Social Justice Achievements of 2024

Though Common Ground often reports on social justice and equity-related challenges and issues, it’s also crucial to recognize the immense progress that our society makes each and every day. Let’s finish out 2024 by looking at some social justice accomplishments that took place this year. 

Firstly, New York City saw significant reform in the realms of criminal justice and public safety in 2024. The Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC), housed within the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, aims to reduce bias-motivated incidents throughout the city and equips targeted communities to respond effectively. This year, OPHC developed a curriculum to teach New York City students about the large-scale impacts of hate crimes and bias incidents. OPHC and schools across New York partnered with Facing History & Ourselves to enrich students’ and teachers’ understanding of diversity and foster a culture of increased civic engagement. To highlight an alternative perspective, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice also hosted a summit entitled “Momentum: Justice and Community.” The event featured interactive aspects that showcased the challenges of re-entering society after incarceration, and encouraged discussions around solutions to public safety concerns.  

If you read our October article on environmental racism, you’ll be pleased to find out that several organizations have made significant progress this year related to environmental justice issues. In particular, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) worked to combat longstanding inequities in multiple southern states. In Sampson County, North Carolina, the center persuaded the state’s largest landfill to end its contributions to water pollution and reduce its emissions of noise and odor in a low-income neighborhood. SELC also stopped pollution in two of Georgia’s rural communities by bringing attention to the Clean Air Act. The center collaborated with local advocates in South Memphis, Tennessee to prohibit the pumping of toxic gas by a local facility into a Black community after decades of non-stop pollution. Lastly, SELC put a stop to a highway project in South Carolina that would have caused significant destruction to nearby populations. 

In 2024, research found that there is strong support for action-based social justice initiatives among workers and consumers in the United States. A poll of 2,204 adults showed that workers in America favor companies that promote social justice by a 3:1 margin, and consumers are four times more likely to remain loyal to brands that support social issues. The following percentages illustrate support for companies to address social and economic matters: gun violence and mass shootings (78%), voting rights and ballot access (77%), racial inequality and discrimination (72%), and caregiving and childcare support (69%). Hopefully we’ll see more action regarding these issues on the part of businesses and corporations in 2025. 

Thank you for reading along this year and engaging with these difficult yet incredibly important topics. By taking the time to seek out resources and educate yourself, you’ve already made a difference. Use the communication box below to tell us what you’d like to learn about next, and we’ll see you in 2025!