Human Rights + Human Development = Human Justice

We created the Human Justice framework in 2011 after decades of advocating for systems reform. In 2012 we wrote our tagline, “from criminal justice to Human Justice,” to express our shift away from reform work and towards direct community investment and development work.

Human Rights are all the things that people need for healthy and thriving lives. Human Rights include guaranteed income, safe and clean housing, guaranteed and complete healthcare coverage, childcare, food, clothes, transportation, and al of the things every one of us needs to survive and live well.

Human Development is the ability of people to create the social and cultural conditions to flourish free from oppression and to create a world where Human Rights are woven into the fabric of society. Human Development opportunities include land and home ownership, community-led education and training on history, politics, land stewardship, and cooperative business development.

A community where Human Justice is realized is a healthy and vibrant community, where each person is safe, thriving and able to reach their full human potential.

“If you give me a fish you have fed me for a day. If you teach me how to fish then you’ve fed me until the river is contaminated and the shoreline seized for development. But if I can organize, then whatever the challenge I can join together with my peers and we will fashion our own solution.” Ricardo Levins Morales

We achieve Human Justice when we see community investment, empowerment, creativity, joy and well-being along with healing and accountability for everyone who lives and works in our communities.

2012 Human Justice Awards Gala

2022 10-Year Human Justice Anniversary