressing laws and systemic problems are often deeply ingrained in the institutions that are supposed to help us. When our government institutions fail to mitigate injustice, social justice nonprofits intervene.
  Linda Donaldson, an Associate Professor at Catholic University of America explains the importance of social justice nonprofits:
  • "The current socio-political environment has sharpened the focus on the need for human service agencies to advocate for policies, programs, and resources that improve the lives of vulnerable populations" (Donaldson 140).
  • "The nonprofit sector makes an enormous contribution to society providing needed services to disadvantaged populations by offering vehicles for charitable and volunteer impulses...and serving as a moral compass for responses to social problems" (Donaldson 141).
  Charities advocating social justice not only wish to eliminate inequalities, they also want to acknowledge how they occurred in the first place. People who are ignorant or indifferent of many issues may have a change in heart because of the advocacy of social justice nonprofits. Without these NGOs, who would help in the elevation of oppressed and minority groups in Cleveland, our communities back home, or the world?
   

  Criteria for Determining All-Star Social Justice Nonprofits

  1. How fiscally responsible and effective each nonprofit is
  2. How successful the nonprofit is
  3. How well the nonprofit meets social needs
  4. How beneficiaries view the nonprofit
   

  National Social Justice All-Stars 

  American Association of Retired Persons 

  "AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families -- such as health care, employment and income security, and protection from financial abuse." 
   

  Human Rights Campaign

  "The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together serve as America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community."
   

  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

  "The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination." 
   

  Planned Parenthood 

  "Planned Parenthood believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence. We believe that respect and value for diversity in all aspects of our organization are essential to our well-being. We believe that reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and preserve the individual's right to privacy. We further believe that such self-determination will contribute to an enhancement of the quality of life and strong family relationships." 
   

  National Organization for Women 

  "The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men."