SDPC Nationl Site: Links

Links

Africa Action - www.africaaction.com Africa Action is a national organization that works for political, economic and social justice in Africa through the provision of accessible information and analysis combined with the mobilization of public pressure to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational institutions toward Africa. Africa Action produces a range of resources on African affairs and Africa policy. These resources analyze U.S. relations with Africa, particularly on key issues that impact Africa's challenges and support Africa's struggles for peace, development and human rights.

Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute - www.bcdvi.org   The Institute's programs are designed to develop relationships among congregations and domestic violence agencies by garnering the support of clergy, advocates and law enforcement. By engaging churches, shelters and law enforcement in partnerships, battered women are not forced to choose between their faith and their safety. They provide culturally competent training for clergy and advocates emphasizing the empowerment and leadership development of religious leaders in the historic Black church in prevention and response to domestic violence.

Black Women's Health Imperative - www.blackwomenshealth.org Though this is a resource targeted for black women's health, it is one of the most comprehensive internet resources for information on health concerns and health related legislation within the African American communities in the United States and throughout the African Diaspora. Information provided includes sponsors, co-sponsors, and non-cosponsors of health legislation, status of health related bills, including alerts and updates and the voting record of Congressional members.   This site also provides information on schedules for both house and senate and all committee hearings.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) - www.childrensdefense.org The nation's leading advocate for children's welfare, for more than 20 years, CDF has worked closely with national religious leaders and organizations, state and regional bodies, local congregations, leaders, and lay people. The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life.

Human Rights Watch - www.hrw.org Human Rights Watch is an independent, non-governmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide and provides a wealth of information on national and international government and/or policies that discriminate or endanger the freedom of people around the world.

Interfaith Alliance - www.interfaithalliance.org A national non-partisan, interfaith advocacy voice representing more than 70 faith traditions that promotes interfaith cooperation around shared religious values to strengthen the public's commitment to civic participation, freedom of religion, diversity, and civility in public discourse and to encourage the active involvement of people of faith in the nation's political life. An excellent resource for explanations of pending legislation that affects the faith community. It is also a good source of sermons related to the issues of justice reform, government funded religion and hate crimes. Within each issue section, you will find an overview of The Interfaith Alliance's position on, relevant pending legislation and action alerts.

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - www.jointcenter.org The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a national, nonprofit research and public policy institution and is recognized today as one of the nation's premier think tanks on a broad range of public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other communities of color. The principle areas of work now include political participation, economic advancement, and health policy. This is an excellent resource for up-to-date information on government policy.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - www.naacp.org The nation's oldest civil rights organization is one of the primary lobbyists in the nation's capital for civil rights. Annually providing a report card on the members of Congress and their voting records on key civil rights legislation, their activities include research and findings on the adverse effects of racial discrimination, seeking enactment and enforcement of federal, state and local laws securing civil rights and educating persons as to their constitutional rights.

National Community Action Foundation - www.ncaf.org The National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) is the Washington advocate and lobbyist for the nation's Community Action Agencies.   Their work encompasses a broad range of issues and programs including: Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, Low-income Home Energy Assistance, Welfare Reform, Employment and Job Training, Housing and Shelter for the Homeless, Services for Older Americans, Health, Nutrition, Tax and Income Policy, and Energy Conservation Programs. They also provide research on national and state legislative and policy proposals affecting the poor as well as the impact of existing programs and policies. It is an excellent resource for pending bills in Congress and status of representative's votes and legislative updates.

National Urban League - www.nul.org The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. One of its main resources is its annual report on The State of Black America that addresses the issues central to African Americans. The report examines black progress in education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, health and other areas, forecasts certain social and political trends and proposes solutions to the community's and America's most pressing challenges.

National Women's Law Center - www.nwlc.org The Center's Family Economic Security Program advances laws and public policies to help economically vulnerable women -- including single mothers, women of color and older women - by promoting high-quality, affordable child and dependent care, meaningful income support programs, a strong Social Security system, and fair and fiscally responsible tax and budget policies. An excellent web site, it includes summaries and status information about key bills, including sponsors, co-sponsors, voting status, etc., key congressional roll call votes, and tips for communicating with Congressional members and key staffers and the legislative process.

The Sentencing Project - www.sentencingproject.org The Sentencing Project has become a national leader in the development of alternative sentencing programs and in research and advocacy on criminal justice policy. A recognized source of criminal justice policy analysis, data, and program information. Its reports, publications, and staff are relied upon by the public, policymakers and the media and has led to Congressional and state legislative hearings and fostered new programs designed to address the issues of racial and economic disparity in sentencing. They also provide leadership and training for defenders and others who work with the increasing number of juveniles being tried in adult court and the development of approaches to reducing racial disparity at each stage of the criminal justice system. This is one of the most informative web sites for information on the criminal justice system in America.

TransAfrica Forum - www.transafricaforum.org This is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the general public - particularly African Americans - on the economic, political and moral ramifications of U.S. foreign policy as it affects Africa and the Diaspora in the Caribbean and Latin America. They serve as a major research, educational, and organizing institution for the African-American community, sponsoring seminars, conferences, community awareness projects, and training programs that promote U.S. policies that are supportive of human rights, democracy, and sustainable economic development. It also offers constructive analyses of issues concerning U.S. policy as it affects Africa and the Diaspora in the Caribbean and Latin America.