Public Justice Center is a left-of-center activist group that advocates for, and provides, legal services to residents of Baltimore, Maryland. 1 Its legal services and educational resources focus on housing, workers’ rights, school suspensions, homelessness, foster care, and welfare benefits. 2
Background
Public Justice Center is a left-of-center activist group that advocates for, and provides, legal services to residents of Baltimore, Maryland. 3
Public Justice Center was founded in 1985, claiming to be a watchdog group against “racial inequality” in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to providing legal counseling and educational services, the group advocates policy proposals it claims will reform the “systems that keep people down.” 4
Activities
Public Justice Center offers legal services and educational resources for residents of Baltimore, Maryland. Such resources include a focus on housing, workers’ rights, school suspensions, homelessness, foster care, welfare benefits, and other related areas. 5
In 2014, the organization claimed to focus on achieving “race equity” by partnering with the Racial Justice Institute (RJI) at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Baltimore Racial Justice Action. 6 Public Justice Center claims to be committed to applying diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles within its organization and practices. 7
Public Justice Center is a member of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, along with several other left-of-center organizations. 8
Financials
For 2023, Public Justice Center reported a total revenue of $4,303,341, total expenses of $4,031,510, and net assets of $3,434,497. 9
Public Justice Center has received several grants from George Soros’ Open Society Network. In 2020, Foundation to Promote Open Society (FPOS) gave Public Justice Center a $50,000 grant to support its Baltimore Black Worker Center and another $150,000 to support its Black Leaders Organizing for Change project. 10 In 2022, FPOS gave another $162,500 grant to the organization for its Black Leaders Organizing for Change project meant to “engage in education and organizing to bring about policing reforms in Baltimore.” 11
Grantmaking
In 2023, Public Justice Center provided a grant of $145,701 to community activist group Village of Love and Resistance (VOLAR) for “community services” in the city of Baltimore. 12 13
Leadership
As of 2024, Colette Colclough was the board chair of Public Justice Center. 14 Colclough is the founder and CEO of Forward Women’s Leadership Forum and previously worked for Maryland’s state Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation as well as the Arlington, Virginia-based television station WJLA. 15 16 17
Other board members included Mickey Blumenthal, Xander Perry of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Larry C. Simmons Jr. of the Nobody Asked Me Campaign, and Rashad Staton of Community Law in Action. 18
References
- “About the PJC.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/about-the-pjc/.
- “Get Legal Help.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/legal_help/get-legal-help/.
- “About the PJC.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/about-the-pjc/.
- “Abou the PJC.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/about-the-pjc/.
- “Get Legal Help.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/legal_help/get-legal-help/.
- “About the PJC.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/about-the-pjc/.
- “Race Equity.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/race-equity/.
- “About Us.” Health Care for All. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://healthcareforall.com/about-us/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Public Justice Center. 2023. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Foundation to Promote Open Society. 2020. Part XIV – Grants and Contributions.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Foundation to Promote Open Society. 2022. Part XIV – Grants and Contributions.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Public Justice Center. 2023. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
- “Objectives.” Village of Love and Resistance. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.volar.site/our-vision.
- “Board of Directors.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/board-of-directors/.
- “Colette Colclough.” Chesapeake Human Resources Association (CHRA). Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.chra.com/page/ColetteColclough.
- “Colette Colclough.” Chesapeake Human Resources Association (CHRA). Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.chra.com/page/ColetteColclough.
- Starling, Alison. “7News celebrates 75 years: A look at the ‘Allbritton Era’ and its impact on WJLA.” ABC7, September 29, 2022. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://wjla.com/news/75th-anniversary/joe-allbritton-robert-politico-aelington-virginia-communications-era-television-tv-stations-newschannel-8-wjla-7news-24-7-news-journalism-history-legacy.
- “Board of Directors.” Public Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.publicjustice.org/en/board-of-directors/.