The Democracy Center

21st Century Meeting House

Misson

The Democracy Center works to foster a more vibrant local and global democracy by supporting more sustainable, united and stronger communities of action. We do this by providing non-profits and other groups, which directly promote our mission, affordable space for meetings, events, fundraisers etc. and by connecting student organizing to local campaigns.

History

Since its founding in 2001, the Democracy Center has gone through many changes. The Center is a vibrant activist and progressive community space located in the heart of Harvard Square. In a city where independent non-commercial space is rare, the Center provides an exciting alternative space for a variety of student and community groups in and around the Boston area.

The Center has become a true progressive community hub, from 60 families who pick up their farm shares every week in the summer, to local youth after school programs, to author and Obama’s transition team strategist Mike Lux presenting his new book, the Center offers the progressive community a place to meet, network, collaborate and participate in other cultural and educational activities. In addition to providing space for events, movie showings, meetings, workshops, and classes, we are taking the first steps to develop our student-community organizing initiative. Our work lies in providing both student and community groups with the necessary information, training, and tools to work together in order to achieve our common goals for justice and peace.

Democracy Center Incubator Organizations

	Art Without Borders is an international artists’ network that was created by Bulgarian sculptor Valentin Vassilev and U.S. sculptor/painter Rafael Arrieta-Eskarzaga after their 1993 – 1994 two-man exhibitions in Mexico. Its purpose is to present contemporary art from the viewpoint of the artist as well as to offer artists a forum to communicate their perceptions of art and their outlook on life. Contact : Sirapi Heghinian swalzer@swalzer.com
	Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means “voice” in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, Brussels, and Geneva — and, now, the Democracy Center in Cambridge, MA. Contact: Ben Wikler boston@avaaz.org
	Boston Mobilization is a youth community organization that educates, empowers, and organizes students and local residents to engage in grassroots campaigns for peace, economic justice, and genuine democracy. Contact: Christopher Messinger 617-492-5599 Christopher@bostonmobilization.org
	The Foundation for Civic Leadership strives to promote civic engagement and to foster both traditional and non-traditional forms of activity for social change on our campuses and in our communities. Contact: Ian Simmons ianthornesimmons@yahoo.com
	Ethiopian American Youth Initiative The Mission of the Ethiopian American Youth Initiative is to create a broad-based network of Ethiopians in the United States, initiate and support youth-related efforts in Ethiopia, promote Ethiopia in a positive image, foster the knowledge of Ethiopian culture, science and history as well as to promote unity and tolerance amongst Ethiopians to facilitate the advancement of peace, democracy and development in Ethiopia. Contact: info@ethusa.org
	Sustainable Endowments is a special project fund of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The Institute is engaged in research, education and communication concerning college and university endowment policies. It seeks to advance the alignment of shareholder practices with educational missions. Contact:Mark Orlowski 617-945-173 mark@endowmentinstitute.org

Democracy Center Media Resources

	Democracy Center Photo Tour
	Democracy Center Events Gallery
	Democracy Center Video Gallery
Press or PR	Download Our Press Kit.