Feel Good Friday - Brennan Center for Justice

Tomorrow, America turns 250, and it felt like the right week to spotlight an organization working to make sure that milestone still stands for something: the Brennan Center for Justice.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of the Brennan Center for Justice is "to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all." The nonpartisan law and policy institute marked its own 30th anniversary in 2025, and in its latest annual report, it ties that milestone direction to this year's 250th anniversary, writing that America still has it in its power to begin the world over again.

The Brennan Center's Democracy Program fights for free and fair elections through research, litigation, and advocacy that reaches every level of government. Earlier this year, their attorneys represented the League of Women Voters and other allies in a lawsuit challenging an executive order that would have required documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, something research shows millions of eligible Americans don't have on hand. A federal judge agreed, ruling that the Constitution puts states and Congress, not the president, in charge of election rules. They've also worked with allies across the political spectrum on dozens of friend-of-the-court briefs that helped lead to a landmark ruling blocking the administration's worldwide tariffs. That's the kind of quiet, unglamorous work that keeps a 250 year old system of self government functioning.

Beyond elections, the Justice Program pushes for a fairer, more effective criminal justice system, and the Government Power Program works to balance safety with constitutional rights. 

If you'd like to celebrate Independence Day by supporting an organization fighting for  the democracy and equal justice this country was founded on, there are many ways to do so. A monetary donation to the Brennan Center helps fund the litigation and research that keeps these fights moving, and you can also explore their Take Action page to weigh in on live legislation. As always, you can amplify their message on social media too. Follow the Brennan Center on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube, and help carry their case for democracy forward.

Here's to the next 250 years.

Feel Good Friday - Earthjustice

With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22nd, this week's Feel Good Friday highlights Earthjustice, the organization fighting to protect our planet in the courts.

Founded in 1971 and headquartered in San Francisco, the mission of Earthjustice, is "to wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change." Originally established as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, the organization became fully independent and rebranded as Earthjustice in 1997 to better reflect its identity as a legal advocate for the broader environmental movement. They represent not just big national groups, but communities on the frontlines of pollution.

What makes Earthjustice unique is its core promise: they represent all clients completely free of charge! That's because they operate on the simple, powerful premise that the earth needs a good lawyer. With more than 220 attorneys working across 15 regional offices, Earthjustice takes on the biggest, most precedent-setting environmental cases in the country. Their clients range from big organizations like the Sierra Club and the World Wildlife Fund to small community groups fighting pollution in their own backyards.

The work of Earthjustice spans four major areas: clean air and healthy communities, climate and clean energy, healthy oceans and wildlife, and the preservation of wild places. In recent years, they’ve won landmark cases resulting in historic limits on industrial polluters, secured a settlement in Hawaii requiring the state to transition its transportation system to zero emissions, and fought back against efforts to reopen protected oceans to oil and gas drilling. 

Since January 2025 alone, they have filed more than 150 new pieces of litigation in direct response to sweeping attacks on environmental protections. The good news is they have an 85% win rate for their cases. Mother Earth has some good representation!

If you’d like to support Earthjustice you can do so by making a donation, shopping for sustainably sourced apparel and gear at their store, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow Earthjustice on Bluesky, Instagram, or LinkedIn and share their stories of legal victories for people and the planet.

Happy Earth Month! 🌎

Feel Good Friday - United We Dream

Today is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a day when India celebrates the contributions of its diaspora and honors the day Mahatma Gandhi returned home from South Africa in 1915 to lead the fight for justice. That makes this a perfect Friday to spotlight United We Dream.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., United We Dream (UWD) is the largest immigrant youth-led network fighting for dignity and respect for all immigrants in the United States whether they’re coming from India or any other country. The mission of UWD is to "create welcoming spaces for young people – regardless of immigration status – to support, engage, and empower them to make their voice heard and win!”

The organization grew from a loose network of young undocumented students into a powerful movement. UWD puts immigrant youth at the center of decision-making, with over 60% of members identifying as women and 20% as LGBTQ. Their vision celebrates diversity through multi-ethnic, intersectional organizing that addresses immigration alongside racial justice, LGBTQ rights, education, health, and climate change.

The network operates through several key programs. Their DACA Renewal Fund provides direct financial assistance to help DACA recipients pay the $495 renewal fee. Since they began, UWD has helped more than 1,700 immigrant youth access DACA renewals through partnerships in 16 states! Other programs include Deportation Defense with Know Your Rights trainings, Education Justice to clear pathways to higher education, the UndocuHealth Initiative for mental health support, and the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project for LGBTQ immigrant youth leadership. 

UWD has had a big impact across the country. The organization has grown to over 1 million members nationwide, with more than 100 local groups operating across 28 states. They reach over 4 million people every month through their social media platforms, email, and text messaging.

If you'd like to support United We Dream, there are many ways to do so. You can make a general donation or contribute to their DACA Renewal Fund where 100% goes directly to recipients. You can also join their network as a member and share their work on social media. Follow United We Dream on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube and share their stories of empowerment and justice with your network.

Feel Good Friday - Partners In Health

Today is International Universal Health Coverage Day, a global observance advocating for accessible, quality healthcare for everyone—making it the perfect time to spotlight Partners In Health.

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the mission of Partners In Health is "to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. By establishing long-term relationships with sister organizations based in settings of poverty, Partners In Health strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair."

To hear the origin story of Partners In Health directly from co-founders Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and Ophelia Dahl, you can watch the documentary, Bending the Arc, which is available to stream for free on their website. This powerful film chronicles how three young idealists in their teens began a movement that would forever change global health.

Partners In Health operates on a revolutionary model rooted in accompaniment. That means meeting patients where they are and providing not just medical care, but addressing social determinants of health like food, housing, and clean water. Central to this approach is their community health worker program, which employs more than 12,000 trusted community members worldwide who serve as bridges between health systems and patients. These workers make home visits, provide social support, and ensure patients receive consistent care. Research shows PIH patients supported by community health workers are more likely to remain in care and less likely to die compared to patients at other facilities.

In 2024 alone Partners In Health has delivered remarkable impact: 2.9 million outpatient visits in supported clinics, 795,200 home visits by community health workers, 152,430 prenatal care visits to support healthy pregnancies. You can read the full impact report here. Their work spans 11 countries including Haiti, Peru, Rwanda, Mexico, Malawi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Russia, and the Navajo Nation within the United States.

If you'd like to support Partners In Health, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation to sustain their life-saving work, join PIH Engage as a volunteer community organizer in your area, or amplify their message on social media. Follow PIH on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, subscribe to their YouTube channel and share their stories of hope and healing with your network.

Feel Good Friday - Sierra Club

April 22nd is Earth Day and what better way to prepare for it than learn about the Sierra Club.

Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the Sierra Club is the largest and oldest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Their original focus was on the conservation of California's Sierra Nevada mountains and they have since evolved into “an organization that works to advance climate solutions and ensure everyone has access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.”

Their mission statement is focused on three areas. “To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.”

From legal challenges to direct actions, the Sierra Club works with partner organizations, non profits and campaigns to achieve their goals. They also mobilize volunteers from chapters in all 50 states to take action to protect the climate, conserve the environment and help people gain equal access to the outdoors. In fact, each year Sierra Club volunteers lead over 15,000 trips to bring people outside where they can enjoy nature.

In the 130+ years the Sierra Club has been active, they have protected over 10 million acres of wilderness, retired 382 coal plants, and established 467 parks and monuments. Their goals for 2030 include protecting 30% of US lands and water, ensuring an additional 50 million people can exercise their human right to connect with the outdoors and replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. You can read details on this 2030 Strategic Vision page.

If you’d like to help the Sierra Club achieve their future vision there are many actions you can take. Volunteer with your local chapter, sign a petition, or join a virtual monthly action hour. You can also shop for merch, make a donation and amplifying their message on social media. Follow the Sierra Club on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Happy Earth Day!

Feel Good Friday - Latino Community Fund

We’re continuing the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month by of highlighting organizations doing good work in Latino communities. Today, let’s learn about the Latino Community Fund of Washington State.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, the vision of the Latino Community Fund (LCF) is “a vibrant and civically engaged Latino community in Washington.” To achieve this LCF cultivates new leaders and supports cultural and community based non-profit organizations that improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians.

In addition to awarding grant money to community organizations, LCF also runs several programs. Some focus on leadership such as the Washington Latino Nonprofit Leadership Academy, which helps individuals managing nonprofit organizations, and Alianza a youth-led group that increases youth leadership and civic engagement skills.

The Economic Empowerment program provides business education marketing support and technical assistance to small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants and women. Latinos in Tech is a community-led collaborative that connects students and professionals in the STEM fields along with advocating for expanding career pathways in STEM. The Healthy Latino Families Initiative works to improve access to health services of Latino individuals and communities by providing free, unbiased health care coverage counseling to over 1,000 individuals each year. Additional programs are focused on Environmental Justice, Civic Engagement and Voter Engagement.

In 2020 LCF worked in partnership with several community organizations to move $1.5 million in business assistance, food vouchers and rental assistance into the community. To find out the current impact of LCF, attend the 17th Annual Gala at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Other ways you can support the Latino Community Fund are by making a donation and by spreading the word on social media by following LCF on Facebook and Instagram

Feel Good Friday - Earth Guardians

Earth Day is on Monday so this is a great time to learn more about a global community of diverse youth leaders, better known as Earth Guardians.

Founded at a high school in Maui in 1992 to foster environmental awareness and action, Earth Guardians (EG) is now a global network spanning six continents. Their mission is to train “diverse youth to be influential leaders at the forefront of the climate movement across the globe - using art, music, storytelling, on-the-ground projects, civic engagement, and legal action to advance solutions and create grassroots and global impact.”

The main way EG empowers worldwide youth is through their Crews program. “Crews are youth-led, intergenerational groups of impassioned leaders taking action for a healthy, just, and sustainable future.” The requirements for Crews are that they include 2 or more people, have a youth (under 30) leader, run at least one project per year and have regular checkins with their Regional Crew Councilor (RCC). These RCCs oversee Crews in 7 regions: North America, South America, Central America, North Africa, South Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and Europe.

In addition, the Indigenous Youth-leadership Initiative is focused on Native American Crews and provides indigenous youth a place to celebrate, honor, and share their traditions while also developing social and environmental justice leadership skills.

Finally, EG runs a Speaker’s Bureau program to amplify the voices of inspiring youth speakers and storytellers. They provide training and guidance to help speakers deliver impactful presentations at large-scale events, conferences, schools and universities. Speakers share their experience leading crews and participating in programs, in order to inspire audiences into action on ecological issues and the climate crisis.

In 2023, there were 70 EG Crews around the world busy making an impact. Examples of what was accomplished include planting 14,000 trees in Togo, installing over 50 rooftop gardens in India, and hosting a Youth Climate Conference for 60+ elementary and middle school students in North America.

Earth Guardians has a goal to increase their impact by 25% in 2024 and you can help them do it. Join or start a Crew, book an EG speaker for your next event, or make a monetary donation. As always, you can help spread the word on social media. Follow Earth Guardians on Facebook or Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - GirlTREK

It’s the first Feel Good Friday of Black History Month so let’s talk about an organization that helps Black women find health, justice and joy by walking, GirlTREK.

Founded in 2010 by T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, and headquartered in Washington, D.C., GirlTREK is “the largest health movement and nonprofit organization for Black women and girls in the U.S.” They encourage Black women to walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, because they believe it is “a radical act of self-love and the root of a cultural revolution.”

Statics provided on the GirlTREK website, show that Black women have a life expectancy that is 5-10 years behind other racial groups. In addition, 81% of Black women are overweight, 52% are obese and they are 20% less likely to engage in physical activity. This leads to Black women  in the United States dying from heart disease at the rate of 137 women each day.

The women behind GirlTREK knew that walking helps women improve their health, inspire their daughters and reclaim their neighborhoods. They found that “as women organize walking teams, they also mobilize community members to support advocacy efforts and lead a Civil Rights-inspired health movement.” Watch this 3-minute video to learn more.

Since they began 14 years ago, over 1.3 million women have taken the GirlTREK pledge to start walking and their results are impressive. 90% of women reported fewer symptoms of depression after joining GirlTREK. 61% reported losing weight and 56% sustained 5 days or more of walking for one year or more. Motivated by the success stories GirlTREK’s new goal is to increase the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years in 10 years.

If you’re ready to take steps towards a healthier you (pun 100% intended), search this page to find a GirlTREK group in your area. You can also sign up for a walking challenge, like a Jumpstart (walk 21/30 days) or Warrior Week (walk 5/7 days). Once you’ve finished the challenge, you’ll be eligible to claim your victory and collect prizes such as golden shoelaces or a GirlTREK t-shirt. If you can’t wait that long to represent, you can always shop for your swag.

Other ways to support GirlTREK are with a donation and by amplifying their message on social media. Like the GirlTREK Facebook page follow them on Instagram @girltrek. Now that you’re finished reading, why not go out for a walk?

 

Feel Good Friday - National Black Women's Justice Institute

February is Black History Month. Let’s kick it off by highlighting the work of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute. 

Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, the National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI) is an organization with a mission to “research, elevate, and educate the public about innovative, community-led solutions to address the criminalization of Black women and girls.”

 

As they share in a report on their website, extreme prison sentences disproportionately impact and harm Black women, who account for one third of women serving life sentences in the United States. NBWJI wants to “transform the US criminal legal system, building, in its place, pathways to opportunity and healing.”

 

To achieve this goal, they focus their work on research and evaluation of local and national programs, training and assistance for government systems and direct service providers, and recommendations for changes to public policy.

 

Programs fall into one of three core commitment areas: dismantle pathways to criminalization and confinement for Black women and girls; increase and enhance opportunities with and for formerly incarcerated women and girls; and promote healing-centered justice.

 

Some specific examples of this work include: an intersectional study of Black women, trans and gender nonconforming people’s encounters with police; training that enables law enforcement and probation officers to more effectively respond to the needs of commercially sexually exploited children; expansion of culturally competent and gender-responsive mental health services for Black girls and other youth of color; an interactive program to educate Black boys and young men, on how to become allies in the work of eliminating sexual violence; and an online peer network for educators seeking support and resources to transform schools into places where girls of color can thrive.

 

In addition to their programs, NBWJI has many resources for people interested in exploring these topics in more detail. You can find reports, policy briefs and fact sheets at this link or check out the Lift Our Voices blog for analysis and opinion from NBWJI’s experts on the latest issues and news.

 

If you’re ready to help the National Black Women’s Justice Institute transform the criminal legal justice system, there are several ways to do so. Make a donation and amplify their message on social media. Like the NBWJI Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @NBWJInstitute and Instagram @nbwji.

Feel Good Friday - Oxfam

When searching for an organization to profile for today's Feel Good Friday, this slogan for Oxfam caught my eye: "the power of people against poverty". I was inspired to learn more about them and now you will too.

As summarized on their website, "Oxfam is a global organization working to end the injustice of poverty. We help people build better futures for themselves, hold the powerful accountable, and save lives in disasters. Our mission is to tackle the root causes of poverty and create lasting solutions."

Originally known as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, Oxfam started in 1942 when a group of Quaker intellectuals, social activists and Oxford academics joined forces to respond to the plight of refugees in Greece. They continued to provide aid to people in Europe before shifting their focus to developing nations. Oxfam America was founded by volunteers 28 years later in response to the humanitarian crisis created by the fight for independence in Bangladesh.

Collectively, Oxfam now works in 90 countries around the globe. To achieve their vision of "a just world without poverty" their efforts are focused in four areas:

• saving lives
• programs to overcome poverty and injustice
• campaigning for social justice
• public education

Examples of specific programs include working to end violence against women in Mozambique, supporting the peace process in Colombia, and inviting refugees to spend a day sharing their stories in Trump's childhood home. Last year over 22 million people benefitted from Oxfam programs.

You can find more information by checking out the list, "Top 10 things you need to know about Oxfam". Some statements that inspired me:

• We believe that fighting poverty is about fighting injustice.
• The projects we fund are community driven.
• We help people learn about their basic rights and how to defend them.

If you'd like to get involved but don't know where to start, there's a toolkit you can download. It lists actions you can take on your own, such as skipping a meal in solidarity with people who are hungry and donating the cost of that meal to Oxfam. There are also plenty of ideas for group fundraisers.

Finally, you can always show your support for Oxfam with the usual suspects - donate, shop, volunteer, like the Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @OxfamAmerica.

Feel Good Friday - North Oakland Restorative Justice Council

Last Feel Good Friday I wrote about a Canadian group since I was in Canada. Today I'm back in the Bay Area so I'm going to highlight the work of a Bay Area group, the North Oakland Restorative Justice Council!

The best description of their work comes from their Facebook page. "The North Oakland Restorative Justice Council supports loved ones that have been impacted by violence in the North Oakland area. We support restorative justice for the victims and perpetrators. In addition, we are on-demand for crisis situations when needed to be an alternative to incarceration."

What exactly is restorative justice? According to Wikipedia it is "an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of the victims and the offenders, as well as the involved community." For the North Oakland Restorative Justice Council, that means working with member organizations to engage youth in the community, working with neighborhood watch groups and communities affected by displacement and racial profiling to build partnerships and violence prevention campaigns, hosting monthly "Peace 'n Justice Walks" and more. As their slogan says, they are "Putting the neighbor back into hood".

As an example, one of their member organizations is Phat Beets Produce, a group focused on creating a more equitable food system in North Oakland, providing access to fresh produce and facilitating youth leadership. You can watch this video about their Food Justice Food Truck to see how they are impacting the community.

If you like what you read (and live in the Bay Area) you can join the next Peace 'n Justice Community Walk on April 14th. The walks take place the 2nd Friday of every month.

Everyone, no matter where you are, can support the North Oakland Restorative Justice Council with a donation and by liking their Facebook page.

Feel Good Friday - Southern Poverty Law Center

I try to avoid discussions of politics on Feel Good Fridays because I want this space to focus on the good works being done by people around the world. That being said, the rise in hate crimes only days after the outcome of the U.S. presidential election is what inspired this week's organization.

Once again, we celebrate the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). If that's ringing a familiar bell it's because we profiled their school-based program Teaching Tolerance in this post last month. Today we're focused on what they do to fight hate.

As stated on their website, "we monitor hate groups and other extremists throughout the United States and expose their activities to the public, the media and law enforcement." There is an interactive map of the 892 hate groups in the U.S. so you can see where they can be found.

In an effort to bring these people to light and to justice, SPLC maintains a extremist files database of prominent extremist organizations and individuals and explains their ideologies. They also "publish investigative reports, train law enforcement officers and share key intelligence, and offer expert analysis to the media and public."

So what does all this monitoring and tracking do, besides make you depressed realizing how much hate is out there? As the SPLC explains, "over the years, we've crippled or destroyed some of the country's most notorious hate groups - including the United Klans of America, the Aryan Nations and the White Aryan Resistance - by suing them for murders and other violent acts committed by their members or by exposing their activities." That's what happens when you tangle with a law center!

In addition to fighting hate and teaching tolerance the SPLC has programs focused on children's rights, immigrant justice, LGBT rights, economic justice and criminal justice reform. You can click all these links now or you can wait... this may not be the last time we turn to the Southern Poverty Law Center on a Feel Good Friday.

Support this important work with a donation and by liking the SPLC Facebook, the HateWatch Facebook page following them on Twitter @splcenter.