About the Compass for Change

What is the Compass for Change?

The Compass for Change seeks to connect people through technology to achieve social change in New York City. The Compass is a set of free, easy to use online tools designed to help activist and community organizations use the Internet to connect with one another, share information and resources, find funding for their projects, and expand their ability to work social justice. The Compass is also designed to help all New Yorkers access valuable information, identify resources, and connect with social justice movements.

At the core of this project is an online directory of activist and community groups in NYC. This directory is based on "Finding the Grassroots: A Directory of NYC Activist Organizations," published by North Star in 1995. Unlike a print directory, which is costly and time-consuming to revise, the online version is easily updatable by organizations themselves. In this way, North Star can work with activists and organizers to create a more consistently up-to-date resource. Through the directory, users can find and connect with groups based on an array of search criteria, including issues, methods of organizing, location and constituencies. The directory will be shared with the Ya-Ya Network's website, which will focus on providing resources and information to NYC youth.

We also plan to develop additional tools and resources, including a collective calendar with events from Compass member organizations, e-mail reminders about events, discussion and skill share boards, and content such as news feeds, action alerts, and articles relevant to social justice work.

The Compass is a project of the North Star Fund and the Ya-Ya Network, in collaboration with backspace.com, May First, the NYC Grassroots Media Coalition, and the NYC Social Forum.

Who Can Use the Compass for Change?

Activist and Community Organizations

The Compass tools are designed to help grassroots groups and their allies in a variety of ways. The tools will let groups get the word out about their work and events, helping build involvement and support. By improving communication and connection, we hope that the Compass will foster networks and coalitions between organizations. In bringing groups together around shared issues, the Compass can encourage the collaboration that is so vital to sustaining social justice work. The Compass will also serve as a way to share information, skills, and other resources among groups, creating new ways to strengthen and support each other's work.

The Compass for Change is intended for use in struggles against all forms of oppression and the systems of privilege that sustain them. Therefore, we invite Compass users to join with us in support of the struggles of people of color, women, immigrants, low income folks, youth, the elderly, lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer people, trans and gender-different folks, people who are differently abled, and all others who face oppression and discrimination.

Donors and Funding Recipients

The Compass will also connect funders and groups in need of resources by serving as a valuable tool for both. Through the directory, groups can showcase their work and missions in a forum that will be specifically promoted to foundations, individual philanthropists, and other funding sources. In turn, the Compass will help funders promote their resources and solicit possible grantees.

Serving New York City Communities

In addition to helping activist and community organizations, the Compass will also be a useful and accessible resource for all NYC residents. People can use the tools to find groups providing assistance and support for the issues that affect their lives. And through the Ya-Ya website, youth will be able to find resources and groups with tools specifically tailored to their unique neesd and issues.

Beyond New York City

North Star and its partners hope that the technology behind the Compass will be adopted and adapted by groups beyond New York City. The Compass is designed using open source technologies, which will allow other groups to easily and cost-effectively create additional regional activist portals, thus widening networks of information sharing and coalition building.