Building Glide's Center For Social Justice

Model and Strategy

GLIDE's Center for Social Justice seeks to change mindsets that perpetuate poverty and isolation, and create world citizens who will participate in and contribute to a virtuous circle of civic life. The project will strengthen and extend GLIDE's historic role as a convener, bridge-builder and voice for justice by equipping the organization with a mission-driven advocacy arm — integrated with key departments as well as community partners and other stakeholders — to develop strategies and alliances, and mobilize communities and new leaders, to meet the systemic challenges of the 21st century. The Center will build on GLIDE's trusted position within the city's broad social fabric and redouble its enduring orientation toward social justice, reigniting the collective energy of staff, Congregation, clients, community and neighbors in the cause of a radically inclusive city, grounded in unconditional love, in which all San Franciscans benefit from and support the full humanity of one another.

Impact

GLIDE's vision is to create a Center for Social Justice that would incorporate advocacy (recently reignited in the organization's Advocacy Committee) in conjunction with its Church leadership and congregation, its staff and volunteers, and its clients, while folding in other key GLIDE programs such as the Legal Clinic — all focused on realizing systemic change.

The Advocacy Committee is the seed of this greater venture. Launched in February 2014, the Advocacy Committee serves to mobilize the collective influence of GLIDE's employees, community, congregation and volunteer base to achieve greater social justice in the community. Hiring the Director of Advocacy to work with GLIDE's pastor, therefore, is a critical next-step in realizing the vision of a Center for Social Justice.

Relevant metrics for the Center for Social Justice include, but are not limited to, the number of "disruptive" convenings per year. These include GLIDE Talks, Sunday Celebrations, Speak Out sessions and other forums and special events that create spaces for the unique, truthful voices of our community.

Metrics also include the number of new registered voters, the number of volunteers engaged in advocacy initiatives, and other evidence of civic inclusion.

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