Advocacy

Minneapolis Urban League:

http://www.mul.org/

The Minneapolis Urban League has a dual mission to provide human services and advocacy. They provide assistance to individuals and families and advocate on behalf of all people of color in the state of Minnesota.

St. Paul Urban League:

http://www.spul.org/

The Saint Paul Urban League is a nonprofit human service and human rights organization which is affiliated with the National Urban League headquartered in New York City. The Saint Urban Paul League serves as a forceful advocate for African Americans, other minorities, and the poor, and uses a variety of disciplines including social work, economics, public administration, and law to secure equal opportunities in all sectors of society for its constituents.

Minneapolis Chapter of the NAACP

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 racial hatred and racial discrimination.

St. Paul Chapter of the NAACP

ISAIAH

http://www.gamaliel.org/ISAIAH/

ISAIAH is a faith-based coalition that teaches leadership skills and provides vehicles to develop those skills by working together to achieve social, economic, and racial justice in our community.

Urban Coalition

http://www.airpi.org/research/urbncoal.html

The Urban Coalition's mission is to increase the capacity of low income, African American, American Indian, Asian and Chicano/Latino people and communities to address political, social and economic concerns.

ACORN

http://www.acorn.org

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) builds power within low- to moderate-income communities through grass roots organizing. They focus on housing, wages, job training, local business investment, schools, and crime.

Hawthorne Community Council

http://www.hawthornecommunity.org/

The mission of the Hawthorne Community Council is to improve the quality of life in the Hawthorne neighborhood through empowering the residents so they can address the physical, cultural, social, and economic needs of the community.

Advocacy (Specific to Criminal Justice)

Communities United Against Police Brutality

http://www.cuapb.org/HomePage.asp

Communities United Against Police Brutality is a Twin-Cities based organization created to deal with police brutality. Their overriding goal is to create a climate of resistance to abuse of authority by police organizations, and to empower communities to effectively deal with police brutality.

Minneapolis Police-Community Relations Council:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/about/mcu/meetings-dates.asp

The Unity Community Team and the Minneapolis Police Department entered into an agreement dedicated to protecting safety and the human rights, civil rights, and legal rights of all Minneapolis residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, language, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, mental health, age, economic status or disability status.

Barbara Schneider Foundation:

http://www.barbaraschneiderfoundation.org/

The Barbara Schneider Foundation (BSF) and Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) work together to improve the mental health crisis response.

African American

African American Men Project

http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/vgn/portal/

The African American Men Project (AAMP) is a strategic initiative that strives to enhance and empower African American men and their families through leadership, policy-making and infrastructure building in the areas of education, housing, family structure, health, economic empowerment, criminal justice, community involvement, fundraising and communications.

American Indian (Research, Advocacy, Education)

American Indian Policy Center:

http://www.airpi.org/

The American Indian Policy Center (AIPC) is a non-profit serving the Midwest Indian community. It provides a forum for communities to discuss the challenges of contemporary Indian life--a place for diverse and divergent voices and perspectives. The Center focuses on research, policy development and education on critical issues.

Minnesota Indian Affairs Council:

http://www.cri-bsu.org/IA_web/htdocs/

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC) is the official liaison between the State of Minnesota and the 11 tribal Governments within the state. The Council advises state government on issues of concern to urban Indian communities. The Council administers three programs designed to enhance economic opportunities and protect cultural resources for the state's American Indian constituencies.

American Indian Safety Council:

http://www.women-of-nations.org/

AISC engages in a wide range of activities from direct action and advocacy to police training and mobilizing the community to police itself. The Council works with police officers to provide training and interaction that ensures law enforcement view Americans Indians as part of the community policing solution.

Anishinabe Wakiagun

http://www.endhomelessness.org/best/anishinabe.htm

Anishinabe Wakiagun is a board and lodging facility for late-stage chronic inebriates. The philosophy of Anishinabe Wakiagun is to reduce the public cost of providing services while at the same time providing a more stable living environment for the resident.

American Indian Opportunity Industrialization Center

The American Indian Occupational Industrial Center provides educational and vocational training for American Indian adults.

Asian American

Asian Americans in Philanthropy

http://www.aapip.org/about.php?section=chapters&sub=chapter3

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy supports the work of APAs in philanthropy, encourage APA giving, become a resource for donors and communities and serve as an incubator of new ideas and approaches for social justice philanthropy.

Business

Itasca Project

http://www.theitascaproject.com/

The Itasca Project is an association of forty-plus community leaders including CEOs, the Governor, the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the President of the University of Minnesota. One of their primary goals is to develop a business perspective to address regional socio-economic disparities.

Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce

http://www.minnesotabcc.org/

MBCC is a vibrant, committed organization of area businesses owned by Africans and Black Americans. The Minnesota Black Chamber Of Commerce serves as a clearinghouse, referral service, and a small business initiation tool to better equip and inform its members of current and necessary business requirements.

Education

AMazeworks:

http://www.amazeworks.org/

AMaze is an organization of parents, teachers, community activists and religious educators who conduct anti-bias education in public and private K-12 schools, after-school, social service settings, and religious education programs. In these times of intolerance, AMaze is reaching up and out to expand its collaborations and better support the hundreds of volunteers engaged in the fight for human and civil rights for all.

Al-Furqan Educational Institute

http://www.alfurqaned.com/

Al-Furqan is a non-profit committed to the betterment of society through education. They have two main programs - the Prison Vision Outreach Program and the Youth program.

Minnesota Correctional Education Foundation

http://www.mcef.info/

The Minnesota Correctional Education Foundation (MCEF) is a statewide charity working to establish, fund, and coordinate college and vocational opportunities at state correctional facilities. MCEF will serve as the steward of private and public funds dedicated to supporting the higher education needs of offenders in Minnesota's correctional facilities.

MN Minority Education Partnership

http://www.mmep.net

MMEP is a nonprofit collaborative that seeks to increase the success of Minnesota students of color. MMEP is founded on the belief that inclusive collaboration and action drives true systemic change. MMEP works closely with students, parents, communities of color, business, government and other nonprofits on innovative strategies that help students succeed.

MCAN (College Access Network)

http://www.mmep.net/Minnesota_College_Access_Network_MCAN.html

The Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Inc. (MMEP) is a nonprofit collaborative, founded in 1987, that seeks to increase the success of students of color in Minnesota schools, colleges, and universities. MMEP work toward achieving its mission by working closely with students, the communities of color and representatives from education, business, government and nonprofits to develop programs that help students of color succeed academically.

MCTC

http://www.minneapolis.edu/

MCTC's mission is to provide high quality, lifelong learning programs. They offer a spectrum of academic programs, including certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

Achieve! Minneapolis

http://www.achieveminneapolis.org/

The mission of Achieve!Minneapolis is to galvanize community resources to help all Minneapolis Public School students succeed in school and become productive citizens. Achieve! Minneapolis is working on Minneapolis' "Close the Gap" campaign to place students in summer jobs.

Community of Peace Academy

http://www.cpa.charter.k12.mn.us/

The Community of Peace Academy is a public charter school for racially and culturally diverse kids. It provides a peaceful, nonviolent environment.

Employment

Organizing Apprenticeship Project

http://www.oaproject.org/

The Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP) works to strengthen communities organizing in Minnesota by increasing the number, effectiveness and diversity of community organizers, leaders and organizing projects in the state. The OAP is currently working with the Applied Research Center to implement a two-day training curriculum on race. In the future, they may also construct race equity report cards on legislators in Minnesota.

Twin Cities RISE

http://www.twincitiesrise.org/

The mission of Twin Cities RISE! is to provide employers with skilled workers--primarily men from communities of color in the Twin Cities area--by training under- and unemployed adults for skilled jobs that pay a living wage of at least $20,000 per year with full benefits. Twin Cities RISE! graduates ex-offenders as well.

Project for Pride in Living

http://www.ppl-inc.org

Project in Pride for Living's mission is to assist lower-income individuals and families to work toward self-sufficiency by providing housing, jobs and training. They create opportunities for growth through affordable housing, jobs and employment readiness, personal support services, and youth development.

Jobs Now

http://www.jobsnowcoalition.org/

The JOBS NOW Coalition is committed to ensuring that all Minnesota workers will have the opportunity to earn a family-supporting wage. The Coalition advances its agenda through research, education, and advocacy.

HIRED

http://www.hired.org/

HIRED provides employment services for the disadvantaged, underemployed, and unemployed, including single parents, at-risk youth, and ex-offenders.

East Metro Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) Inc.

http://www.eastmetrooic.org/

The East Metro Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) Inc. provides recruitment, motivation, remediation, and vocational/behavioral training services for the unemployed, underemployed, unskilled, and incarcerated.

Family

Rebuilding Appropriate Parenting

http://www.reubenlindh.org

Rebuilding Appropriate Parenting connects with parents while they are still in chemical dependency treatment to offer a smooth, supportive transition to aftercare and sober living. They address the needs of the whole family, ranging from parenting concerns to relapse prevention.

African American Family Services

http://www.aafs.net/

The organization was founded to provide services to chemically dependent people in a culturally specific context. Its services have since expanded to encompass issues that often co-exist with chemical dependency, including family counseling, family violence, crisis intervention and home-based services.

MADDADS

http://www.mplsmaddads.org/

The Minneapolis Chapter of Men Against Destruction - Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder (MAD DADS) seeks to bring about positive change, and encourages, motivates and guides committed men and women in the struggle to save children, communities and themselves from the social ills that presently plague neighborhoods.

Keeping Families Connected

http://www.reubenlindh.org

Keeping Families Connected serves women with chemical dependency issues who are involved in the Hennepin County drug court. It provides comprehensive in-home family services as well.

Incarnation House

The Incarnation House is a stable, safe transitional housing facility for women who are chemically dependent and involved with child protective services. Its aim is to reunite women with their children in foster care.

Grants/Assistance

Minneapolis Foundation

http://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/

The Minneapolis Foundation provides grants and other services to nonprofit organizations throughout the state, primarily in the areas of affordable housing, educational achievement, economic opportunities, and the health and well-being of children, youth, and families.

St. Paul Foundation

http://www.saintpaulfoundation.org/
http://www.FacingRace.org

The Saint Paul Foundation's mission is to actively serve the people of the greater Saint Paul area by building permanent charitable capital, making philanthropic grants, and providing services that contribute to the health and vitality of the community. They are currently launching an initiative called Facing Race We're all in This Together™, a multi-year campaign aimed at positively changing the nature of personal, organizational, and institutional relationships. In order to create opportunities for individuals to talk about racism, Facing Race has developed a discussion tool called "New Conversations About Race and Racism."

Headwaters Foundation for Justice:

http://www.headwatersfoundation.org/

Headwaters Foundation for Justice is a catalyst for social, racial, economic and environmental justice. Through grant-making and organizational assistance, Headwaters supports grassroots groups addressing the root causes of injustice.

Minnesota Council of Non-Profits:

http://www.mncn.org/index.htm
http://www.mncn.org/antiracismvote.htm

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is an association of more than 1500 member organizations formed to strengthen the state's nonprofit sector - particularly in regard to management, governance, and public policy. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits works to continually inform, involve, strengthen, and increase the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector in Minnesota.

Otto Bremer Foundation

http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/bremer/

The mission of the Otto Bremer Foundation is to assist people in achieving full economic, civic and social participation in and for the betterment of their communities. Past Foundation grants have related to community justice and development.

Health

Access Works!

http://www.accessworks.org/

The mission of Access Works is to improve the health and reduce the harm to people impacted by the use of drugs through support, intervention, education, and disease prevention. Services are offered within the philosophy of harm reduction, which places first priority on reducing the negative consequences of drug use and addresses any harm that may exist in a person's life.

NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center

http://www.hennepin.us/vgn/portal/internet/hcdetailmaster/

NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center (NHWC) is committed to helping the members of our community live happier, healthier lives. NorthPoint is a one-stop center for medical, dental and social services that also provides interpreters for non-English speaking patients.

Hispanic/Latino

Centro Legal

http://www.centro-legal.org/

Centro Legal, Inc.'s mission is to provide affordable, quality, bilingual and bi-cultural legal representation, education and advocacy to the low-income Hispanic community of Minnesota who are underserved due to linguistic, cultural and economic barriers.

Chicano-Latino Affairs Council

http://www.clac.state.mn.us/

The Chicano Latino Affairs Council (CLAC) is a statewide government agency created by the legislature. The primary mission of CLAC is to advise the governor and the state legislature on the issues of importance to Minnesota's Chicano and Latino communities.

CLUES

http://www.clues.org

CLUES is Minnesota's premier Latino social and behavioral health services provider. They provide a continuum of five core services: Mental Health, Chemical Health, Education, Employment and Elder Wellness.

HACER

http://www.hacer.org/

The Hispanic American Center for Economic Research (HACER) is a nonprofit devoted to the study of issues pertinent to the countries of Hispanic America and Hispanic Americans living in the United States, especially as they relate to the values of personal and economic liberty, limited government under the rule of law, and individual responsibility. HACER authored one of the Council on Crime and Justice's studies on racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Latinos en Accion

http://www.afn.org/~lea/

Resource Center for the Americas

http://www.americas.org/

The Resource Center of the Americas informs, educates and organizes to promote human rights, democratic participation, economic justice and cross-cultural understanding in the context of globalization in the Americas.

La Opportunidad

http://www.oportunidad.org/

La Oportunidad, Inc. strives to eliminate violence by empowering individuals to develop peaceful relationships with themselves, their families, and their communities. Their Latinos Ending Abuse Program (LEAP) helps Latino adults to learn and apply skills that reduce violent behavior in relationships, families, and communities.

Housing

All Parks Alliance for Change (APAC):

http://www.allparksallianceforchange.org

All Parks Alliance for Change (APAC) protects the rights of residents of manufactured homes. APAC is at the forefront of bringing the concept of homeowner-controlled co-ops to trailer parks.

LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)

http://www.lisc.org/twin_cities

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is the nation's largest community development support organization. To date, Twin Cities LISC has secured over $118 million and built almost 4,300 homes.

Project for Pride in Living

http://www.ppl-inc.org

Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless

http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/

The Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless represents a wide array of constituencies and interests, including people who have experienced homelessness, low-income service providers, advocates for people who have experienced homelessness, labor groups, local units of government, and community activists. Their mission is to generate policies, community support, and local resources for housing and services to end homelessness in Minnesota.

Decriminalization of Homelessness Taskforce

The Decriminalization of Homelessness Taskforce conducts research and advocates for solutions to homelessness.

Information/Discussion

YWCA of Minneapolis:

http://www.ywca-minneapolis.org

The YWCA's Dialogues on Race offer their staff an opportunity to discuss racism and its effects. Dialogues cover a wide variety of topics, such as, 'Transforming our Fears in a Multicultural Society,' 'Racial Tolerance in Times of War,' 'Race and the Criminal Justice System,' and to discuss workplace scenarios (using anonymous names but real life incidents) to create understanding, respect, and improve race relations.

International Leadership Institute

http://www.internationalleadership.org/

The goal of the International Leadership Institute is to empower communities of color by promoting leadership, justice, peace, and democracy. It hosts a resource center, foreign policy round tables, and collaborates in community expungement drives.

BIHA

http://www.biha.org

Black, Indian, Hispanic, and Asian (BIHA) Women in Action provides education and information on social services for women of color and their families. It actively facilitates restorative justice program.

Islamic

Muslim American Society

http://www.masmn.org

Muslim American Society (MAS) is a charitable, religious, social, cultural, educational, and non-profit organization. It offers legal, financial, tax, and social services.

Justice System

180 Degrees

http://www.180degrees.org/

180 Degrees is a halfway house for men coming out of prison. It also extends transitional services to over 200 women and girls in correctional facilities and provides electronic home monitoring to over 2,100 court referrals around the Midwest.

AMICUS

http://www.amicususa.org/

AMICUS is a Minnesota nonprofit that improves public safety by helping inmates and ex-offenders develop positive relationship-building skills, participate in restorative justice practices and provide individualized transition services. Through innovative programming, AMICUS helps inmates and ex-offenders reshape their lives, reach their goals, and make successful transitions from prison into the community.

Supreme Court Racial Fairness Committee

http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/Publications/StateLinks/RacFaiStateLinks.htm#MN

With the establishment of the first racial and ethnic bias task force in 1988, bias and discrimination have diminished in courthouses across the nation. Each state task force has the same goals of 1) increasing access to justice; 2) improve jury pool representation; 3) promote diversity in court appointments; 4) provide adequate interpreter services; 5) promoting the availability of legal representation for the poor; and 6) encouraging diversity in the judiciary, law enforcement, and bar.

Uhuru solutions

http://www.fannielouhamer.info/uhuru.html">

Uhuru solutions is an organization made up of former gang members who patrol the streets in a project called "Safe Streets First" to persuade other youth to give up gang activities.

Urban Youth Conservation

http://www.uycon.org/

Urban Youth Conservation conducts outreach to divert young African Americans from gang-related activity.

Operation Denovo

http://www.operationdenovo.org/home.htm

Operation de Novo offers a new beginning and a chance for a brighter future by providing diversion services for adult and juvenile clients referred by Hennepin County Court, giving participants the opportunity to become valued, contributing members of society.

Portland House

http://www.lssmn.org/portland.htm

The Portland House's mission is to provide a community-based correctional program as an alternative to incarceration for adult male felons.

Legal

The Neighborhood Justice Center

http://www.njcinc.org/

The Neighborhood Justice Center is a community law office dedicated to providing comprehensive criminal defense services for low income persons, emphasizing outreach to communities of color. The agency focuses its work in St. Paul and the surrounding East Metro area.

Legal Rights Center

http://www.legalrightscenter.org/

The Legal Rights Center (LRC) represents, without charge, low-income people and people of color who have legal problems associated with the juvenile justice, criminal justice, and child welfare systems. The geographical focus of LRC's work is Hennepin County.

Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers

http://www.mabl.org/

The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL), the leading minority bar association, organized to promote and support the professional development of black lawyers, judges, and law students in Minnesota. To this end, MABL is committed to the overall goal of representing the interests of Black citizens and their community in the legal profession and in the judicial system throughout the state.

Religious

Dignity Center

http://www.haumc.org/

The Vision of the Congregation is to create a diverse faith community that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Research

Restorative Justice at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work: Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking:

http://rjp.umn.edu/

The Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking is committed to the development of community-based responses to crime and violence that strengthen social harmony and individual healing through dialogue, repair of harm, and peace-building by providing technical assistance, training, and research in support of restorative dialogue practices.

Roy Wilkins Center at the U of MN's Hubert Humphrey Institute:

http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/wilkins/

The mission of the Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice is to study and formulate solutions to problems of racial and ethnic inequality. Their community outreach projects address economic opportunities, housing, employment, and crime.

Institute on Race and Poverty, University of Minnesota

http://www.irpumn.org/website/

The Institute on Race & Poverty (IRP) investigates the ways that policies and practices disproportionately affect people of color and the disadvantaged. A core purpose for IRP's work is to ensure that people have access to opportunity. Another is to help communities develop in ways that promote access to opportunity and help maintain regional stability.

Wilder Foundation

http://www.wilder.org/

The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is a nonprofit health and human services organization that has served the greater Saint Paul, Minnesota, area since 1906. Wilder operates dozens of programs that help children succeed in school, older adults remain independent, troubled youth create healthy futures, and individuals and families maintain long-term housing.

Services

Neighborhood House

http://www.neighb.org

Neighborhood House is a multicultural, multilingual community center that works with families and organizations to enhance personal growth and foster community leadership on St. Paul's west side. Programs include English classes for new immigrants, a Hmong-American unity group, health access programs, a Latino woman's group, GED classes, refugee settlement, and basic needs (i.e. rent, food, furniture).

Pillsbury United Communities

http://www.puc-mn.org/

Pillsbury United Communities is a community-based, venture-oriented nonprofit agency that helps people out of poverty through developing strong relationships with individuals and their families. It runs forty programs, focusing on economic development, family services, community building, and theatre, and five neighborhood centers which provide services to people in poverty.

Sabathani Community Center

http://www.sabathani.org/

Sabathani Community Center develops empowerment programs that focus on skill development. Sabathani is a modern-day settlement house for the area's most-recent immigrants and refugees, which includes Somalis, Chicanos/Latinos, Southeast Asians, and Russians.

RS Eden

http://www.rseden.org/

RS Eden is a leader in delivering effective services to Minnesota and surrounding communities. RS Eden facilitates positive change in the areas of chemical dependency, family services, corrections and affordable housing.

Catholic Charities

http://www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org/

Catholic Charities aims to reduce poverty, support families and empower communities. They are currently developing a criminal justice initiative.

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches

http://www.gmcc.org/

The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches battles poverty across Minnesota by providing social services. Programs include foodshare, urban immersion retreats, center for families, and a community justice project to help inmates connect to the community.

Training

People's Institute

The People's Institute was created to develop more analytical, culturally-rooted and effective community organizers. The People's Institute is recognized as one of the foremost anti-racism training and organizing institutions in the nation.

Jewish Community Action's Racial Justice Leadership Team

http://www.jewishcommunityaction.org/

The Mission of JCA's Racial Justice Leadership Team is to ensure that Jewish Community Action and the Jewish community combine education with action to address and to undo the social and economic impacts of racism. The Racial Justice Leadership Team conducts anti-racism workshops with adults and youth, and is developing a curriculum on racial and economic justice to use in partnership with Jewish educators.

Victims

Civil Society

http://www.pressenter.com/~civilsoc/

Research demonstrates that communities of color under-report crime in their communities. Civil Society is a legal advocacy group that aims to provide people with the safety and security to report crimes.

Youth

The City Inc

http://www.thecityinc.org

The City Inc. provides educational, family, and social services to troubled inner-city youth. It also offers counsel and support to young people involved with the juvenile justice system.

YouthLink

http://www.youthlinkmn.org/

YouthLink's mission is to empower youth to shape their futures by providing a safe, supportive, respectful, and responsive community of excellence. YouthLink's programs include a drop-in center, youth intervention, educational resources, health and wellness clinic, and youth housing.