The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, CA, working to advance racial and economic justice to ensure dignity and opportunity for low-income people and people of color.
Founded by Van Jones, Diana Frappier and Mike McLoone in 1996, the Ella Baker Center has been on the frontlines of campaigns for police oversight, the green jobs movement, promoting civic engagement, violence prevention through youth leadership, and transforming juvenile justice systems in California. The Ella Baker Center works to build people-powered movements to end mass incarceration, criminalization, and state violence through Truth and Reinvestment—moving resources away from failed criminal justice policies and toward family-driven solutions that improve public health, safety, and prosperity for all communities.
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Heal Not Harm
Racial inequality, poverty and housing segregation are on the rise in Oakland, coinciding with a surge in encampments of unsheltered people across the city, the majority of whom are African American. Learn more about Heal Not Harm, the campaign to de-criminalize unsheltered community members in Oakland. Visit us Online
Audit Ahern
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) has a long history of scandals and violating the rights of community members. Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, who is also the county coroner, has few restrictions and little oversight to his power. Learn more about the ongoing effort to hold the ACSO accountable and reallocate resources toward services that improve our health and wellbeing. Visit us Online
Criminal Justice Reform
Black and Brown communities have been disproportionately impacted by over-policing and mass incarceration. Learn about the work happening to pass legislation to win more justice for incarcerated people and their families, and righting the wrongs from California’s draconian sentencing laws. Visit us Online