Center for Community Change

Center for Community Change (CCC) is an organization with the mission of building the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to "change their communities and public policies for the better".

The Center for Community Change strengthens, connects and mobilizes grassroots groups to enhance their leadership, voice and power. We believe that vibrant community-based organizations, led by the people most affected by social and economic injustice, are key to putting an end to the failed "on your own" mentality of the right and building a new politics based on community values.

Founded in 1968 to honor the life and values of Robert F. Kennedy, the Center is one of the longest-standing champions for low-income people and communities of color. Together, our expert staff and dynamic partners confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.

"What We Do"

Center for Community Change works to amplify Community Voices: "We ensure that grassroots voices are heard in Washington and shape the national conversation about building a better America.

• Strong community-based organizations and their brilliant leaders are our source of great ideas and real power. We strengthen the local power of these groups and elevate their voices from the grassroots to the national level.
• We deliver the grassroots message with authentic voices. We leverage our relationships with grassroots community leaders, ethnic and mainstream media, and national opinion makers to advocate for low-income people.

Combine Grassroots Power to Win: We unite grassroots groups and leaders across race and ethnicity, issues and geography to solve some of the most pressing problems facing low-income people today.

• We bring together grassroots leaders to learn from one another and our expert staff, and to join forces on common causes.
• We are a catalyst for action. Leveraging one of the broadest and most diverse networks of community based organizations, we've built a 40 year history of winning real improvements to the lives of low-income families.

Build the Social Movements of Tomorrow: We find and nurture the brilliant leaders and great ideas of tomorrow.

• We nurture the next generation of leaders. We discover opportunity and potential where others don't. Thousands of organizers and community leaders touch the Center for Community Change each year – we are dedicated to finding the stars of tomorrow and preparing them to lead.
• We incubate the ideas that will shape a better tomorrow. We bring together the most creative thinkers from the grassroots to the ivory tower to develop innovative solutions and a vision for an America where we're all in it together."

"Communities Against Hate" Leader

Center for Community Change is listed as a leader of the Open Society Foundation's Communities Against Hate initiative.

"Communities Against Hate is a national initiative to collect data and respond to incidents of violence, threats, and property damage motivated by hate across the United States. The initiative leverages a reporting database (communitiesagainsthate.org) that aggregates reports from victims, witnesses, and news accounts of hate incidents, as well as offers legal resources and social services to support people in need. Communities Against Hate aims to aggregate data on hate incidents, providing legal and social support, raising awareness, and educating the public on the prevalence of hate.

"The initiative is led by the Leadership Conference Education Fund, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and partner organizations representing diverse communities that reflect the fabric of America, including: Center for Community Change; Color of Change; Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network); Hollaback!; Muslim Advocates; National Council of La Raza; National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC); New York City Anti-Violence Project; and the Transgender Law Center. The Southern Poverty Law Center is serving as a strategic advisor to the initiative.

Proteus Fund

Center for Community Change is a grant recipient of the Proteus Fund.

Flipping Nevada

The Center for Community Change Action and other grassroots organizations created the Immigrant Voters Win PAC in 2016, which contacted more than 80,000 Latino voters in Nevada, a state Clinton won by 27,000 votes.

Annual Awards

Since 2005, the Center for Community Change has "recognized some of our nation’s top community leaders for advancing the cause of social justice, with a particular impact on the lives of low-income people and people of color. CCC’s Community Change Champion Awards are presented to individuals and organizations who are our heroes in the social justice movement".

2012 Champion in Labor Partnership:Award in memory of Seth Rosen

• Communications Workers of America

Champion in Community Leadership:

• Paulette Meyer and David Friedman

Champion in Community Organizing:

• Ohio Organizing Collaborative Award, to be accepted by Executive Director Kirk Noden and Board Co-Chairs Michael Harrison, Bill Dudley and Heather McMahon

Champion in Community Activism:

• Sonja Sohn, Actress and Activist

2011

• Quinn Delaney, President of Akonadi Foundation
• George Gresham, President of 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East
• Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director of OneAmerica
• Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera
• Frances Fox Piven, Professor of Political Science CUNY
• Congressman Raúl Grijalva, United States Representative, Arizona 7th District

2010

• Congressman Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s 5th District
• Diane Feeney, Director, French American Charitable Trust
• Marcelas Owens, Washington CAN!, an affiliate of NWFCO
• North Carolina Fair Share
• Promise Arizona
• Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO

2009

• Patricia Bauman, President, The Bauman Family Foundation
• Casa de Maryland
• Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Illinois’ 4th District
• Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President, Bennett College for Women
• Joseph Hansen, International President, UFCW
• Virginia Organizing Project

2008

• Anton Gunn, Executive Director, South Carolina Fair Share
• Caroline Murray, Executive Director, Alliance to Develop Power
• Maria Rodriguez, Executive Director, Florida Immigrant Coalition
• Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Maryland’s 4th District
• Paul Sarbanes, former Senator of Maryland
• Doug Fraser, President UAW (1977-83), awarded posthumously
• Arlene Holt Baker, Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO
• Jerry Hudson, Executive Vice President, SEIU
• Maria Jobin-Leeds and Greg Jobin-Leeds
• Taryn Higashi, Executive Director of Unbound Philanthropy
• Geri Mannion, Program Director, The Carnegie Corporation of New York
• William S. White, President, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

2007

• Adriane Frazier and Ashley Jones, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
• Rev. William Lewis Barnes, civil rights activist and community leader
• Deirdre Reed, Tying Nashville Together

2006

• Gara LaMarche, Open Society Institute
• Eliseo Medina, International Secretary-Tresurer, SEIU
• Maria Gabriela Pacheco, immigrant rights activist
• Hollis Watkins, civil rights activist and President and co-founder of Southern Echo

2005

• Ruby Dee, actor and activist
• Marie Gonzalez, immigrant youth activist
• Cathy Hughes, media pioneer
• Barack Obama, then Senator of Illinois
• Luz Vega-Marquis, Marguerite Casey Foundation
• Lyn Dennis, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
• LeeAnn Hall, Northwest Federation of Community Organizations

CCC board

The Center for Community Change board in 2012 included;

• Arlene Holt Baker, Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC
• Jeff Berman, Partner, Clifford Chance US LLP, New York, New York
• Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change, Washington, DC
• Kelly Brown, Director, The D5 Coalition, Chicago, IL
• Peter Colavito, Director of Govt. Relations, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Washington, DC
• Quinn Delaney, President Akonadi Foundation, Oakland, CA
• Diane Feeney, President, Fact Services for French American, Charitable Trust New York, New York
• Jane Fox-Johnson, Washington, DC
• Sam Fulwood III, Washington DC
• Ana Guerrero, Chief of Staff, LA City, Council Member Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, CA
• Pronita Gupta, Director of Programs, Women Donors Network, San Francisco, CA
• Jonathan Heller, Director & Co-Founder
• Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, Choice USA, Washington, DC
• Bill Lyons, Springfield VA
• Lenora Bush Reese
• Frank I. Sanchez, Senior Program Officer, The Needmor Fund , Roswell, NM
• Dorian Warren, Assistant Professor, Political Science & Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York, NY
• Mary Willis, Executive Director, Morris Family Foundation, Langley, WA

The Center for Community Change board circa 2010, included;

• Arlene Holt Baker, Executive Vice President AFL-CIO, Washington, DC
• Jeff Berman, Partner Clifford Chance US LLP New York, NY
• Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director Center for Community Change, Washington, DC
• Heather Booth, President, Midwest Academy, Washington, DC
• Kelly Brown, Consultant Viewpoint Consulting, Chicago, IL
• Peter Colavito, Director of Govt. Relations Service Employees International Union, (SEIU) Washington, DC
• Quinn Delaney, President Akonadi Foundation, Oakland, CA
• Bill Dempsey, Director, Capital Stewardship Program United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, CLC Washington, DC
• Diane Feeney, President Fact Services for French American Charitable Trust, New York, NY
• Jane Fox-Johnson, Washington, DC
• Sam Fulwood III, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
• Ana Guerrero, Chief of Staff LA Council President Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, CA
• Pronita Gupta, Director of Programs Women Donors Network, San Francisco, CA
• Jonathan Heller, Director & Co-Founder Human Impact Partners, Oakland, CA
• Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, Choice USA, Washington, DC
• Paulette Meyer, President, Faultline Foundation San Francisco, CA
• Torie Osborn, Senior Advisor, California Calls, Santa Monica, CA
• Manuel Pastor, Jr., Professor American Studies & Ethnicity, Director, Program for Environmental and Regional Equity Director: Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
• Lenora Bush Reese, Consultant Columbia, SC
• Justin Ruben, Executive Director, MoveOn.org, Brooklyn, NY
• Frank I. Sanchez, Senior Program Officer, The Needmor Fund, Roswell, NM
• Dorian T. Warren, Assistant Professor , Political Science & Public Affairs, Columbia University New York, NY

The Center for Community Change board in 2009 included;;

• Deepak Bhargava Executive Director Center for Community Change Washington, DC
• Jeff Berman Partner Clifford Chance U.S. LLP New York, NY
• Heather Booth Director of Health Care Reform Campaign AFL-CIO Washington, DC
• Tom Chabolla Assistant to the President Service Employees International Union Washington, DC
• Bill Dempsey Director, Capital Stewardship Program United Food and Commercial Workers Union Washington, DC
• Patricia Dinner Consultant San Francisco, CA
• Jane Fox-Johnson Consultant Washington, DC
• Sara Gould President & CEO Ms. Foundation for Women New York, NY
• Pronita Gupta Director of Programs Women Donors Network Oakland, CA
• Jonathan Heller Project Director Human Impact Partners Berkeley, CA
• Alan Jenkins Executive Director The Opportunity Agenda New York, NY
• Paulette Meyer Chair Equal Rights Advocates San Francisco, CA
• Torie Osborn Chief Civic Engagement Officer United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• Manuel Pastor] Professor, Geography and American Studies & Equity Director, Program for Environmental and Regional Equity USC Department of Geography Los Angeles, CA
• Lenora Bush Reese, CCC Board Chair Consultant Columbia, SC
• Justin Ruben Executive Director MoveOn.org Austin, TX
• Frank Sanchez Senior Program Officer The Needmor Fund Roswell, NM
• Dorian Warren Assistant Professor of International & Public Affairs Columbia University New York, NY

Staff

As of 2011;

• Tim Anderegg, Senior Data Manager
• Michael Anderson, Affordable Housing Organizer - Housing Trust Fund Project
• Allegra Baider, Senior Legislative Associate
• Nancy Berlin, Project Director - California Partnership
• Yolanda Bernal, Human Resources Generalist
• Lisa Block, Donor Database Administrator
• Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director
• Kevin Borden, Senior Organizer
• Seth Borgos, Director of Research & Programs
• Mary Brooks, Project Director - Housing Trust Fund Project
• Pamela Chiang, Director of Organizational Learning
• Mary Dailey, Lead Organizer/ Social Security Team Leader
• Nina Dastur, Senior Policy Analyst
• Donna De La Cruz, Press Secretary
• Julia DiLaura, Writing Manager
• Don Elmer, Field Organizer - Coaching & Field Assistance
• Ashley Ferguson, Receptionist/ Office Assistant
• Marcia Glasgow, Executive Assistant
• Snami Glay, Senior Executive Coordinator
• Gabe Gonzalez, National Campaign Director
• Marissa Graciosa, Immigration Campaign Coordinator
• Tammy Greaton, Senior Organizer
• Katy Heins, Senior Field Organizer
• Amber Hobbs, Operations Manager
• Dushaw Hockett, Director of Special Initiatives-Black America Organizing Project
• Jerry Jones, Director of Special Initiatives
• Kate Kahan, Legislative Director
• Lynn Kanter, Writing Director
• Stella Kim, Policy and Communication Specialist
• David Kimball, National Field Director-Organizing
• Zack Langway, Web and New Media Manager
• Mary M. Lassen, Managing Director
• Rudy Lopez, National Field Director-Politics
• Maria D. Lopez, Health Policy Specialist - California Partnership
• Sonia Medina, Human Resources Associate
• Allison Mitchell, Institutional Advancement Manager
• Maribel Molina-Villa, Administrative Associate
• Kathy Mor, Executive Assistant to the National Campaign Director
• Tori O'Neal-McElrath, Director of Institutional Advancement
• Mayron Payes, Senior Organizer
• Julia Paik, Deputy Director of Finance
• Irma Palacios, Director of Community Voting Project
• Jeffrey Parcher, Director of Communications
• Deirdra Reed, Senior Field Organizer
• Gary Sandusky, Senior Field Organizer
• Steve Savner, Director of Public Policy
• Petra Smith, Director of Human Resources
• Rich Stolz, Senior Organizer
• Annie-Rose Strasser, New Media Specialist
• Sean Thomas-Breitfeld, Senior Field Trainer & Campaign Researcher
• Evonne Tisdale, Economic Justice Coordinator
• Peter Woiwode, Northern CA Organizer
• Ryan Young, Director of Operations and Finance

External links

• CCC's website
• Proteus Fund website