Cultural Organizations

• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
  • American-Arab Anti-Defamation Committee (ADC) is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC was founded by former U.S. Senator James Abourezk in 1980. Today, ADC is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S. ADC supports the human and civil rights of all people and opposes racism and bigotry in any form.
• American Jewish Committee
  • Over 100 years later, American Jewish Committee's (AJC) unparalleled global diplomacy and legislative advocacy leverage its unique relationships with powerful leaders who influence policy. AJC is best positioned to respond to global challenges confronting the well-being of the Jewish people and threatening democratic values worldwide.
• Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
  • The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (ADL) was founded in 1913 "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all." Now the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency, ADL fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all. San Diego chapter
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) is one of the nation's leading experts on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: affirmative action, anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, television diversity and voting rights. Its expertise is widely acknowledged: in the media, by the public and lawmakers at the very highest tiers of government.
• Cherokee Nation
  • The Cherokee Nation is the federally-recognized government of the Cherokee people and has inherent sovereign status recognized by treaty and law. The Cherokee Nation is committed to protecting its inherent sovereignty, preserving and promoting Cherokee culture, language, and values, and improving the quality of life for the next seven generations of Cherokee citizens.
• Japanese American Citizens League
  • Founded in 1929, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States. The JACL monitors and responds to issues that enhance or threaten the civil and human rights of all Americans and implements strategies to effect positive social change, particularly to the Asian Pacific American community.
• Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund
  • The Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF) strives to implement programs that are structured to bring Latinos into the mainstream of American political and socio-economic life; providing better educational opportunities; encouraging participation in all aspects of society; and offering a positive vision for the future.
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) fights to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
• National Congress of American Indians
  • The National Congress of American Indians, founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
• National Council of La Raza
  • The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) - the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States - works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations, NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
• National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute
  • The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute bolsters the strength of local LGBT activism in rural enclaves, small towns and cities nationwide. The organization builds grassroots political muscle at every level by training activists, strengthening the infrastructure of local and state allies and organizing broad-based campaigns creating public support for full equality of LGBT people.
• National Political Congress of Black Women Inc.
  • The National Congress of Black Women Inc. (NCBW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the educational, political, economic and cultural development of African American Women and their families.
• Native American Rights Fund
  • Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.
• Organization of Chinese Americans Inc.
  • Founded in 1973, the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) aims to embrace the hopes and aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.

Domestic Violence

• Center for Community Solutions
  • The Cneter for Community Solutions provides domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy through clinics, assistance in family law matters, and court accompaniment services. Provides assistance in simple divorces based on sliding scale. Restraining order assistance and court accompaniment are free.
• Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Hotline
  • 1 (888) DVLINKS (1-888-385-4657)

Employment/Labor Law/Unemployment

• Employment Development Department, State of California
  • The California Employment Development Department (EDD) provides unemployment and disability insurance benefits to California residents. Also provides programs for job seekers and employers.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.

Human and Civil Rights Organizations

• Activists San Diego
  • Activist San Diego is a social justice organization that promotes and facilitates the development of an active, inter-related, progressive community in San Diego through networking, culture and electronic technology.
• American Association of Retired Persons
  • AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 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 healthcare, employment security and retirement planning. The organization advocates for consumers in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help its members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel and services.
• American Civil Liberties Union
  • The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights - litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States.
• American Friends Service Committee
  • The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, the organization nurtures the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems.
• Amnesty International
  • Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Its vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. The organization is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion, and are funded mainly by its membership and public donations.
• Cultural Survival
  • For 40 years Cultural Survival has partnered with indigenous communities around the world to defend their lands, languages and cultures.
• Facing History and Ourselves
  • For more than 30 years, Facing History and Ourselves has believed that education is the key to combating bigotry and nurturing democracy.
• Human Rights Watch
  • Human Rights Watch is one of the world's leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the organization gives voice to the oppressed and holds oppressors accountable for their crimes. Its rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. For more than 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
• People For The American Way
  • People for the American Way are dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American: Equality. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The right to seek justice in a court of law. The right to cast a vote that counts. The American Way.

Legal Resources

• American Association for Affirmative Action
  • Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity.
• National Education Association
  • The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education - from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
• National Legal Aid and Defender Association
  • National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), founded in 1911, is America's oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel.
• National Low Income Housing Coalition
  • The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes.
• National Urban League
  • The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy.
• Project Equality Inc.
  • Project Equality believes in equality and justice in the workplace. The organization unites the corporate, nonprofit, education and religious communities into a force for equality, justice and fairness in the workplace. Through facilitated discussions community leaders identify and establish best practices that enhance workplace fairness.
• Public Broadcasting System
  • The Public Broadcasting System's (PBS) mission is to create content that educates, informs and inspires. To do this, PBS offers programming that expands the minds of children, documentaries that open up new worlds, non-commercialized news programs that keep citizens informed on world events and cultures and programs that expose America to the worlds of music, theater, dance and art. It works collaboratively to spotlight the best resources in its region that empower fairness in the workplace.
• Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
  • In 1892, John Muir and a number of his supporters founded the Sierra Club to, in Muir's words, "do something for wildness and make the mountains glad." Muir served as the Club's president until his death in 1914. Today, the Sierra Club has over 1.3 million members and supporters and is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States.
• Southern Poverty Law Center
  • The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. Founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr. in 1971, the SPLC is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups. Its innovative Teaching Tolerance program produces and distributes - free of charge - documentary films, books, lesson plans and other materials that promote tolerance and respect in the nation's schools.
• United Nations Association of the USA
  • The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a membership organization dedicated to inform, inspire, and mobilize the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations. For 70 years UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission through its national network of chapters, youth engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA is a program of the United Nations Foundation. UNA-USA and its sister organization the Better World Campaign represent the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world.

Police Misconduct

• Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board
  • Reviews complaint of misconduct by peace officers and custodial officers employed by the Sherriff's Department or the Probation Department of San Diego County. The Board investigates deaths that occur while a person is in custody or in contact with officers. Jurisdiction over misconduct issues such as excessive use of force. Sexual or other types of harassment, discrimination or illegal search and seizure. Anyone may file a complaint.
• Community Review Board on Police Practices
  • The Community Review Board on Police Practices reviews and evaluates serious complaints brought by the public against officers of the Police Department of the City of San Diego, reviews all officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, and also reviews and evaluates the administration of discipline arising from sustained complaints.

Women's Rights

• League of Women Voters of the United States
  • The League of Women Voters is a citizens' organization that has fought since 1920 to improve government and engage all citizens in the decisions that impact their lives. The organization operates at national, state and local levels through more than 800 state and local Leagues, in all 50 states as well in the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.
• Legal Momentum - The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • Legal Momentum is the nation's oldest legal defense and education fund dedicated to advancing the rights of all women and girls. For more than 40 years, Legal Momentum has made historic contributions through litigation and public policy advocacy to advance economic and personal security for women.
• National Organization for Women
  • Since its founding in 1966, the National Organization for Women's (NOW) goal has been to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in society.
• National Partnership for Women & Families
  • The Nationa Partnership for Women & Families promotes fairness in the workplace, reproductive health and rights, access to quality, affordable health care, and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. Founded in 1971 as the Women's Legal Defense Fund, the National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization located in Washington, D.C.
• Women's Refugee Commission
  • Through field research missions, The Women's Refugee Commission identifies critical problems affecting displaced women, children and youth. The organization documents best practices, proposes solutions, and develops tools to improve the way humanitarian aid is delivered.

Veterans Affairs

• Veterans Benefits Administration
  • The Veterans Benefits Administration provides benefits and services to veterans and their families.