Grassroots Organizations

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Gwinnet SToPP
The Gwinnet SToPP is a parent coalition in Gwinnett, Georgia that intends to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. This group seeks to build and strengthen relationships within the community through public awareness, empowerment, and advocacy. The group does advocacy training workshops to increase public awareness on the school-to-prison pipeline. The group is currently working on a project called “100 Stories in 100 Days” to document how the school-to-prison pipeline has impacted the lives of different people.1

 

Education Justice AllianceEJA_logo
The Education Justice Alliance is an organization in Wake County, North Carolina that seeks to decrease unfair suspensions and expulsions. The group also works towards the reduction of harsh discipline policies. They have held rallies, teach-ins, speak outs, demonstrations, and community forums.2

 

 

logoClearPhiladelphia Student Union
The Philadelphia Student Union in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a youth led organization that demands high quality education in Philadelphia public schools. One of their campaigns focuses on nonviolent school. The organization hopes that their district will focus more on prevention measures rather than the current over-reliance on exclusionary discipline practices.3

 

 

PODERPODER (People Organized in the Defense of Earth and her Resources)
PODER is is grassroots organization in Austin, Texas. Although this organization focuses on environmental issues, they also fight for the repeal of zero-tolerance policies. One of their projects is the Young Scholars for Justice where students address education issues like juvenile justice. The group surveyed young people on their experience with discipline within their schools and juvenile courts.4

 

 

powerucenter Power U Center
Power U Center is a grassroots organization based in Miami, Florida. Their four main campaigns include Justice for Trayvon, Powerful Women and Families, End the School-to Prison Pipeline, and Restorative Justice. The Power U Youth had a community forum to end the School to Prison Pipeline and they have also held restorative justice trainings.5

 

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Blocks Together
The Blocks Together Youth Council is a group based in Chicago, Illinois that allows youth to organize. This group stands against the school-to-prison pipeline, zero tolerance policies, metal detectors, and police officers in schools . The Blocks Together Youth Council has pushed for Restorative Justice approaches in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). They have won the commitment from CPS Office of Safety and Security to pilot a restorative justice training for security guards.6

 

curyjlogo Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)
CURYJ is a group in Oakland, California that trains youth to become leaders and stand up against the criminal justice system. This organization does programming in schools to introduce restorative justice circles and they work with the Bay Area Dignity in Schools Campaign to address the school-to-prison pipeline.7

 

 

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Youth Justice Coalition
The Youth Justice Coalition is an organization in Los Angeles, California that demands no police in schools, an end to zero-tolerance policies, and the implementation of restorative justice. Many of their leaders have had some experience with the school-to-prison pipeline and the juvenile justice system. They hope to transform the schools to reflect the communities. The Youth Justice Coalition is part of the Dignity in Schools Campaign.8

 

WebOhio Student Association
This youth organization is based in Ohio and involves students with various levels of education. The Ohio Student Association believes that every person should have access to a quality education. One of their programs is to end the zero tolerance policy in Ohio. The organization raises awareness about the problems produced by the school-to-prison pipeline. They led a rally in May 2014 that marched to the Ohio Statehouse to talk to the Chair of the Education Committee.9

 

Screen Shot 2014-12-06 at 10.55.27 PMSave the Kids
Save the Kids is a national organization dedicated to alternatives to and the end of incarceration of all youth and the school-to-prison pipeline. There are chapters in Los Angeles, Seattle, Buffalo, among others. They are dedicated to community organizing and activism using nonviolent tactics.10