Program areas at American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee Foundation
The underlying philosophy guiding acluf-tn's communications/public education program is that to protect your rights, you must exercise them; to exercise them, you must know them. We increase public awareness of Civil Liberties issues by sponsoring forums and meetings, preparing and distributing educational materials on constitutional rights both online and off, working in coalition with other organizations on issues of mutual concern, engaging supporters through email marketing and online mobilization, fostering dialogue on Civil Liberties across social media platforms, and speaking regularly to the media on Civil Liberties issues.
The community engagement department's role within acluf-tn is to integrate our mission with communities across the state, collaborating with partners and individuals to build a movement and mobilize in support of bold, impactful Civil Liberties and Civil rights changes in our state. Community engagement advocacy at aclu-tn centers the experiences and leadership of directly impacted people while ensuring that non-impacted allies participate in effective and substantive action.
The acluf-tn legal program aims to protect and advance Civil rights and Civil Liberties throughout the state. We meet this goal by providing guidance, engaging in advocacy, and (as a last resort) litigation. We provide legal representation, free of charge, for individuals and groups whose Civil Liberties have been threatened or denied. We also submit friend-of-the-court briefs in appropriate cases. Through such litigation, our goal is to provide legal representation in individual cases and establish legal precedents that will be of enduring value in Tennessee and across the nation.
The policy program monitors and attempts to influence a wide range of legislation affecting Civil Liberties and Civil rights at the state and local levels. In addition, we are consulted by legislators and their staff members on constitutional issues and present expert testimony. We also work in coalition with other organizations who share similar goals, and together, we work either for or against legislative and other policy initiatives.