Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ) is a non-partisan nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting racial justice, equality, and fair opportunities within Southern Delaware. Formed in June 2015 by a group of community activists, SDARJ's mission is to educate, inform, and advocate for racial justice, driven by the desire to address systemic racism and its consequences[2][3].

History

SDARJ was established following a study group focused on Michelle Alexander's book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. This group recognized the systemic issues of mass incarceration and racial bias within the criminal justice system, inspiring the creation of a broader organization to tackle these challenges[2]. The organization received support from the Delaware Coalition to Dismantle the New Jim Crow based in Wilmington, Delaware[2].

Objectives

The primary goals of SDARJ include:

• Education: Promoting understanding of historical and current racial issues to drive change.
• Cultural Enrichment: Fostering a multi-racial collaborative environment to enrich the cultural landscape.
• Justice Advocacy: Addressing racial and criminal injustices by advocating for improvements in the Delaware criminal justice system.
• Collaboration: Working with like-minded groups to challenge systemic racism.
• Promoting Change for Youth: Encouraging positive change for the future of young people[2].

Activities and Initiatives

SDARJ engages in various activities to support its mission, including:

• Dialogue Toward Ending Racism: Hosting both in-person and online dialogues aimed at addressing racism[4].
• Scholarships: Offering scholarships, such as the Charlotte King Scholarship, to students from Sussex County who are committed to racial justice[1].
• Youth Engagement: Running interactive workshops and curating resources for school and community projects focused on cultural competence and antiracism[1].

Governance

SDARJ is governed by a Board of Directors composed of dedicated community members[2].

External Recognition

SDARJ is recognized as a nonprofit organization by GuideStar, which provides tools for analyzing nonprofit operations and financial metrics[5].