Research and Technical Assistance to Community Organizing Groups

About this grant

During the past three decades, wages for the working class have stagnated or even declined. Many of the jobs being created do not have health or retirement benefits, leaving many Americans struggling to provide for their families’ housing, health care and child care needs. In response, economic development practitioners, community organizations, researchers and others have been working together to advocate for new policies for better wages and opportunities for low-income families.Multiyear funding will enable the Brennan Center for Justice to conduct research and provide technical assistance to community organizations working on issues related to jobs, wages and economic development. Specific activities will include researching and compiling model programs and policies and providing an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the various models; publishing "how-to" guides on conducting local research and campaigns for better jobs; sponsoring regional training events to work with multiple organizations at the same time; and exploring new approaches to raise public awareness of these issues.The Brennan Center for Justice was formed by friends and associates of former Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan to unite thinkers and advocates in pursuit of a vision of inclusive and effective democracy.