Discover Human Rights Organizations in Cleveland, OH dedicated to supporting and empowering your community. Our directory features organizations committed to addressing the unique needs and challenges of the community through advocacy, programs, and services.
Founded in 1980 through the merger of four African American professional groups, the Norman S. Minor Bar Association stands as a cornerstone organization for Black legal professionals in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Named in honor of Norman Selby Minor, one of Cleveland's foremost trial attorneys, the NSMBA embodies a legacy of trailblazing advocacy and community leadership. For more than 40 years, the organization has been dedicated to advancing justice, increasing diversity within the legal profession, and safeguarding the rights of the Greater Cleveland community. The NSMBA's mission encompasses far more than professional networking—it actively works to protect civil and political rights, promote equitable legislation, and enhance the quality of judicial systems. The organization engages in meaningful community advocacy, taking public stances on significant legal and social issues while collaborating with local partners like the Cleveland NAACP. By bringing together attorneys and legal professionals who share a commitment to justice and community welfare, the NSMBA creates a supportive environment where members can grow professionally while contributing to positive change in Ohio. The association's ongoing initiatives and leadership demonstrate its unwavering dedication to serving as a voice for Black attorneys and the communities they represent.
Rooted in the labor movement and serving the Cleveland, Ohio community since 1974, the Coalition of Labor Union Women Northeast OH Chapter represents a unique commitment to union women's empowerment and solidarity. As the only national organization dedicated exclusively to union women in America, CLUW brings together members who are passionate about creating systemic change within their workplaces and industries. The Northeast Ohio Chapter embodies CLUW's founding mission by unifying local union women to address shared challenges, develop collaborative action programs, and amplify their collective voice in the labor movement. Members in the Cleveland area work together on issues that matter most to working women: equal pay, workplace safety, accessible childcare and elder care, comprehensive health care benefits, and protection from harassment and discrimination. The organization is deeply rooted in nonpartisan advocacy, focusing on both workplace justice and broader political engagement to ensure women's voices shape the future of labor and policy. By fostering greater participation of women at all levels of union leadership and the political process, the Cleveland chapter honors CLUW's legacy while building a stronger, more inclusive labor movement for generations to come.
For nearly five decades, the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland has been a cornerstone of support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in Northeastern Ohio. Founded in 1975, the Center embodies a mission to enrich lives through advocacy, support, education, and celebration—recognizing that the LGBTQ+ community is an integral and thriving part of the greater Cleveland, OH region. Throughout its history, the organization has established itself as a trusted community partner by maintaining multiple locations and continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of those it serves. Today, positioned in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District, the Center stands as a visible beacon of inclusion and acceptance, demonstrating the organization's deep roots in Cleveland's cultural landscape. The Center's vision reflects a profound belief that the LGBTQ+ community deserves to be embraced and celebrated as valued members of the Northeast Ohio community. By combining advocacy efforts with direct support services and educational initiatives, the organization creates meaningful spaces where individuals can find connection, resources, and affirmation. The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland represents a legacy of commitment to social justice, community building, and the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and wellbeing in the Cleveland area and beyond.
Since 1985, PFLAG Cleveland has been a beacon of hope and acceptance for LGBTQ individuals and their families in the Berea community and across northeast Ohio. Founded by Jane Daroff, LISW-S and Dr. Jes Sellers, this volunteer-driven nonprofit organization emerged from a simple but powerful vision: creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. What began as a small gathering of eight to twenty people has grown into a thriving community of over forty regular participants who share their journeys and support one another through monthly meetings.
PFLAG Cleveland's unique strength lies in its diverse membership—parents, families, friends, and LGBTQ individuals themselves—all working together toward shared understanding and equality. The organization has remained deeply rooted in the Berea area, maintaining its original commitment to meeting people where they are and collaborating authentically with community partners. Through decades of presence, PFLAG Cleveland has become known for its genuine, inclusive approach to support and its unwavering advocacy for policy changes that protect and affirm LGBTQ rights. The chapter's volunteer leadership, including current President Tom Falcone and long-standing facilitators, continues the legacy established by its founders. Today, PFLAG Cleveland stands as a testament to the power of families standing together, offering not just support and education, but a vision of a more just and equitable future for all members of the LGBTQ community and those who love them.
The Japanese American Citizens League Cleveland Chapter is rooted in a powerful mission to secure and uphold human and civil rights while celebrating the cultural heritage of Japanese Americans in Richfield, OH and beyond. Born from the organization's 1929 founding as an educational and social action group responding to prejudice and discrimination, the Cleveland Chapter carries forward nearly a century of community commitment and advocacy. What sets JACL apart is its deep historical connection to Japanese American experiences, including its pivotal role in securing redress and apologies for World War II internment and its ongoing work to ensure that such injustices never occur again. The organization serves as a vital bridge between generations, preserving Japanese American cultural values through programs like traditional Sho Jo Ji Japanese dancers and educational initiatives that help young people understand their heritage and civic responsibilities. The Cleveland Chapter's strength lies in its community relationships and personal connections—members and leaders like those who testified before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians represent real families with real stories. By bringing together individuals committed to civil rights and cultural preservation, the Cleveland Chapter creates a supportive environment where Japanese Americans and allies can engage in meaningful advocacy, celebrate their identity, and work together toward a more just society. The organization demonstrates that effective change comes through sustained community engagement and intergenerational commitment to shared values.
Founded in 1983 as the Organization of Chinese Americans Northeast Ohio chapter, OCA Greater Cleveland has deep roots in serving the Asian Pacific American community of Northeast Ohio. The organization's local history reflects the region's growing diversity—in 1995, the chapter merged with the Chinese Association of Greater Cleveland to form the Organization of Chinese Americans of Greater Cleveland (OCAGC), strengthening its capacity to serve an expanding membership base.
As part of a nationwide rebranding in 2013, the organization became OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Cleveland chapter, signaling its evolution beyond its original Chinese American focus to embrace the broader Asian Pacific American community. This transformation reflects the organization's core values of diversity, inclusion, and coalition-building that have guided its work since its inception.
OCA Greater Cleveland is more than an advocacy organization—it is a community institution that values relationships and shared purpose. The chapter engages members through civic participation initiatives, cultural heritage celebrations, educational programs, and community service projects that strengthen neighborhoods throughout Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. By bringing together community advocates and partnering with local organizations, OCA Greater Cleveland creates spaces where Asian Pacific Americans can build leadership skills, connect with one another, and work collectively toward justice and equal opportunity. The organization's commitment to its members and the broader Northeast Ohio community remains the foundation of everything it does.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Blacks In Technology Cleveland represents a community-driven movement dedicated to eliminating barriers that Black professionals face in the technology industry. The chapter was founded by leaders with deep experience in nonprofit and education sectors who recognized an urgent need to support Black participation in technical careers and business opportunities. What sets the Cleveland chapter apart is its profound sense of duty to not only provide immediate career support and networking but also to connect local initiatives with the broader national movement toward industry parity. The organization acknowledges the persistent challenge many Black tech workers face—being the only Black person in the room or on their team—and works to transform this reality through mentorship, training, and community building. With co-presidents Seanna Jackson and Rico Thompson leading the effort, the chapter fosters genuine relationships among members while maintaining trust and transparency as core values. By bringing together Black tech professionals, allies, and sponsors, Blacks In Technology Cleveland demonstrates that meaningful change requires collective action rooted in shared commitment to equity. The chapter's mission to "stomp the divide" reflects a determination to fundamentally reshape an industry that has historically failed to achieve parity, creating a supportive environment where Black technologists can thrive, lead, and build the future.