Grantee Profile

Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) was founded in 2007 by a multidisciplinary group, predominantly people of color, who believed that families and communities engaged in social justice movements need a team of lawyers, social scientists, community organizers, and media specialists to support them in their efforts to dismantle structural racism and oppression. Today, SCSJ has forged deep, trust-based connections with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications.      

SCSJ employs a unique and base-building community lawyering approach driven by the priorities of diverse communities and in response to overlapping racial justice issues. Its core programs focus on Voting Rights, Justice System Reform, and Environmental Justice, aiming to empower marginalized communities in the South. The Voting Rights program protects and enhances democratic participation by combating voter suppression, promoting fair redistricting, and leading the Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement (SOLVE) Network, a coalition across 10 Southern states advocating for equitable election systems. SCSJ’s Justice System Reform program targets racial and systemic inequities by addressing mass incarceration, racial profiling, police accountability, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Its Environmental Justice program tackles systemic inequities worsened by climate impacts, advocating for vulnerable communities through legal and policy efforts. Together, these programs, supported by research and communications teams, advance social, economic, and racial justice.

About Our Grants

In 2023, the Woodcock Foundation made a two-year general operating grant in the amount of $220,000 to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Additionally, the Foundation granted $10,000 to support DEI training for SCSJ’s leadership team.