The Transformative Justice Coalition is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, formed in 2015 by Renowned Civil Rights Leader Barbara R. Arnwine.
In its short 20 months of existence, the Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) has become a strong, vocal, strategic, and powerful force in the fight for racial justice in our nation. Their critical work furthers a vision of a world in which every individual has an equal opportunity to fully participate in their governance.
A world where there is informed civic engagement and equal voting rights for all, regardless of race, gender, disability, youth, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, past felony convictions, and income.
A world where there is no senseless incarceration for people of color in federal and state prisons; and no felon disenfranchisement.
A world where nobody would be held back because of their gender, race, religion, or culture and where you wouldn’t hear stories that only describe the negative aspects of communities of color.
TJC has fostered new coalitions and organizations to aid in its fight to educate, unite, organize, and demand equality. Over the past 20 months, it has:
Led a White House meeting of civil rights and Obama Administration officials which motivated the Department of Education to put forth the “SRO Rubric”, which requires that School Resource Officers (SRO) are not abusive to children;
Helped expose and convict the serial rapist police officer, Daniel Holtzclaw, by partnering with women activists in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
Co-created the Voting Rights Alliance, a collaboration of 20 organizations fighting all forms of voting injustice, especially voter suppression;
Helped support the establishment of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, which now has approximately 80 members of Congress to fight with us;
Co-sponsored the 2016 African American Women and the Law Conference, which brought together over 100 African American women to begin to identify the key legal barriers and public policy challenges that limit opportunity and equity: the first of its kind in 17 years;
Sponsored the Millennial Votes Matter Convening and trained dozens of millennials to be effective voting rights advocates and community leaders;
Produced several reports, in great detail, about voting rights, voter suppression, election-day related issues, and a 2015-2016 litigation overview of the 56 cases concerning voter rights;
Held many conferences, such as the recent post-Election People’s Democracy Conference, which was a conference designed in both a hearing and roundtable format, featuring three substantive panels of witnesses, hearing commissioners, and a luncheon roundtable of the Voting Rights Alliance leaders;
Held several Congressional briefings on voting rights; and,
Conducted many popular social media events to advance their vision.
TJC has created a weekly radio show with host Barbara Arnwine; two newsletters (the bi-weekly “Voting Rights Advocate” and weekly “The Transformer”); three websites ( BarbaraArnwine.com, tjcoaliton.org, and 4VotingRights.com). TJC has also helped maintain the Voting Rights Alliance’s website and has worked on all the Voting Rights Alliance’s projects, including the #VRABlackHistory series project you’re reading now, and have been tuning into all month-long.
The impact of TJC over these last 20 months in the areas of Voting Rights, Policing Restructuring, Youth Leadership Development, and African American Women and the Law have been invaluable and are significant programs that will be instrumental in the years to come. Especially considering the new administration, TJC’S work is needed now more than ever. Before the Trump Administration came into office, TJC vowed to oppose the confirmations of anti-civil rights nominees; challenge unjust policies; and, promote public policy that achieves racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice.