Programing
Priorities
JULIAN’s mission is to eliminate race, national origin, gender, sexual-orientation, and disabled-based caste in America in our lifetime. Caste is at the core of discrimination, serving as the underlying motivation for every hate crime, and sets the foundation for bias. Yet, no other organization directly tackles social change from this angle.
Our approach tears down six pillars of caste to weaken, undermine, and ultimately topple the other two pillars. JULIAN stands up for communities that are overlooked by most non-profits. We do not view any community as a no-win environment or as unworthy of the time and investment.
Our theory of change uses community organizing, litigation, policy, and innovation in tandem to advance Community-identified and directed initiatives that build democracy and power. JULIAN envisions a world without discrimination and works backwards to chart a path toward that goal. To achieve that vision–a nation without these castes–we have evaluated multiple solutions, measured their likely impact and cost, and determined these to be the most effective for solving the problems of caste. JULIAN has six priorities of programming, one for each pillar of caste we target.
- #23
Address the pillar of heritability, JULIAN’s work in this area holistically combats the concept and symptoms of heritability—the belief that one is born into a specific caste–by bringing resources to the under-resourced individuals and communities and creating programming that educates - Loving
This programming priority addresses endogamy, which is the belief of marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan, or tribe. JULIAN works to break down the oppressive structure of control of marriage. JULIAN’s works to investigate the unsolved deaths of trans women, who are disproportionately targets of violence.
- The Content of Our Character
This programming priority focuses on addressing the idea of Purity vs. Pollution. JULIAN dismantles the notion of purity vs. pollution through Equal Protection claims against corporate entities and police departments that discriminate against Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant populations.
- Finding Freedom
JULIAN’s work among our geographically & demographically diverse communities is driven by a commitment to addressing the pillar of dehumanization and stigma. These efforts are crucial, as the majority of those we strive to protect are targeted precisely because of these pervasive issues.
- Combating Terror (CT)
Addressing terror as enforcement/cruelty as control JULIAN’s Combatting Terror programming not only confronts the critical issues of Modern-Day Lynching (MDL), police brutality, and justice system accountability but also actively works to reduce the harm inflicted by prisons and jails, advocating for systemic change and justice reform.
- Sankofa
JULIAN’s work directly attacks the notion of inherent superiority vs. inherent inferiority by focusing our work on small towns and rural communities in the South that are viewed as inferior and therefore receive fewer resources and opportunities than other communities. Often, these communities are also exploited.