[ Browse by Service Category : Community Groups and Government/Administrative Offices : Sub-Topics of Community Action/Social Advocacy Groups (161) ]

Consumer Action Groups

Organizations that work for the introduction of new legislation or changes in current laws or practices that will provide more effective protection for consumers, or to encourage the investigation of specific cases in which the interests and/or safety of consumers have been endangered.

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Criminal Justice/Legal System Reform Groups

Organizations that advocate for changes in the criminal court system, the penal system and/or law enforcement that will allow these institutions to more effectively control crime and criminal offenders while protecting the rights of people accused of crimes, convicted of crimes or acquitted of crimes as well as those who are crime victims.

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Cultural Heritage Groups

Organizations that work for the preservation and promotion of the traditions, values and lifestyles of different cultural groups; organize activities and events which promote cultural exchange locally, regionally and nationally; and seek to encourage understanding and respect for different cultural heritages among youthful members of the group as well as the mainstream population.

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Ecumenical Action Groups

Organizations that seek to promote improved communication and cooperation between individuals of different denominations (e.g., Catholics and Protestants) within the Christian faith, with the objectives of establishing a worldwide Christian unity; promoting collaboration on common tasks such as supporting missions, working with students and sponsoring conferences; establishing mutual understanding regarding the fundamental issues of belief, worship and polity; and serving as a united witness on world problems. In some instances, ecumenical groups include in their vision cooperation and understanding among believers in the various Christian traditions and adherents of other religions of the world.

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Education Advocacy Groups

Organizations that promote a particular practice like bilingual education, support the passage and enforcement of laws and other social measures that will result in specific types of educational reform or other improvements in the educational system, or support specific changes in local educational institutions that will improve the delivery of services to local students.

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Employment Related Advocacy Groups

Organizations that advocate for or oppose measures that affect the terms or conditions of employment or the workplace environment. These measures may address equal pay standards; minimum/living wage requirements; occupational health and safety concerns; worker/employer rights; employee benefits including workplace child care; employment discrimination based on age, race, gender, or ethnic background; affirmative action/equal opportunity practices; sexual harassment on the job; workplace violence; hours issues including a shortened work week and flexible work hours; telecommuting; unemployment benefits; self-employment; and other similar issues.

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Environmental Improvement Groups

Organizations that work for the introduction of new legislation or changes in current laws or practices that will more effectively protect the physical environment from pollution, exploitation or waste and/or preserve our natural resources, including our wildlife, for enjoyment by future generations.

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Government Reform Groups

Organizations that support basic changes in government policy, the way government is organized and/or the way government services are financed and delivered. Included are groups that support health care reform, drug policy reform, campaign finance reform, immigration policy reform, welfare reform, tax reform, term limits for elected officials and other similar initiatives.

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Health Related Advocacy Groups

Organizations that are dedicated to protecting and improving the quality and affordability of health and long term care for all individuals and advocating for changes in the health care system that will achieve these goals; or which advocate more broadly for legislation and other measures such as bans on smoking that have a positive impact on public health. Specific issues may include extending the reach of childhood immunization programs, expanding services for people with specific disabilities or health conditions, funding medical research, supporting or opposing stem cell research, increasing the accountability of health care organizations and nursing facilities, extending prescription drug benefits, advocating for the preservation of the universal health care system or taking a position on the merits of specific medical procedures or forms of treatment.

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Housing Advocacy Groups

Organizations that advocate for constructing, renovating or otherwise improving the availability of safe, affordable rental and purchasable housing for low-income individuals and families, older adults, people with disabilities, migrant workers and others who are unable to purchase a home or rent a home or apartment under current market conditions or who are forced to spend an excessively large proportion of their income on housing to the detriment of other necessities.

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Human Relations Groups

Organizations that work for increased harmony and understanding among diverse groups; reduce tensions based on age, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability; and promote an informed and inclusive, multicultural society. The groups may support community-specific programs to stop racism, homophobia, religious prejudice, linguistic bias, anti-immigrant sentiment and other divisive attitudes that can lead to intergroup tension, hate crimes and related violence.

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Human Rights Groups

Organizations that work for legislation and other social measures that will more effectively protect the rights of the community as a whole or those of specific groups within the community.

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Hunger/Poverty Action Groups

Organizations that work to develop and implement solutions to the problem of poverty at local, provincial or national levels, and the consequent difficulty that low-income individuals have in obtaining access to food, housing, clothing and the other basic necessities of life.

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Interfaith Groups

Organizations that seek to promote harmony and understanding among people of different faith traditions; provide a framework for discussion of issues of shared concern; foster cooperation in working for common goals such as peace, justice and the end of human suffering, locally, nationally and internationally; and create environments in which there is respect for diverse religious beliefs and practices, a commitment to civility and compassion, rejection of intolerance and extremism, dedication to the positive, healing role of faith, and recognition of the fact that despite the great variety of religious paths and sub-denominations in the world, at core all religions speak to the need for deeper meaning and to the unity of all life.

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Neighbourhood Improvement Groups

Organizations whose members are usually residents of a particular community or neighbourhood who work together to remedy deficiencies in existing neighbourhood conditions or to enhance conditions that are currently satisfactory.

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Police/Community Relations Groups

Organizations that work for increased harmony and understanding between individuals involved in law enforcement and the community at large.

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Political Action/Lobbying Groups

Organizations that work for the introduction, passage or defeat of one or more specific pieces of legislation through attempts, including personal solicitation, to influence the way legislators vote or the content of the legislation they introduce. Also included are organizations that utilize picketing, leafleting, guerrilla theatre, demonstrations, speak-outs and other similar tactics to educate the public or government representatives about a particular issue or point of view and/or to influence policy development and implementation or have an impact on the general political climate.

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Transportation Advocacy Groups

Organizations that advocate for the development and ongoing improvement of local and regional transportation options for community residents that increase safety, reduce air and noise pollution, improve walking and cycling conditions, increase opportunities for physical activity and reduce automobile travel. Specific issues may include improved access to transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, rural area residents and other groups; improved paratransit services; support for the development or expansion of specific transportation modes, e.g., light rail transit systems, ferry systems, inter-city rapid rail; increased use of the local public transit system, bicycle commuting, walking and other alternatives to automobile travel; safe and easy pedestrian access to popular destinations; highway construction and other infrastructure improvements such as bicycle paths/trails from outlying/suburban to city centres, pedestrian-oriented streets and safe bicycle parking facilities; and multimodal navigation tools that offer guidance for walking, cycling, driving and public transit use.

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The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.


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