Important Social Justice Links

Disclaimer: The following organizations are not necessarily supported or condoned by the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Youth Office, or Young Religious Unitarian Universalists. They are links that we thought some youth might find useful. Since we support the free flow of ideas and information, a wide variety of organizations are represented here. also, it should be noted that the UUA and YRUU do not endorse (and are prohibited from doing so) any specific political candidate or political party.

If you have any suggetions, write them up and email them to us!

Jump to:
Education Reform and Multiculturalism - YRUU's Working Action Issue!
Progressive Coalitions & Organizing
Non-Corporate News & Media
Racial Justice
Accessibility & Health
GLBTQ Issues
Women's Issues and Reproductive Freedom
Human Rights
Prison/Legal Reform
Environmental/Animal Justice
Globalization/Economic Justice
Hunger and Poverty
Youth Empowerment
Anti-Slavery
US Military and War
UU Social Justice Resources
Democracy & Voter Registration
Miscellaneous Social Justice Links

Education Reform and Multiculturalism

General Education Reform Websites

Rethinking Schools is an organization made up of educators, administrators, parents, activists and others who want to revision our schools. They were founded in the 1980's as a magazine in response to issues surrounding Milwaukee Public Schools. While Rethinking Schools starting out as a quarterly magazine (which still exists) its website not only has past articles on a variety of subjects but also links to related websites.

Working to Improve Schools and Education is a website for educators and those interested in issues related to education on a variety of topics. This website is mostly a compilation of amazing resources on topics from school uniforms to Waldorf education to gender issues in schools. Many issues that are often not covered when discussing education reform are covered here. Coordinated by Jeff Claus an Ithaca College Professor in the Center for Teacher Education

BUILD is an education reform organization in Philadelphia that has resources on anti-militarization of schools, EAL/bilingual Ed, alternative education, connections of prisons and schools, and a few other topics. They are very youth empowering. They are focused on issues related to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, but many of their resources are universal in scope.

Standardized Testing

Students Against Testing was created to be a strong force against the score-obsessed education machine known as standardized testing. At the same time, SAT also exists as an advocate for brining positive, creative and real life learning activities into the schools. SAT believes that urgent action from the student body itself is the most direct way to counteract the boredom and petty competition that currently plagues the schools. They have tons of resources.

The Nation Center for Fair and Open Testing is an organization that works to reform/end standardized testing and promote other methods of evaluation. They focus on trying to eliminate the racial, gender, cultural, and class barriers within testing. They have a lot of articles and facts/statistics related to testing.

Affirmative Action

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights while dealing with many issues in the spectrum of civil rights, has a good portion of their website devoted to affirmative action. Some of it deals more with affirmative action in the workplaces, but most of it is related to education. The site has lots of ways to get involved.

Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights And Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) has a ton of up-to-date news about affirmative action. They also have good resources including fact sheets.

The Affirmative Action and Diversity Project while having many different points of view on affirmative action, has a lot of useful information for pro-affirmative action activism. It is also good to view your opponent's position to have a more successful campaign later.

Sex Education

Sex Etc, is an extensive website on multiple issues relating to sex ed including pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, abortion, abuse and violence, emotional health and many other topics. It has message boards, articles, and sex ed related Q & A. Another plus is its editorial board consists of teenagers.

Coalition for Positive Sexuality is a grassroots organization based out of Washington D.C. The website has a good portion of the site dedicated to queer related issues. It also has tons of online and national resources as well as information on parental consent laws in regards to teen abortions. The website is also in Spanish.

Advocates for Youth has a lot of material for lesson plans around sex ed, as well as various campaigns to get involved in. They also have sections particularly for youth of color, and have a new affiliate website www.MySistahs.org for womyn of color. They are also queer friendly. The website is also in Spanish and French

National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education "consists of over 135 national nonprofit organizations, many of which are noted role models and initiators in promoting health, education, and social justice for our nation's youth". The Unitarian Universalist Association is one of these organizations. They not only have resources relating to sexuality education in schools, they also have a section devoted to religion and sexuality.

Queer-Friendly Schools

Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is an organization for students and teachers working for safe-schools for all people regardless of sexual orientation. They have a lot of information on how to start a Gay/Straight Alliance for your school. GLSEN also has information on a number of different campaigns and laws related to queer friendly schools.

The Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally (P.E.R.S.O.N) Project is an activist network that works for fair, accurate, and unbiased information on queer and trans people in public schools. They have an awesome organizing handbook on their website as well to links to a lot of great organizing resources.

The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund has a lot of legal information concerning queer and transgender students. A great place for straight facts and laws.

National Association For Bilingual Education is one of the leading bilingual/EAL education advocates around. They are very accessible and have lots of resources for those new to bilingual/EAL education, as well as long time activists and educators. There is also a lot of information on bilingual/EAL education advocacy.

California Association for Bilingual Education while focuses primarily on issues related to California, many of the issues they deal with are applicable across the continent. They have legislative action alerts, as well as links so several like-minded organizations.

Discipline

Classroom Discipline Resources while aimed at teachers provides useful information on different tactics of discipline and how they work/don't work. A good resource for anyone who wants to look at alternative models of discipline to implement in their school.

Beyond Zero Tolerance is a great article that challenges the zero tolerance policies that are becoming more and more common in schools everywhere. It focuses on how racism is implicit in its policies, and the bibliography at the end of the article has good websites and books.

Anti-Racist/Multicultural Schools

National Association for Multicultural Education is an international organization for educators, administrators, activists, librarians, researchers, etc., etc. It has literally hundreds of resources on many different aspects of multicultural education. It is one of the leading educational organizations on issues of anti-racism/anti- oppression. A must for anyone serious about multicultural education.

EdChange is an organization working for diversity and equality in education. The Multicultural Pavilion section of the website in incredibly extensive including activities and articles as well as how to incorporate multiculturalism into atypical settings, such as in science classrooms. Another plus is that it has resources on (dis)ability in education.

Title IX

Gender Equity in Sports has lots of basic information about Title IX as well as the history of it. It dispels many of the myths surrounding Title IX, but also goes into depth of the issue as well. They have lots of resources and laws and policies by state.

The Women's Sports Foundation has great Title IX resources. They have facts, sample letters to write your legislators and school administrators, and a report card you can use to find out if your school is in compliance with Title IX. Also a great step-by-step resource to Title IX activism.

The National Women's Law Center has tons of legal information and resources in regards to Title IX. They also have lots of good articles and information on the "Save Title IX" campaign.

Militarization of School

The National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth is an organization that works to end the Militarization of schools and young people. They have an awesome activist tool kit and lists of local counter- recruitment centers throughout the U.S.

United for Peace and Justice has a substantial section of their website dedicated to counter military recruitment campaigns. They have a plethora of resources including related government programs and laws, fliers, articles, news and much information about the funding for the military v. funding for schools.

American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization similar to the UU Service Committee. They have a Youth and Militarism Program that has information and organizing tool on issues related on the recruitment policies of low-income folks and Youth of Color. They also have info related to JROTC and how Bush's No Child Left Behind is promoting further militarization of our schools.

School Funding

School Funding Equity is a great website for those interested in funding disparities in our schools. They have articles, internet links, as well as with resources for taking action. They also have state-by-state information. One of their focuses is on how racism affects funding for schools.

Vouchers / School Choice

People for the American Way have lots of information on how school vouchers are hurting our public school system. They have myths and facts about vouchers, information on the economic impact on vouchers, how some voucher programs blur the line between church and state, and how vouchers hurt Students of Color.

The National School Board Association has an entire section of their website on why vouchers are bad. They have lots of research, which shows how vouchers don't work, and news and updates on different voucher programs across the U.S. They also have advocacy tools for organizing against vouchers.

Separation of Church and State

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has a lot of articles on issues related to religion in public schools. There's information on prayer in schools and taxes towards religious schools. They also have action alerts state-by-state and nationwide. They also have information on past, present and future legislative battles and Supreme Court rulings.

The Anti-Defamation League has amazing resources on religion in public schools. This includes information on religious displays in public schools, background on religious liberty in the U.S., creationism in the classroom, and guidelines for school districts.

The (U.S.) Federal Guidelines for Religious Expression in Public Schools is a fabulous resource for anyone organizing around separation of church and state. Not only are the guidelines themselves a valuable resource, but there are also links to other resources such as religion and the First Amendment and laws surrounding religion in public schools.

Connection of Schools and Prisons

Inner City Struggle (also known as "Schools Not Jails")is an amazing organization of Youth of Color in East L.A. who does awesome education reform work and prison reform work. They have lots of great articles, and while a lot of their information is LA/Californiacentric it's great for getting ideas of how to organize your own community. They also have info related to militarization of schools.

Alternative education

The Alternative Education Resource Organization is one of the leading organizations for people interested in learner-centered education. It has resources on how to start a school, a list of all ready existing alternative schools from elementary school to college, and resources on homeschooling and unschooling as well as democratic education. They also publish a magazine.

The International Association for Learning Alternatives is an organization that promotes not just reform to the way we view schools and learning, but drastic revisioning. They have a lot of resources including a newsletter, legislative resources, and articles.

A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling Web Site is incredibly extensive. While it is aimed more at parents than youth, it is still a valuable resource. It has information on how to start homeschooling, educational tools, laws, different methods of homeschooling, articles, and so much more. The website is also in Spanish and French.

Learn in Freedom is a website of extensive resources for homeschoolers. They have lots of information on how traditional schooling is problematic. It has resources from beginning homeschooling, to internships, to how to get into college (if you choose to do so), and so much more.

Unschooling.com is an awesome website that features resources lists of books on unschooling, opportunities for unschoolers, and state-by-state laws. They also have messages boards that include topics like "Getting Started Unschooling" and "Unschoolers in Action" and an e-mail list serve for unschoolers to connect and learn from each other from all over the world.

School-Free is a website by unschoolers for unschoolers. It has letters from unschoolers about their experiences and also resources for unschoolers including books and resources.

AuToDidacTiCiSm - A collection of Unschooling resources

Corporate Ownership of Schools / Corporate Brainwashing

Bad Ads is a website against the increasing amount of advertising that is part of our lives. They have info on how to get advertisements out of your schools, as well as a resource on how to write a complaint letter.

Progressive Coalitions & Organizing

MoveOn
A website working to be a "catalyst for a new kind of grassroots involvement, supporting busy but concerned citizens in finding their voice"

The Ruckus Society
Website for Ruckus, which is an organization dedicated to providing environmental and human rights organizers with the tools, training, and support needed to achieve their goals. At this site you can get news, information on trainings, as well as other resources.

Rolling Thunder Tour
"A county fair with guts." Jim Hightower and a group of folks and groups working to bring Democracy back to the people. Check out their touring dates and where they'll be.

International ANSWER
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) provides information about major protests going on and how you can get involved and organize to get to them. Large amounts of anti-war propaganda flyers to download. Can be helpful in finding people to build coalitions with.

Non-Corporate News & Media

Independent Media Center
This is a site that provides independent media that is not controlled by giant corporations, the people's news. This site will help you connect with independent media in your area as well as give you breaking news that you won't get from CNN or FOX news.

Common Dreams
A massive clearinghouse for mainstream news articles written with a progressive bent. Hundreds of links to similar organizations.

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR)
A media watchdog organization which monitors corporate-owned news media to ensure accuracy and minimize bias in news reporting.

Beehive Design Collective
An arts and activist collective that creates posters and other artwork focused on globalization, megatechnology, and militarization.

The Socialist Worker
This is a site for the newspaper of the International Socialist Organization. Here you can find information on Socialism as well as on current issues around globalization and the US's hand in the mess.

Racial Justice

ActiveSolidarity.net
A web resource for anti-racism and movement building. The Active Solidarity Collective facilitates participatory workshops in anti-racism for predominately white social justice groups.

Greensboro Justice Fund
"The Greensboro Justice Fund supports organizations in the South that work against and denounce various forms of discrimination." On this site you can find news and events as well as media information on the KKK and other Nazi organizations.

Tolerance.org
A website of the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization which sues hate groups until they go bankrupt. Tolerance.org is a youth-focused project aimed at ending discrimination and promoting tolerance among young people.

American Indian Movement Grand Governing Council
This Website provides information about the history of AIM and how to get involved. They offer services from the site such as a speakers Bureau of people to speak on issues affecting American Indians today. There is also a link to information on Political Prisoner Leonard Peltier.

Challenging White Supremacy
All sorts of Anti-Racism resources as well as workshops going on and how you can get involved.

Colours of Resistance
"A grassroots network of people who consciously work to develop anti-racist, multiracial politics in the movement against global capitalism." At this site you can find events, organizing tools, FAQ, and articles and analysis.

The People's Institute
Created to develop more analytical, culturally-rooted and effective organizers. Recognized as one of the foremost anti-racism training and organizing institutions in the US. At the site you can find out about training schedules, who the trainers are, assorted resources and web links, as well as find out how to host training.

Race Traitor: Journal of the New Abolition
This is the website for the journal edited by Noel Ignatiev on the abolition of the white race, an attempt to eliminate the privilege and power of whiteness in society. A collegiate study of whiteness.

Canadian Race Relations Foundation
CRRF is an organization dedicated to bringing about a more harmonious Canada that acknowledges its racist past, recognizes the pervasiveness of racism today, and is committed to creating a future in which all Canadians are treated equitably and fairly.

Aboriginal Youth Network
This is the site for the Aboriginal Youth Network, which was brought about due to the social and health issues that Aboriginal youth face due to the break down of Aboriginal culture in Canada.

Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia
Site of the Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia. This is a group that is dedicated to training youth in Anti-Racism and Leadership Development. MANS is a youth run project, part of Youth Against Racism's Train the Trainer Initiative.

Black Radical Congress
This is the homepage of the Black Radical Congress. On this site you can find information about what they are doing as a group as well as what local groups are doing. You can also find national campaigns that they are working on and join in with discussion groups.

Znet.org: Racewatch
Znet hosts a collection of essays around various issues of social justice/social change. This is the race watch page, which has a very diverse and well written archive of essays on everything from anti-racism, white privilege, instititional organizing, and youth work.

Western States Center: Dismantling Racism
This is the Dismantling Racism page which has some excellent printable pieces.

Anarchist People of Color
The Anarchist People of Color are group of people of color who identify with anarchist and anti-authoritarian ideals.

White Anti-Racist Community Action Network
For white folks and people of color

Accessibility & Health

American Assocaiation of People with Disabilities
AAPD "works in coalition with other disability organizations for the full implementation and enforcement of disability nondiscrimination laws, particularly the Americans with Disabilities act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This sit can connect you to information on disability issues as well as connect you to other sites related.

AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP)
A diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. On this page you can find all sorts of information about AIDS and how to get involved in current campaigns around prevention, cure, and treatment.

GLBTQ Issues

We have enough links here that we have a whole page for them!

Women's Issues and Reproductive Freedom

Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom
This is the website for youth initiatives of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. This is a coalition that has existed since 1973, serving as the voice for pro-choice people of faith in the US.

National Organization for Women
Website for the National Organization for Women. Now is the largest organization of feminist activists in the US. This website provides information on how to take action around women's rights issues, what is going on in your area, and resources for other related issues.

Human Rights

Amnesty International
On this site you can find information about Human Rights in every country and what you can do to support the work of those struggling for Justice. You can find their library as well as support their current campaigns.

MADRE
An organization demanding human rights for women and families around the world. At this site you can find out about international advocacy work being done, how you can get involved with their group, and find out information about issues relating to human rights for women and families. You can also find lots of really cool links here too

Human Rights Video Project
The Human Rights Video Project is a national library project created to increase the public's awareness of human rights issues through the medium of documentary films.

Prison/Legal Reform

Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC)
"The source for progressive and radical information on prisons and the criminal prosecution system" You can find many more links here to sites involving prisoner support, political prisoners, art and writings by prisoners, death penalty, and more. A GREAT resource for prison reform.

Anarchist Black Cross Network
An organization of people working for the abolition of prisons in an anti-authoritarian way. Their site connects you to email lists, information about the network, ABC information, and prisoner lists.

Americans for Safe Access
A website dedicated to defending patients' access to medical marijuana

Youth Restorative Action Project
A Youth justice committee in Edmonton, AB and Ottawa, ON which is focused on working with teens in the criminal justice system who have caused harm as a result of racism, intolerance, and significant social issues.

Environmental/Animal Justice

Greenpeace
On this site you can find connections to all the Greenpeace websites and support their campaigns whether it be stopping whaling, saying no to Genetic Engineering, or protecting ancient forests. You can also find up-to-date news about assorted environmental justice issues.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Action Alerts, Campaigns going on, and what is going on in movements for animal rights.

Globalization/Economic Justice

True Justice Webring Page
The True Justice webring page. This site will connect you to many sites that are working to change the way tax dollars are used, build schools, not prisons. You can also get connected to sites that deal with restorative justice, anti-death penalty and crime prevention.

Stop the FTAA!
This is a website that probides organizing tools, information, and contacts for those working to stop the formation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Moblization for Global Justice
Information on major anti-globalization protests and solidarity actions here. The main focus of this site is around the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

Center for Community Change
This site provides information about how to combat poverty in the U.S. The organization's main work is in helping grassroots leaders build strong organizations that bring people together to become a force for change in their communities.

Hunger and Poverty

Oxfam
Oxfam America is an international development and relief agency committed to developing lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Since 1970, Oxfam has worked on development projects and campaigns around the world. We believe all people have the right to live with dignity, to have equal opportunity to earn a living and support their families, and to be treated fairly. Info on Interning or Volunteering at Oxfam

Organizing Hunger Banquets
An amazing banquet that helps to spread the awareness of hunger and poverty and a great fundraiser.

Heifer International
Helping families in poverty in underdeveloped countries to help people obtain a sustainable source of food and income. They givemicrocredit in the form of livestock promotes self-reliance, which builds self-esteem and helps families lift themselves out of poverty.

National Hunger Awareness Day
Welcome! to National Hunger Awareness Day 2005, the grassroots movement to raise awareness about the solvable problem of hunger in America.

Hunger Action Network of NY
The Hunger Action Network of New York State is a statewide anti-hunger coalition that combines grassroots organizing at the local level with state level research, education and advocacy to address the root causes of hunger, including poverty.

Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs is one of the fastest growing revolutiona! ry movements active today and is gaining momentum. There are hundreds of autonomous chapters sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. Food Not Bombs is organizing for an end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. We also support actions against the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people and the destruction of the earth.

Georgia Citizen's Coalition on Hunger
Organic Garden, Farmer's Market, Thrift Shop, Finding Affordable Housing, Advocacy work for living wage and affordable housing, affordable health care and quality education.

Search link on websites that fight Hunger!

Youth Empowerment

Youth On Board
Youth on Board prepares youth to be leaders and decision makers in their communities and strengthens relationships between youth and adults through publications, customized workshops, and technical assistance.

Freechild
Connects with organizations and individuals who support young people and social change. They do this by actively advocating through training, networking, and researching with many interconnected realms of social change.

Anti-Slavery

iAbolish !
The American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG) is America's leading human rights group dedicated to abolishing modern day slavery worldwide. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the historic center of the American abolitionist movement, they work to extend the wave of emancipation to the millions of people trapped in bondage. Our efforts center around building public awareness, leading advocacy campaigns, and empowering survivors and activists.

US Military and War

School of the Americas Watch
This is the site for School of the Americas organizing. You will find up-to-date information about graduates of the SOA/WHISC as well as information on upcoming actions to shut the school down and reform US foreign policy in Latin America.

National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee
The NWTRCC is a coaltion of groups from across the US, formed in 1982 to provide information and support to people involved or considering some form of war tax resistance. This site provides publications, Resources, information on projects and campaigns, as well as providing contacts and counselors for those looking for more guidance in becoming a War Tax Resister.

Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Information about the US military and the lies they tell high school students in order to get them to enlist. You can also find out your rights when it comes to registering for the draft.

Pax Christi USA
This is a site that is organized by Catholics for peaceful resolutions to war. Here you can find all sorts of information about programs and campaigns going on as well as how to get involved with them.

Not In Our Name (NION)
NION was initiated at a meeting in NYC in March of 2002 proposing ways to strengthen and expand resistance to our government's course in the wake of September 11, 2001. On this site you will find Regional Contacts, Events Calendar, Resources and Links, and other useful information around anti-war/anti-globalization.

Campus Antiwar Network
This is a site for campus anti-war organizers looking to get information about other campuses and their organizing. Great for coalition building and information collecting.

Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program
This is the site for Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program. On this site one can find out what Canadian Youth are doing to increase awareness about the terror of landmines and how to force the ban to come to pass.

UU Social Justice Resources

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Here you will find information about the UUSC and it's current initiatives as well as what resources are available and programs you can take part in.

UU Washington Office for Advocacy
UUA Employees lobbying the US Congress and working for political and legislative change.

UU Congregational Social Justice Work
The UUA's home for justice-making resources for congregations.

The UU United Nations Office
Promoting UU Values at the UN, and helping UUs become familiar with the work of the UN.

UUIgnite
This is a page for radical Unitarian Universalist Youth and Young Adults to come together and discuss politics and organize mobilizations at protests all over the country.

Democracy & Voter Registration

UUA Voting Resources:
Letter from Bill Sinkford
New Resources
UUA Favorite Links

League of Women Voters: Democracy Net
Here you will find easy connection to your US representatives in Congress as well as you can register to vote here and find your local people too. Very helpful site.

Write Your Representative
US residents can write directly to their Congressional Representatives

Congressional Calendar
What is Congress actually doing todayFind out here!

Congressional Bill Tracker
What's going on with that Bill/ResolutionIf you know the number, you can find it here!

Hip-Hop Summit
Voting issues and political involvement in the Hip-Hop Community

General Social Justice Links

Centre for Social Justice
"Centre for Social Justice" is an advocacy organization that seeks to strengthen the struggle for social justice. They are based in Ontario but work throughout the world for Justice. This site provides information on economic justice, anti-racism, corporate welfare and more.

Jay's Leftist & 'Progressive' Internet Resources Directory
This is the greatest list of Social Justice oriented websites I have found on the Internet. Surfing around what you find here will keep you busy for days if you want to.