center for leadership and justice

What center for leadership and justice does

The Center for Leadership and Justice (CLJ) is a 175-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 47 Vine Street in Hartford, Connecticut (Upper Albany neighborhood), that develops leaders and organizes communities through neighborhood-based and multi-faith alliances for social, racial, and economic justice. Its core portfolio comprises four programs: (1) the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA), a coalition of 52 diverse faith communities (Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Quaker, Unitarian Universalist) that runs issue campaigns on housing, immigrant rights, gun violence prevention, and fiscal policy; (2) Neighborhood Organizing, a field-based program in Hartford's North End and Upper Albany; (3) Urban Suburban Affordables (USA), a shared-equity community land trust formed in 1991 with the Hartford Housing Authority that has enabled 211 families to purchase homes collectively valued at $53.9M using $3M in grants to leverage ~$15M in private mortgages; and (4) SAIL, a 2021 expansion of the broad-based organizing model into southeastern Connecticut. A fifth, the Justice Circle monthly giving program, was relaunched in 2026 to recruit 100 recurring donors.

CLJ's underlying operating methodology is relational community organizing, not technology. It has no app, no API, no proprietary software, and no AI capabilities; program execution relies on individual meetings, house meetings, research, and public actions by roughly 10-12 paid organizers and a volunteer base that mobilized more than 1,000 people for the November 2024 Power Summit. Revenue is generated through donations and grants (Justice Circle monthly giving, congregational dues, foundation grants) and through the USA program's shared-equity housing model. Governance is by a Board of Directors chaired by Rev. Mia Douglas, with Executive Director Cori Mackey leading the organization since 2014. Documented outcomes include the first Hartford housing code update in 40 years, a $2.75 million fire displacement class action settlement, cancellation of $1.4M and $800,000 in HUD contracts for negligent landlords, a $111M renovation of MLK School, $20M for community-based gun violence prevention, and 2025 Connecticut legislative wins on housing, immigrant protections, and a $500M federal-response fund.

Name

center for leadership and justice

Legal name

The Center for Leadership and Justice

Website

https://cljct.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Center for Leadership and Justice is a 175-year-old Hartford nonprofit that organizes 52 interfaith congregations, Hartford neighborhood residents, and immigrant communities for social, racial, and economic justice through community organizing, advocacy campaigns, and a 211-home shared-equity land trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Organizing and Social Justice Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community organizing services
• Faith-based organizing
• Affordable housing programs
• Community land trust
• Social justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CLJ receives financial support through donations (Justice Circle monthly giving program) and likely government/private grants for community organizing, housing programs, and advocacy work.
2. USA Program Fees: Urban Suburban Affordables (USA) program charges fees for homeownership training and administers the shared equity land trust model. The program uses grant money to enable low-moderate income families to purchase affordable homes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CLJ develops and organizes leaders in neighborhood-based and multi-faith alliances to build collective power for systemic change toward social, racial, and economic justice. It delivers four primary programs: (1) GHIAA, a coalition of 52 faith congregations organizing for justice; (2) Neighborhood Organizing in Hartford addressing housing, public safety, and community development; (3) Urban Suburban Affordables (USA), a shared equity land trust providing affordable homeownership; and (4) SAIL, faith-based organizing in southeastern Connecticut.

Product overview

The Center for Leadership and Justice operates as a multi-program social justice organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio includes: GHIAA (Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance) - a coalition of 52 faith communities for broad-based organizing; Neighborhood Organizing - grassroots community development; Urban Suburban Affordables (USA) - a shared equity land trust for affordable homeownership; SAIL - southeastern Connecticut faith-based organizing; and various issue-based campaigns. CLJ previously operated Freedom School (ended 2022) and currently runs a Justice Circle monthly giving program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban Suburban Affordables (USA): A shared equity land trust program promoting and preserving affordable housing for low and moderate-income families in central Connecticut. Provides 99-year renewable and inheritable leases on land for homeowners.
• Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA)
• Southeast Alliance for Interfaith Leadership (SAIL)

Products and services

• Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA) A broad-based coalition of 52 diverse faith communities (Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Quaker, Unitarian Universalist) and allied institutions organizing together for social, racial, and economic justice in the Greater Hartford Region.
• Neighborhood Organizing

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.75 million settlement for displaced residents in fire displacement class action lawsuit
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GHIAA Member Institutions (52 Congregations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019GHIAA is a broad-based organization of 52 diverse faith communities (Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Quaker, Unitarian Universalist) and allied institutions organizing together for justice. Includes institutions such as Asylum Hill Congregational Church, B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom, Center Church, Immanuel Congregational Church, Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, and many others.
• Hartford Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991CLJ formalized partnership with Hartford Housing Authority in 1991, forming Urban Suburban Affordables, Inc. (USA), a 501(c)3 shared equity land trust. Partnership enables low-moderate income families to access affordable homeownership through land trust model.
• Hartford Community That CarescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in North Hartford Public Safety Summit addressing gun violence and neighborhood safety issues in partnership with CLJ-organized Irving Street residents.
• Blue Hill Civic AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in North Hartford Public Safety Summit expanding resident engagement and leadership development.
• CT For AllcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner in advocacy for fiscal reform, immigrant protections, and state budget priorities. Collaborated on unified policy priorities and coordinated advocacy strategy.
• Hartford Deportation DefensecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner in immigrant rights advocacy and actions including solidarity vigils, press conferences, and community defense.
• Make The Road CTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner in immigrant rights advocacy and policy work.
• CT Students for a DreamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner in immigrant rights advocacy including postcard deliveries to Governor Lamont.
• HUSKY 4 ImmigrantscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner advocating for healthcare access regardless of immigration status.
• SEIU 1199 and SEIU 32BJcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLabor union partners in coalition for fiscal policy reform and budget advocacy.
• ACLU CTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner in civil rights advocacy and policy work.
• Greater Hartford Legal AidcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in $2.75 million class action settlement for displaced fire victims, providing legal representation.
• Open Communities AlliancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRepresented CLJ and residents in class action lawsuit against HUD regarding fair housing choices in relocation process.
• Jerome N. Frank Legal Service OrganizationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner in fair housing lawsuit against HUD, City of Hartford, and others.
• Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under LawcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner in fair housing lawsuit against HUD, City of Hartford, and others.
• Covington & Burling LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner in fair housing lawsuit against HUD, City of Hartford, and others.
• University of ConnecticutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2023, CLJ partnered with UConn researchers to conduct evaluation of Urban Suburban Affordables program, confirming program's value to homeowners and communities.
• CONECT (Congregations Organized for a New CT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLJ consulting organizer Pat Speer founded CONECT and works to replicate success of CONECT and GHIAA throughout Connecticut.
• SAIL Congregations (Southeastern Connecticut)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIL (Southeast Alliance for Interfaith Leadership) is faith-based organizing in southeastern Connecticut with 9 congregations including Park Congregational Church Norwich, St. Luke Lutheran, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Walls Clark Temple AME Zion, Bethel AME Church, and others.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network): National faith-based community organizing network with shared methodology of relational organizing across diverse congregations. PICO's broad-based organizing model and CLJ's GHIAA coalition operate on the same playbook of leadership development, research, and public action.
• Industrial Areas Foundation: The original broad-based community organizing network founded by Saul Alinsky. CLJ's relational organizing methodology traces directly to IAF's tradition of congregation-based alliances for systemic change.
• Gamaliel Foundation: Interfaith community organizing network with affiliated local alliances in multiple states. Comparable in structure to CLJ/GHIAA, organizing congregations across faith traditions for social justice campaigns.
• Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT): Faith-based organizing coalition in Connecticut founded by Pat Speer, CLJ's Consulting Organizer. Operates the same broad-based organizing methodology as GHIAA but in a different Connecticut region.
• Burlington Community Land Trust: One of the largest and oldest community land trusts in the U.S., operating a shared-equity homeownership model directly comparable to CLJ's Urban Suburban Affordables program.
• Champlain Housing Trust: Burlington, VT-based community land trust recognized as one of the largest in the U.S. Operates the same shared-equity,99-year ground lease model as USA, providing directly comparable affordable homeownership infrastructure.

Regional players

• Make the Road Connecticut: Hartford-based immigrant rights and social justice organization that is both a peer and a coalition partner with CLJ. Operates the same community organizing model focused on immigrant communities in Connecticut.
• Open Communities Alliance: Connecticut-based fair housing advocacy organization that has partnered with CLJ on the HUD fair housing lawsuit. Operates in the same geographic footprint on housing equity issues.

Others

• Greater Hartford Legal Aid: Legal services partner that has represented CLJ clients in the $2.75M fire displacement class action and HUD fair housing lawsuit. Operates as a critical implementation partner rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (CONECT/CT Insitute): Statewide civic engagement and interfaith advocacy organization in Connecticut that overlaps with CLJ's broad-based organizing agenda on issues like fiscal policy and immigrant rights.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1454228696751097

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about center for leadership and justice