The Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center

Civic and Social OrganizationsFlorida, United States11-50 Employees

We believe that communities should determine their own futures. We bring this belief to life by training organizers and grassroots leaders how to uncover, research, and take action on problems plaguing their communities.

DART is one of the largest faith-based community organizing networks in the country, with 28 affiliated organizations spanning 10 states. By harnessing the power of organized people, these organizations hold political and economic systems accountable for acting fairly—pushing them to become more equitable and just. Since 1982 our network has fought for and won policy changes that have addressed systemic failures which disproportionately harm low-income communities as well as communities of color.

Some of our collective victories include:
- Over $450 million invested in affordable housing
- Implementation of fair discipline policies in more than 650 schools, breaking the school-to-prison pipeline
- Nearly $950 million invested in public transit
- Criminal justice reforms resulting in 60,000 fewer arrests of children in Florida since 2014.

DART is a network of doers. We understand that the road to a society free of racism and economic injustice is a long one that requires dedication and persistence. To create lasting change, we must do work that extends beyond charity and advocacy. While important, these efforts generally only serve as temporary solutions to permanent, systemic problems. In a world where the interests of the wealthy are prioritized, DART seeks to create communities that honor people power as the true catalyst for change.

Each local affiliate organization is its own autonomous entity, with their own 501c3 certification and a board of directors made up of local grassroots members. DART serves as a “helpmate” to our affiliates, providing a proven model for organizing and training on that model. We help find and train professional Community Organizers, but all Organizers are directly employed by the local affiliate, not DART itself.

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