IJ’s Activism team works to protect people’s rights to live their lives and follow their dreams with freedom and without unfair burdens put in place by the government.
When the government takes away people’s rights or makes it too hard to succeed, it hurts real people—especially those who can’t easily fight back. Activism helps by finding ways to solve these problems in powerful and smart ways.
Through grassroots and legislative advocacy, the Activism Team trains and organizes activists and fights alongside them in their communities, changes bad laws, holds officials accountable, works with decision makers to create meaningful change, and achieves effective and responsive results.
Activism
IJ trains and mobilizes the public to be advocates for freedom and justice in their own communities.
recent projects
Prior Projects
Red Tape Restricts D.C.
Just like all Americans, D.C. residents deserve the chance to start a small business–to take risks as innovative entrepreneurs looking to better their own lives. But unfortunately for them, D.C. agencies have adopted onerous rules…
Care in the Capitol
The District’s new rules for childcare workers are going to keep hundreds of hard-working and qualified people from earning an honest living. In December 2016, the D.C. Office of the Superintendent of Education (OSSE) enacted…
Braiding Battle in the Bayou State
African-style braiding is a completely natural hair-care process, a safe way for braiders, many of whom are immigrants, to earn a safe and honest living. But throughout Louisiana, braiders are forced to pay huge sums…
New Jersey: Home Sweet Home (Business)
Home baking is a way for entrepreneurs to get started small in their own homes without having to spend tens of thousands of dollars on professional equipment and commercial kitchen space. States across the country…
Braids in the Bluegrass State
African-style, natural hair braiders, teaming up with IJ, scored a major victory in Kentucky in 2016 when the Commonwealth passed a law that exempts braiders from needing to get a government-issued license to braid…
New Jersey, New Direction
In New Jersey, African-style hair braiders—whose businesses are deeply rooted in cultural traditions that have been handed down through generations—used to be required to undergo 1,200 hours of cosmetology training, simply in order to earn…