Mission

The DataCenter exists to build the capacity of a broad-based social justice movement that embodies, embraces, and honors diverse cultures to create the new systems and institutions essential to building a just and equitable world. For the social justice movement to have an impact, community voices and action must be informed. The DataCenter's mission is to provide social justice advocates, especially the poor and people of color, access to strategic information, analysis, and research skills that will help them conduct more effective campaigns.

Issues

Environmental justice, economic justice, youth organizing, and criminal justice.

Activities

Campaign research, research trainings, and consultation.

Programs/
Projects

Data Center's Environmental Justice program provides strategic research, consultation and training to grassroots organizations, with a focus on toxics and environmental health; environmental justice on the US-Mexico border; and energy-related resource extraction, processing, and disposal. They serve as a networking conduit to support environmental justice organizations nationally, providing research planning, campaign research, and web-based information resources to strengthen organizations' capacity to "use information as a strategic tool to effectively confront and dismantle the perpetrators of environmental racism and injustice." Recent research projects focused on supporting Peruvian campesinos in a fight against gold mining, an Air Force Base cleanup program in Texas, a shareholder action against a major coal polluter in Kentucky, and the EPA's newest Dioxin report.

Constitutency

Multi-ethnic

Geographical Focus

National, International

Staff

13

Volunteers

1-2

Publications

Regular newsletter and email notices; recently released publication "Moving Stronger: Needs of the Criminal Justice Reform Movement," presenting the struggles, victories, strengths and challenges of grassroots groups organizing for criminal justice reform across the U.S.

Annuual Budget

$500,000-$1,000,000

Year Founded

1977