The ACLU--good or bad?

[ladylike]

How good/successful is the ACLU (on a national scale) at coalition-building? I understand that in your affiliated area you mentioned that they do not work as closely with the NAACP or Urban League as the probably should.

Is what you see locally also a great indicator of what happens nationally? How do you think the ties can be strengthened among these organizations?

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by ladylike
How good/successful is the ACLU (on a national scale) at coalition-building? I understand that in your affiliated area you mentioned that they do not work as closely with the NAACP or Urban League as the probably should.

Is what you see locally also a great indicator of what happens nationally? How do you think the ties can be strengthened among these organizations?

The national office seems to do a better job. I think it is because they are all in NY or DC. And the national legislative office in DC is headed by a Black woman--Laura Murphy.

But I suspect all of the local affiliates have a problem because there are so few with people of color in significant positions. It is so bad that the national office now requires each affiliate to submit a quarterly affirmative action report on its hiring processes.

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by ladygreek
The national office seems to do a better job. I think it is because they are all in NY or DC. And the national legislative office in DC is headed by a Black woman--Laura Murphy.

But I suspect all of the local affiliates have a problem because there are so few with people of color in significant positions. It is so bad that the national office now requires each affiliate to submit a quarterly affirmative action report on its hiring processes.

Do you think the low number of minority employees is because of discrimination or because of a lack of interest on the part of AA's to work for/with the ACLU?

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6
Do you think the low number of minority employees is because of discrimination or because of a lack of interest on the part of AA's to work for/with the ACLU?

My guess is they didn't think that a resonable effort was being made to find people of color. Thus the reporting. This was implemented by the relatively new national executive director (3 years I think) who is Latino.

By the way there is another soror on our national board who works for the ACLU of New Jersey. And Laura Murphy, head of the powerful ACLU Washington(DC) Legislative Office, is from THE Murphy family.