Many people in the Austin area know the Third Coast Activist Resource Center from our work opposing the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the larger critique of the U.S. empire. Others first encountered Third Coast at 5604 Manor, the community center we bought and developed in collaboration with the Workers Defense Project. And, of course, there is our weekly events calendar and web site with information about events and issues.

In recent years, the mission of Third Coast has shifted. After turning over all the space in 5604 Manor to an expanding WDP, we have been using the funds generated to help with progressive projects, locally and nationally.

Reflecting the importance of both ecological sustainability and social justice, we have contributed to Urban Roots, the Multicultural Refugee Coalition, EcoRise, Huston-Tillotson University’s Center for Sustainability and Environmental Justice in Austin; the Berry Farming Program in Kentucky; and the School for Rural Culture and Creativity in Kansas. We also have continued our support for critical independent journalism as a funder of “Rising Up with Sonali Kolhatkar,” a radio/television/web project based in Los Angeles.