Dorothy Cotton Institute: for Human Rights & Social Justice

Vision and Mission

As an education and resource center, the Dorothy Cotton Institute (DCI) is dedicated to honoring the legacy of the late Dorothy Foreman Cotton, a pivotal Civil Rights leader and educator, and places universal human rights—encompassing economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights—on equal footing with civil and political rights.

Our Vision: The full realization of a just and peaceful beloved community, where every person understands, respects, protects, and exercises their complete human rights.

Our Mission:

• To develop, encourage, and train leaders for the human rights movement
• To build a network and international community of human rights leadership
• To explore, share, and promote practices that transform individuals and communities, paving new paths to peace, justice, and healing

Challenges Addressed:

DCI confronts three major issues regarding human rights:

1. Efforts to advance and safeguard human rights and social justice have often been fragmented, lacking unity as a movement both nationally and globally.
2. Human rights education is critically needed, especially in the US. The prevailing myth of American exceptionalism and the nation’s economic and cultural influence means many Americans have a limited understanding of human rights. They commonly define rights as voting, non-discrimination, free speech, and protection from torture, but frequently overlook vital economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights. Economic and social rights, such as a living wage and quality healthcare for all, are too often viewed as negotiable privileges, and environmental protections as unattainable ideals not relevant unless one is personally affected.
3. Lessons from past and ongoing human rights struggles are seldom documented or shared, weakening future efforts. There is an urgent need to record, preserve, study, and disseminate knowledge of how people strive for justice, dignity, and peace. People require practical strategies and a living knowledge base to support their own advocacy for human rights. Understanding which strategies are effective and how to foster relationships that build solidarity is essential.

Our Approach

1. DCI’s programs include civics and human rights education, training for community facilitators and organizers, partnerships and gatherings that highlight youth leadership and support fellowships, promotion of human rights-friendly schools, and backing for local organizers.
2. These integrated and interconnected initiatives aim to build bridges and networks among human rights leaders. Interactive programs welcome and foster honest communication, mutual learning, and an inspired, well-informed public—especially in the US—to spark and support local, national and international movements for the realization of human rights for all.
3. DCI shares resources, toolkits, and insights from and for nonprofits, municipalities, scholars, artists, writers, organizers, peacemakers, and good trouble-makers. Following Dorothy Cotton’s example of nonviolent action, and encouraging us to see ourselves as change agents and movement builders for Beloved Community, we seek and value the insight, courage and ingenuity of people with lived experience and expertise, committed to ending exclusion, deprivation and injustice.

Your Support

Your generous donations, no matter the amount, enable DCI to provide access to resources and participation in programs to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our Team

Laura Branca: DCI Project Coordinator, Co-founder & Senior Fellow
Lechandre Mix: Community Engagement and Admin Assistant
Margo J. Hittleman: DCI Co-founder and Senior Fellow
Anne Rhodes: Building Bridges Climate Justice Educator and Organizer
DCI Steering Committee: Dr. Belisa Gonzalez, Dr. Jada L. Hamilton, Kathy Luz Herrera, Dr. Ann W. Martin, Eric Rosario, and Dr. Sofia Villenas

Contact Information

Laura Branca
info@dorothycottoninstitute.org
www.dorothycottoninstitute.org