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Shannah S.

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1 reviews

Review for Southern Coalition For Socialjustice, Durham, NC, USA

Rating: 5 stars  

I have volunteered with The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) since its founding in 2008. Over that time I have watched it grow from a small civil rights group into a fully functioning office of lawyers, community organizers, social scientists, and interns all working together to empower communities. The group assists with a variety of issues, from environmental justice (placing a landfill in a minority neighborhood), to voting rights, to immigration issues.

Regardless of the issue being addressed, the group is set apart by its dedication to truly listening to each community's story and helping that community choose how best to address its issues. This is an important change from the philosophy of most civil rights advocacy groups, where the head lawyer tells the community what steps to take. By allowing communities to help formulate solutions to their own problems, SCSJ truly empowers clients.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

hearing the stories of former clients: people consistently walk away feeling that their rights have been vindicated and they have personally gained new skills (such as community organizing) that will help them in future endeavors.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Increase their funding so they could work with even more communities to solve modern day civil rights issues.

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

Life-changing

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Quite well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2011

Role:  Volunteer & I helped found the organization.