Community support
In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, we at Lit Fix have decided that despair is not the answer.
Instead, we plan to act. Below you'll find a list of local resources where you can donate or—even more important—volunteer to support women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, and other marginalized groups trying to feel safe in our new America. Protest peacefully, read widely, challenge your own perspective, and do your part to make change. Thank you.
ACLU Washington
aclu-wa.org
“The ACLU is the nation's premier organization dedicated to defending and expanding civil liberties and civil rights for all people in America. Our job is to conserve America's original civic values—the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.”
BABES
babesnetwork.org
“BABES Network-YWCA is a peer education and support program for women living with HIV; a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. BABES was started by a group of HIV positive women in Seattle, Washington who came together to share information, experiences and support.”
CAIR Washington
cairseattle.org
“The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is the nation's largest Muslim civil rights organization. CAIR's mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.”
Hillman City Collaboratory
hillmancitycollaboratory.org
“Our mission at the Hillman City Collaboratory, or “the collab” for short, is to become an instrument of transformation that provides space and programs specifically designed to create community and equip change-makers.”
Jewish Family Service of Seattle
jfsseattle.org
“JFS helps vulnerable individuals and families in the Puget Sound region achieve well-being, health and stability. Jewish history and values guide our work; therefore, we provide effective services to people of all backgrounds and also have a responsibility to meet the particular needs of Jewish individuals and families in the region.”
Jubilee Women’s Center
jwcenter.org
“Jubilee Women’s Center supports women experiencing poverty to build stable and fulfilling futures, one extraordinary woman at a time. Led by the guiding principle that women of all races and cultures are to be treated with respect and dignity, Jubilee provides programs and services that empower women to make positive life changes.”
Mary’s Place
marysplaceseattle.org
“Mary’s Place is a leading voice for homeless women, children, and families in emergency situations. We empower women to reclaim their lives by offering community, acceptance, hope and dignity. Our work keeps struggling families together and provides practical tools and resources that help women find housing and employment.”
PFLAG Seattle Chapter
seattle-pflag.org/pflag
"The Seattle Chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, their families and friends through:
• Support to cope with an adverse society
• Education to enlighten an ill-informed public
• Advocacy to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights."
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands
plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-northwest-hawaiian-islands
“Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands (PPGNHI) is a nonprofit family planning agency that provides high-quality, affordable reproductive health care for women, men, and teens. Many of our patients have no other health care available to them.”
Puget Sound Sage
“Puget Sound Sage’s mission is to build communities where all families thrive. Our vision is a region that includes a robust economy in which all jobs provide working people the wages and benefits needed to grow and support a family. We believe that, regardless of race or status, people should have access to good jobs and dignity at work, as well as a clean environment and safe, affordable housing.”
Radical Women
radicalwomen.org
“Radical Women is immersed in the daily fight against racism, sexism, homophobia, and labor exploitation. Radical Women believes in multi-issue organizing around the needs of the most oppressed. We view women's leadership as decisive to social change and train women to take their place in the forefront of the struggle. Radical Women is an autonomous, all-women's group, united on the basis of shared socialist feminist ideals.”
ReWA
rewa.org
“ReWA is a non-profit, multi-ethnic organization that promotes inclusion, independence, personal leadership, and strong communities by providing refugee and immigrant women and their families with culturally and linguistically appropriate services. ReWA advocates for social justice, public policy changes, and equal access to services while respecting cultural values and the right to self-determination.”
Seattle Young People’s Project
sypp.org
“Seattle Young People’s Project is a 24-year-old grassroots community-based organization creating space for anti-racist youth-led community organizing with an emphasis on youth from historically oppressed communities. SYPP fosters opportunities for youth to meet each other and adult mentors, form friendships, develop community organizing campaigns, and work in our community garden, Nurturing Roots.”
Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
safeyouthseattle.org
“Our mission is to prevent and reduce youth violence, which has disproportionately affected communities of color in Seattle, through coordinated, accountable community mobilization to identify youth at risk of perpetuating or being a victim of violence and connect them with needed support in reaching their full potential.”
Tenants Union of Washington
“The mission of the Tenants Union (TU) is to create housing justice through empowerment-based education, outreach, leadership development, organizing, and advocacy. Founded in 1977, the TU carries on a proud legacy of work to create concrete improvements in tenants’ living conditions and challenge and transform unjust housing policies and practices.”
Washington Gender Alliance
washingtongenderalliance.com
“We are an all-volunteer, community-oriented support and educational organization. Our goal is to help people who are transgender, gender variant or whose lives may be directly or indirectly involved with a transgender or gender variant person. We do this primarily by conducting community-oriented, peer-facilitated, open support groups.”
You Grow Girl!
"We seek to provide a safe forum for girls to tackle the fears, insecurities, and pressures often associated with transitioning to young women, to develop the life and healthy relationship skills they will need as they enter womanhood, to find support in each other and to navigate basic needs resources within the community."
This list is a work in progress. If you have an organization to add, or if you had a negative experience with one of these organizations that you wish to report to Lit Fix, please contact us.