By Shawn Smith-Hill, Contributing Writer
CITY OF SAN DIEGO
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) in San Diego is an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council, made up of committed volunteers with a strong sense of community service. With the ability to work with community organizations, inform the public, look into policies, represent the Mayor and Council, and arbitrate conflicts pertaining to prejudice, exclusion, and discrimination in the City of San Diego, the Human Rights Council is essential to improving the city. The website offers details on the Commission, useful links, and City services. It also provides information about upcoming events, speakers, current collaborations, and the opportunity to ask a commissioner to speak at neighborhood or community group meetings about social issues. The HRC’s goals are to uphold fundamental civil and human rights, conduct and support initiatives that build mutual respect and understanding, and cultivate a friendly environment for all San Diego residents.
Contact Information: (619)-236-5980, [email protected], https://www.sandiego.gov/human-relations/discrim.
In 1974, San Diego Pride was founded under the umbrella of the Center for Social Services. In remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, San Diego Pride staged the city’s first Lesbian and Gay Parade. Founded in 1994 as a nonprofit organization, San Diego Pride is committed to bringing the diverse community together via a range of initiatives, promoting equality, pride, and respect for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and internationally. The goal is to create a world devoid of bias and prejudice, governed by principles such as accountability, honesty, integrity, diversity, and respect. These values place a strong emphasis on accountability for the effects of one’s words and deeds, inclusivity, individualism, and factual communication. In addition, a joint effort among community organizations in San Diego is the LGBTQIA+ Survivor Task Force, which aims to address the lack of resources and obstacles to care that LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual and relationship abuse encounter. Their main objective is to support the more general objective of putting an end to sexual assault.
Contact Information:(619) 297-7683, [email protected], https://sdpride.org/
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
Former US Senator James Abourezk established the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), a civil rights group, in 1980. ADC is committed to upholding the rights of Arab Americans and fostering their cultural legacy. It is against racism and intolerance in all of its manifestations. ADC is the largest grassroots Arab American organization in the United States. Its goals include defending and advancing Arab Americans’ human and civil rights, opposing discrimination and stereotypes, speaking out on public policy matters both at home and abroad, educating the public about Arab history and culture, and advancing the cause of transnational social justice with communities of color and oppressed peoples both locally and globally.
Contact Information: (202)-244-2990, https://adc.org/
A nonprofit group run entirely by volunteers, Border Angels is committed to promoting social justice, human rights, and reasonable immigration reform. By offering support and information to communities on both sides of the border, the organization hopes to lower the number of fatalities along the US-Mexico border. Their activities include educational initiatives, Day Laborer Outreach, Water Drops in the Desert, the Familias Reunidas Immigration Bond Fund program, and shelter assistance for migrants and asylum seekers in Tijuana. As they protect the rights of migrants and refugees, Border Angels seeks to advance a culture of love by activism, instruction, social consciousness, and direct action. The organization was founded in 1986 by Enrique Morones, who initially concentrated on helping migrants in North San Diego County. Since then, the organization has expanded its humanitarian activities along the entire US-Mexico border region.
Contact Information:(619) 487- 0249, [email protected], https://www.borderangels.org/.
The non-profit Urban League of San Diego County (ULSDC) has a history centered on direct service and civil rights. It was founded in 1953 with the goal of assisting underprivileged and African American communities in San Diego County to attain social and economic equality via research, program services, advocacy, and establishing bridges. The group hopes to become known as one of California’s leading human service organizations and sees itself as a catalyst for change in San Diego County. Integrity, creativity, influence, passion, dedication to excellence, and empowerment are some of their core principles. In the community-based organization sector, ULSDC wants to be the go-to supplier for its clients, the employer of choice, and a shining example of honesty and quality.
Contact Information:(619) 266-6237, [email protected], https://sdul.org/. .
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A community-based organization, South Asian Network (SAN), works to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being as well as the civil rights of South Asians living in Southern California. Self-sufficient groups that actively speak up, assume leadership positions, and combat social injustices both inside and outside of the South Asian community are what SAN aspires to. Acknowledging the multiplicity of identities found in South Asian communities—gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, race, and language, among others—SAN pledges to combat many forms of oppression. In addition to addressing prejudices within the South Asian community, SAN also works to address larger socio economic injustices outside the community and forms partnerships with other communities in Southern California and around the country that are pursuing long-term social change.
Contact Information:(562)-403-0488, [email protected], https://southasiannetwork.org/
The largest Islamic civil rights organization in the United States is the nonprofit Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a grassroots advocacy and civil rights organization with regional offices around the country and a national headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The California locations are in Greater Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego. With a purpose to advance justice, safeguard civil rights, empower American Muslims, and improve knowledge of Islam, CAIR aspires to be a preeminent voice for justice and understanding between people. The organization is driven by fundamental values that uphold free enterprise, religious freedom, and the right to free speech. It also actively defends the civil rights of all Americans, opposes laws that restrict those rights or permit profiling, and supports laws that advance diversity, civil rights, and religious freedom. Additionally, CAIR is a natural ally of organizations that promote justice and human rights around the world, denounce acts of violence against civilians, encourage communication amongst religious communities, and advocate equal rights and duties for men and women.
Contact Information:(858)-278-4547, https://ca.cair.com/sandiego/.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which was established in 1913, is the world’s most prominent anti-hate organization and a global leader in the fight against prejudice and antisemitism. With a timeless goal to uphold justice for everyone and put an end to the defamation of Jews, ADL uses partnerships and innovation to make a difference. The group actively combats racism, extremism, and antisemitism in all of its manifestations while striving to uphold democracy and advance a fair and inclusive world community. ADL, which has its roots in Jewish principles, continues the heritage of its founders by standing up against antisemitism and promoting justice and equity for all oppressed communities.
Contact Information:(858) 565-6896, [email protected], https://www.adl.org/
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
