Action Alliances | Current Alliances

2009-10 Progressive Partnerships:

• The Activist Resource Center (ARC) at Brandeis University seeks to promote positive social, cultural, political, and economic change by providing resources to student activists. Their goal is to facilitate communication and cooperation between activist organizations and create a more vibrant community of activism at Brandeis. The ARC works to give student activists the information and tools they need to be effective organizers and to offer information about the broad range of activist opportunities both on and off campus to the Brandeis community.  
   
• Campus and Community United is a youth led organization at the University of Southern California. Its members are committed to uniting and empowering the University Park Community to create a just and vibrant neighborhood. We seek a responsible future for both campus and community members by advocating for: affordable housing, both in its preservation and creation; safety, while engaging enduring stereotypes about the community; local small business development and entrepreneurship; environmental sustainability in future neighborhood developments. 
  
  
• The Coalition of Alabama Students for the Environment (CASE) is a newly formed coalition that brings students from across Alabama together to share tactics, resources and campaigns. Alabama will join many other states in having it's very own network of passionate climate leaders demanding a sane energy policy.  
  
  
• The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a student run organization at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. They promote awareness of all things LGBTQ on their campus.  They organize social events, provide literature and educational materials, and provide a safe haven for LGBTQ students of all colors, creed, abilities, age, gender, and sexuality.  They also are looking forward to hosting a series of relevant events on their campus this year.  
  
  
• Ignite Greensboro is a student run, led, and built project that raises awareness of the International Civil Rights Museum and Center. They are attempting to raise $30,000-$50,000 for scholarships, community building projects, civil rights movement speaker engagements, and an intergenerational gift to the museum itself. It seeks to bridge commonalities between students, institutions, and the community. Their goal and purpose is to get students involved and aware of the culture and history of Greensboro, and they pursue this goal through a multitude of creative projects, including flash mobs. They are currently working on an oral history documentary, a black and white photographic interpretation project, and a benefit concert series. Ignite Greensboro will reestablish a sense of responsibility to the community, culture and history of Greensboro.
  
  
• Our Earth is an environmental organization at the University of Oklahoma that strives to educate their peers and encourage them to take action on environmental issues affecting the OU community. This year they hope to work with other progressive organizations on their campus to gain new organizing skills. The Progressive Partnership will help them build the strength of the Oklahoman progressive movement and build important connections with other organizations.   
  
  
• The Progressive Student Alliance works to promote social justice at Northeastern University and in their community through education, negotiation, and direct action. Their three primary campaigns are Justice for Janitors, Fair Trade Dining, and a Sweatshop Free Campus. Recent work includes replacing over 75% of the school's coffee with fairly traded blends, and organizing over a hundred students to march on the university president's house in support of a fair wage for their janitorial staff. 
  
  
• Tufts Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) is a student group that seeks to challenge rape culture on campus by (1) working with the administration to improve the school's sexual assault policy, (2) providing educational campaigns to raise awareness about issues around consent, healthy relationships, sex positivity, sexual violence, active by standing, etc., (3) implement better prevention programs, and (4) improve the way that Tufts responds to sexual assault. 

Current Organizing Grantees:

• The FAMU Green Coalition - is a student-led organization at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, dedicated to promoting sustainability at this historically black university and in the surrounding community. Activities include distributing free CFLs within the community; hosting a Focus the Nation teach-in, a Green Summit and ECOnscious Days for the entire campus; inviting speakers to address climate justice issues; and promoting recycling and healthful eating.


• enVeg - is a University of Florida student organization that works to encourage students to reduce their meat consumption in order to help the environment. Because animal agriculture causes more climate change than cars, you can make a difference by going meatless on Mondays, or by eating a low-carbon, vegetarian diet whenever possible.


• The Real Food Challenge UCI - is part of a national student movement advocating for a more sustainable food system. We want to see more "real" food in our college eateries - food that is ecologically sound, community-based, humane, and fair.The purpose of this organization is to create and implement clear guidelines that prioritize community based, ecologically sound, fair, and humane food purchasing; waste reduction; and green dining facility standards at UC Irvine. In turn, this supports the health of consumers, laborers, local economies, and the environment.


• Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions (I.D.E.A.S.) - is a proactive student/non-profit organization started to inspire and promote environmental sustainability on campuses. Through service learning opportunities focusing on environmental stewardship and conservation, as well as interactive strategies used to raise awareness about environmental concerns, I.D.E.A.S. provides the initiatives that links interested students with issues effecting our local communities and environment. From off-campus community recycle initiatives and ecosystem facilitation to plastic bag reduction campaigns, I.D.E.A.S. inspires students to get involved in an array of environmental practices depending on their personal interests. In addition, I.D.E.A.S. also advocates and performs scientific research and experimentation in advanced biofuels, energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.


• The Dream Green Campaign - A student and youth-led campaign, initiated on Howard University’s campus, mandated by the call to conscience regarding environmental and economic justice. The Dream Green Campaign’s goals are to: (1) Raise awareness within communities of color about the need for and benefits of sustainable living practices (2) Educate communities of color about the benefits of and economic opportunities within a “green” economy and (3) Develop within communities of color the skills, tools, and resources necessary to play active entrepreneurial and leadership roles in a just “green” economy, and capable of producing sustained capacity, employment and wealth-building.
  
  
• The New Brunswick Ward Campaign - A student and community campaign to reform the New Brunswick city council. Currently, the city uses an at-large system of representation, which tends to favor well-funded candidates. The campaign is working for a ward-based system, which would allow for more genuine representation of the city’s diverse communities. This campaign was launched in May 2008 by Empower Our Neighborhoods (EON), the community wing of Rutgers' Community Empowerment Project. Last year, EON ran a campaign to petition the city by referendum, housed and fed ten full-time organizers for the summer, and canvassed all of New Brunswick. Due to intense opposition by entrenched local politicians, they will be continuing our efforts this summer with another full-time campaign to bring democracy to the streets of New Brunswick. Learn more about this campaign but visiting www.EmpowerNB.com.
  
  
• Students for Economic and Social Justice (SESJ) – A student group at the University of Montana acting to ensure ethical university purchasing policies. Two years ago, SESJ succeeded in affiliating the University of Montana with the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), which is an independent monitoring organization that conducts investigations into working conditions around the globe. They are currently continuing this campaign by asking the university to affiliate with the WRC's Designated Suppliers Program (DSP), which enhances the enforcement of university codes of conduct regarding labor rights. SESJ believes strongly not only in direct action, but educating students across campus about international labor issues. For more information, contact Svein Newman.


• Students for Staff (SFS) - A group of undergrads, graduate students and alumni at Miami University who believe in living the values of liberal education and critical thinking by putting research and knowledge into action. SFS strongly values the contributions of Miami's staff to a cohesive community, and believes that valuable work demands valuable compensation. SFS has been meeting with members of the administration, staff, and student bodies, in an effort to raise awareness of the wage issue and disparities on campus, and to generate support for the living wage campaign. They are building a coalition and seeking wider support for cooperative and collaborative measures to address the wage situation at Miami. For more information, contact Stephanie Lee.


• Texas Students Against the Death Penalty (TSADP) - A student-led campaign at the University of Texas-Austin, TSADP’s goal is to get students involved in opposing the death penalty in Texas.


• UH Fair Labor Action Committee - a student led organization at the University of Houston campaigning for ethical food at the University of Houston through making more certified Fair Trade products available on campus, pressuring our dining services (Aramark) to sign the "penny per pound" agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee workers, and fighting for a living wage of $11 an hour for all dining service employees. In solidarity with other organizations, students, and faculty, we seek to further educate our campus and our community about social injustice that requires attention at the University of Houston.


• University of Maryland's Students for Sensible Drug Policy Chapter - is working on a life-saving Good Samaritan policy campaign. Currently, too many people are afraid to call for help during alcohol or other drug-related emergency due to fear of police involvement and university punishments. We believe that health and safety should be our university's and state's number one priority. In 2008, out of over 3,000 students who voted on our campus, 92% said they'd be more inclined to call if our school had a Good Samaritan policy, one that would shield the caller and victim in a drug-related emergency from university punishments.


• Campus and Community United - a youth led organization at the University of Southern California. Its members are committed to uniting and empowering the University Park Community to create a just and vibrant neighborhood. We seek a responsible future for both campus and community members by advocating for: affordable housing, both in its preservation and creation; safety, while engaging enduring stereotypes about the community; local small business development and entrepreneurship; environmental sustainability in future neighborhood developments.


• The Gay Straight Alliance - a student run organization at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. They promote awareness of all things LGBTQ on their campus. They organize social events, provide literature and educational materials, and provide a safe haven for LGBTQ students of all colors, creed, abilities, age, gender, and sexuality. They also are looking forward to hosting a series of relevant events on their campus this year.


• Ignite Greensboro is a student run, led, and built project that raises awareness of the International Civil Rights Museum and Center. They are attempting to raise $30,000-$50,000 for scholarships, community building projects, civil rights movement speaker engagements, and an intergenerational gift to the museum itself. It seeks to bridge commonalities between students, institutions, and the community. Their goal and purpose is to get students involved and aware of the culture and history of Greensboro, and they pursue this goal through a multitude of creative projects, including flash mobs. They are currently working on an oral history documentary, a black and white photographic interpretation project, and a benefit concert series. Ignite Greensboro will reestablish a sense of responsibility to the community, culture and history of Greensboro.
  
  
• The Progressive Student Alliance works to promote social justice at Northeastern University and in their community through education, negotiation, and direct action. Their three primary campaigns are Justice for Janitors, Fair Trade Dining, and a Sweatshop Free Campus. Recent work includes replacing over 75% of the school's coffee with fairly traded blends, and organizing over a hundred students to march on the university president's house in support of a fair wage for their janitorial staff. 
  
  
• Tufts Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) is a student group that seeks to challenge rape culture on campus by (1) working with the administration to improve the school's sexual assault policy, (2) providing educational campaigns to raise awareness about issues around consent, healthy relationships, sex positivity, sexual violence, active by standing, etc., (3) implement better prevention programs, and (4) improve the way that Tufts responds to sexual assault. 


• Power Network is a service-learning nonprofit with a primary focus on: education, environment, equal rights, economy, health care, and election reform in the state of Ohio.  Our mission is to engage and cultivate student leaders of color on campus as well as in the community through civic engagement and policy study. We are working on a campaign called YOUTH MATTER, which is a student led campaign utilizing peer-to-peer education and engagement for young adults in order to involve and inform one another on local and state elections as well as national issues of health care, green jobs and college affordability.  During the campaign students will utilize video blogs, voter guides, info sheets and social networking sites to advocate, educate and become actively engaged.   Check out our civic engagement work here!

Former Grantees:

• Divest Nebraska - A student-led campaign at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln advocating targeted divestment as a strategy to help end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. They are demanding that their state remove its investments from companies that are providing revenue for genocide while providing little or no assistance to Sudanese civilians. Click here to find out more about their efforts.


• Environmental Futurists - A student-led group at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) that is working to promote renewable energy among SCSU students and New Haven residents. They are currently working on a campaign to convince the SCSU administration to adopt a resolution committing the school to carbon neutrality. Additionally, the Environmental Futurists are working to create a Sustainability Coordinator position and a Sustainability Committee at SCSU. To learn more, send them an email.


• Free the Planet (FTP) – A student organization spearheading a campaign to have Grinnell College construct utility grade wind turbines on or near campus that provide enough energy to meet at least the majority of the campus’ electricity needs. They use grassroots and direct lobbying techniques to engage the campus community about the potential for harvesting the power of our prairie winds, and work with Grinnell students, faculty, staff, alumni, administrators, and trustees. FTP’s wind campaign is one component of a broader initiative to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the College as a whole. For more information about the FTP’s wind turbine campaign, click here.


• GLBTA Student Union - is a student organization at Wayne State University that is actively committed to establishing welcoming and safe campus environment that embodies basic principles of justice and equality for all. The University environment ought to be one that reinforces fair treatment, equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and in doing so recognizes the inherent human rights that all students possess regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. They are working towards increasing acceptance and inclusion for the GBLT community on campus, and building support for equal school and public policies with respect to the GBLT community. For more information, email wayneglbta@gmail.com.


• KSU Eta Sigma Gamma - A health education honorary that is dedicated to providing both Kent State University (KSU) and the community with free quality health education. Eta Sigma Gamma is the lead student group of a campus coalition advocating for reproductive rights, specifically comprehensive sexuality education and equal access to the HPV Vaccine. Their goals are: (1) to increase awareness of susceptibility to HPV and the inequality of healthcare coverage; (2) to extend coverage of student health insurance at KSU to include the HPV vaccine; (3) and to gain support among state policy makers for a HPV vaccine mandate. For more information, contact Colin V. Dean or join their Facebook group.


• Living Income for Vanderbilt Employees (LIVE) - A student-led campaign at Vanderbilt University, LIVE’s goals are to (1) Secure a commitment from Vanderbilt University to pay all of its employees a living wage, (2) Implement the Ten Points for Just Employment, a comprehensive employment policy that protects the integrity of workers’ wages that also discusses anti-union intimidation, benefits, subcontracted labor, transparency of labor policy, etc. and (3) Educate the Vanderbilt community about the living wage, the inadequacy of the current wage system, the present condition of unionized labor and the importance of workers’ rights.


• Politically Aware Titans - A non-partisan student organization from Cal State Fullerton dedicated to political science students who wish to take an active interest in current politics. They are teaming up with Tuition Relief Now to help pass a state ballot initiative that will ensure tuition for state schools in California never gets raised by more than the cost of living each year. Instead the funding will come from a 0.5% tax on incomes over $1 million. The schools will also have to present their budget to a panel of parents, teachers, and students, which will provide a much higher level of accountability. For more information or to get involved, email them at PATCSUF@hotmail.com, or visit TuitionReliefNow.org.


• Springfield Citizens Against the War (SCAW) - An Illinois-based campaign led by a graduate student Michael Ziri, SCAW’s goal is to get a troop-withdrawal question added to the November ballot in Springfield, Illinois. The question is, “Shall President George W. Bush and Congress commence a humane, orderly, immediate and comprehensive withdrawal of all U. S. military personnel and bases from Iraq?”


• Students Supporting Affirmative Action (SSAA)-- A University of Michigan based organization that created and launched a visibility campaign opposing Proposal 2, an amendment to the Michigan Constitution that prohibits all state and local government entities, including public schools, from using affirmative action programs, during the 2006 election. Proposal 2 passed in November of 2006, and SSAA is currently advocating federal legislation which would allow states to continue to use affirmative action programs.


• Students United for a Responsible Global Environment (SURGE) – SURGE is a student-led network dedicated to achieving social, economic, political, and environmental justice through collective education and action. SURGE was founded in 1998 by students at UNC-Chapel Hill interested in building the progressive student movement to ensure that students have a unified impact, transforming isolated campus activists to a network that harnesses the strength of unity. It serves as North Carolina’s anchor of the nation-wide Campus Climate Challenge campaign, and hosted a state-wide summit for students across the state to learn ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


• Sudan Divestment Task Force (SDTF) - The SDTF is an effort to unite on-campus divestment efforts from across the country, led by Brandeis student Daniel Millensom. The SDTF played a critical role in recent decisions by university boards to divest from companies that do business with Sudan at Brown, Amherst and Yale universities, and the campaign also targets state pension funds in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. SDTF students have testified at university board meetings and before state legislatures and their efforts have been covered by Boston Globe, CNN, NPR and others.


• The Towson Energy Activists - A student lead group on Towson University’s campus that works for individual, campus and statewide changes to promote sustainability and fight climate change. Past projects include establishing fair trade coffee in dining halls, movie screenings, and a residence hall conservation challenge (The Dorm Wars!). Towson Energy Activists are an active member in the Maryland Student Climate Coalition, a student lead state group of youth, students and schools working on state wide campaigns to move Maryland into a clean energy future. The MSCC ran a successful campaign last year and pushed all the presidents at every school in the University System of Maryland to sign the Presidents Climate Commitment and pledge carbon neutrality. The MSCC just finished up running the PowerVote campaign around the 2008 election and is now working on a campaign to pass the bold and progressive Global Warming Solutions Act in session this spring. Towson Energy Activist and the Maryland Student Climate Coalition commit to running strategic campaigns to promote a clean energy economy, environmental justices and a sustainable future.