Our Roots and Purpose
Mothers and Others for Justice (originally Mothers for Justice) was born out of an urgent need in 1993. Formed under the umbrella of Christian Community Action (CCA), the group emerged in direct response to the “Welfare Reform” movement, which drastically cut government aid and left thousands of families in New Haven in crisis. While mothers were the demographic most severely impacted by these policy shifts, their voices were conspicuously absent from the legislative tables where these life-altering decisions were made. MOFJ was founded to change that reality, transforming those directly affected by poverty from passive subjects of policy into active, powerful architects of change. Over the decades, we have expanded our coalition to include all residents—regardless of parental status—who are committed to the pursuit of social, economic, and racial justice.
Building Power Through Lived Experience
At the heart of MOFJ is the unwavering belief that “we are the experts”. Our members are New Haven residents who have personally navigated the complexities of housing insecurity, healthcare disparities, and economic hardship. We provide a dedicated space for this lived experience to be channeled into collective action through monthly meetings that provide free childcare and meals, ensuring that barriers to participation are removed for all. Through intensive advocacy training and leadership development, we empower our members to testify at the State Capitol in Hartford, hold rallies, and engage directly with local and state decision-makers. This work is transformative; many of our members have gone on to serve their communities in official capacities and to lead political campaigns.
Our Ongoing Fight for Justice
Our advocacy is focused on the core issues that define the quality of life for Connecticut’s most vulnerable families: affordable housing, healthcare access, and systemic reform. Recent successes include pushing for the “Ban the Box” law to protect the rights of those re-entering the workforce and securing legislative changes that allow TANF recipients to pursue the education and training they need to achieve self-sufficiency. Today, our members continue to lead the charge through specialized efforts like our HEALTH (Helping Everyone Achieve Lifelong Trusted Healthcare) subcommittee and our ongoing work to protect Section 8 vouchers and expand “Just Cause” eviction protections. We invite you to join us in this persistent, grassroots struggle to bridge the gap between New Haven’s neighborhoods and the halls of power, ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to thrive with dignity.
We have survived everything that the systems of oppression can dish out. We use that expertise to power activism.
Based in New Haven, CT, we organize to dismantle structures that promote poverty, racism, and sexism; and to promote justice at the local, state, and national levels. Our strength is that we are a community — and we invite you to be part of it.