Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

The Ella Baker Center is named for an unsung hero of the civil rights movement who inspired and guided emerging leaders. We build on her legacy by giving people opportunities and skills to work together to strengthen our communities so that all of us can thrive.

Our Campaigns
Like Miss Baker, we believe that when people have the knowledge, inspiration and solutions they need to address the challenges they face, they can make a difference. The Ella Baker Center motivates and mobilizes folks to work on a variety of initiatives that bring peace, justice and opportunity to our communities:

Books Not Bars organizes the largest statewide network of families of incarcerated youth and champions policies to replace California's costly, broken youth prison system with alternatives that work.

Green-Collar Jobs Campaign builds a thriving green economy that puts the planet and people first.

Soul of the City places the well-being of Oakland directly in the hands of the community. We honor the important role that each person plays in creating a vibrant and thriving city.

Heal the Streets trains Oakland youth to become community leaders and violence prevention advocates.