873226030 · AZ ↑ parent cluster ·
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ARIZONA DEMOCRACY RESOURCE CENTER

AZ · EIN 873226030 · $96K rev · advocacy · operational · www.azdrc.org
profile

The Arizona Democracy Resource Center (ADRC) is an advocacy organization based in Arizona that works to break down barriers to political and economic participation. They focus on rights restoration, record sealing, and community safety initiatives, particularly for justice-impacted individuals and marginalized communities. ADRC aims to build community power and leadership that reflects the diversity of Arizona.

activities · 16

what they do

direct service · 11
  • Community Resource Distribution Drug Checking and Test Strip Distribution
    Provides free resources to the community, including Narcan and safer sex supplies, and operates mutual aid pop-ups.
  • Criminal Record Sealing and Rights Restoration Legal Services Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement
    Provides free legal support for criminal record sealing, including petition preparation, filing assistance, case tracking, and hearing preparation. This includes helping individuals restore their right to vote and other civil rights, obtain official record set-asides, seal eligible records, remove records for minor marijuana possession, and reduce Class 6 felonies to misdemeanors.
  • Criminal Record Sealing and Rights Restoration Legal Services Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement
    Provides free legal support for criminal record sealing, including petition preparation, filing assistance, case tracking, and hearing preparation. This includes assistance with official record set-asides, sealing eligible records, removing records for minor marijuana possession, reducing Class 6 felonies to misdemeanors, and restoring civil rights such as voting and serving on a jury. The Free Legal Clinic has helped hundreds of Arizonans restore their rights.
  • Fingerprint Clearance Card Assistance Immigration Application Support & Legal Representation
    Offers step-by-step support through its Free Legal Clinic to help individuals apply for a Fingerprint Clearance Card, understand denial types, file Good Cause Exceptions, gather necessary documents, and appeal denials for Level One fingerprint clearance cards.
  • Fingerprint Clearance Card and Good Cause Exception Assistance Immigration Application Support & Legal Representation
    Offers step-by-step support through its Free Legal Clinic to help individuals apply for a Fingerprint Clearance Card, understand denial types, file Good Cause Exceptions, gather necessary documents, and appeal denials for Level One fingerprint clearance cards.
  • LGBTQIA+ and Equitable Healthcare Advocacy LGBTQ+ Advocacy in Schools
    Provides direct services for LGBTQIA+ communities and advocates for students in higher education, reproductive justice, and equitable healthcare access.
  • Legal Name Change Assistance
    Provides assistance with the legal name change process in Arizona through its Free Legal Clinic, including help completing petitions, guidance on submitting forms, preparing for court, and support in requesting fee waivers.
  • Reentry Support for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Hygiene and Essential Care Kits Distribution
    Distributes Welcome Home Supplies starter kits containing hygiene essentials, clothing, resource guides, and information on accessing legal services to individuals reentering the community after incarceration.
  • Reentry Support for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Hygiene and Essential Care Kits Distribution
    Distributes Welcome Home Supplies starter kits containing hygiene essentials, clothing, resource guides, and information on accessing legal services to individuals reentering the community after incarceration. Provides resources to overcome barriers and legal issues for formerly incarcerated individuals.
  • Reproductive Justice and Birthworker Support Pregnancy Options Counseling & Support
    Provides free emergency contraception (Plan B) through discreet shipping or office pickup. Offers a 10-Week Pregnancy Playbook Series for birthing people and their families, covering birth preparation, stress management, and nutrition. Provides access to trauma-informed doula care through a Doula Support Fund. Conducts a monthly Birthworker of Color Learning Series and hosts Trans & Queer BIPOC Birthworker Meetups.
  • Reproductive Justice and Birthworker Support Pregnancy Options Counseling & Support
    Provides free emergency contraception (Plan B) through discreet shipping or office pickup. Offers a 10-Week Pregnancy Playbook Series for birthing people and their families, trauma-informed doula care through a Doula Support Fund, and hosts a monthly Birthworker of Color Learning Series and Trans & Queer BIPOC Birthworker Meetups.
advocacy · 1
  • Issue-Based Advocacy Campaigns Grassroots Advocacy & Campaign Support
    Organizes issue-based campaigns focused on reproductive justice, democracy protection, and racial equity. Facilitates community power-building activities to challenge systems, hold elected officials accountable, and direct resources to areas of need.
capacity building · 4
  • Civic Engagement and Advocacy Training Advocacy & Civic Leadership Training
    Hosts Rights Restoration Clinics, Know Your Rights Trainings, and Civic Engagement Workshops. Provides civic leadership training in organizing, policy change, and narrative strategy for individuals new to advocacy or preparing to run for office. Also offers training in legal advocacy, community organizing, public speaking, and systems navigation.
  • Civic Engagement and Advocacy Training
    Hosts Rights Restoration Clinics, Know Your Rights Trainings, and Civic Engagement Workshops in partnership with local groups across Arizona. Provides civic leadership training in the foundations of organizing, policy change, and narrative strategy for individuals new to advocacy or preparing to run for office.
  • Community Safety and De-escalation Training
    Offers in-person and virtual trainings in de-escalation and election defense, conflict resolution, and threat assessment. Deploys trained Defenders at public events and community actions to ensure community safety.
  • Community Safety and De-escalation Training
    Offers in-person and virtual trainings in de-escalation, conflict resolution, and threat assessment, having trained over 249 community members in 2024. The organization also deploys trained Defenders at public events and community actions to ensure safety.
strategies · 14

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.

named programs · 12

what they call their work

Beyond Tomorrow (Arizona Community Safety Program)
A community-rooted program building a statewide network of trained community members for democracy defense, autonomy, and dignity, focusing on de-escalation and conflict resolution.
De-Escalation for Organizations
Offers custom trainings for organizations, coalitions, and mutual aid groups to build internal safety plans and conflict resolution tools.
Democracy Defense Front
Trains community members, including formerly incarcerated individuals, as "Poll Defenders" in de-escalation, conflict resolution, and threat assessment for election safety.
Event Safety & Mobilization
Deploys trained Defenders at public events and community actions to ensure safety.
Felony 6 Reclassification (Undesignated Felony)
Helps reclassify Class 6 felonies to misdemeanors after probation completion to reduce legal severity and open opportunities.
Fingerprint Clearance Card Help
Provides step-by-step support for applying for a Fingerprint Clearance Card or requesting a Good Cause Exception if an application is denied.
Free Legal Clinic
Provides legal support for rights restoration, record sealing, and Fingerprint Clearance Card applications, focusing on justice-impacted communities.
Know Your Rights Trainings
Equips community members to protect themselves and others during protests, at the polls, or in interactions with law enforcement.
Marijuana Expungement (Prop 207)
Assists with expunging certain marijuana-related convictions under Arizona's Proposition 207.
Rights Restoration
Assists individuals with felony convictions in Arizona to restore their civil rights, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and possess a firearm.
Seal Your Records
Provides support to seal eligible criminal records in Arizona, making them no longer visible to the public.
Set-Asides & Certificates of Second Chance
Helps individuals vacate judgments of guilt and obtain Certificates of Second Chance to improve access to employment, housing, and occupational licenses.
relationships · 33

who they work with

  • Abortion Fund of Arizona Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • Apache Junction Hope Women’s Center Partner — Lists as a resource for housing and shelters.
  • Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) Partner — Lists as a resource for domestic violence and mental health.
  • Arizona Department of Health Government — Resources and Partnerships Director Lakisa Muhammad contributes expertise to the Arizona Department of Health’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
  • Arizona Department of Public Safety Government — The entity that issues Fingerprint Clearance Cards in Arizona.
  • Arizona Maternal Health Policy Coalition Partner — Resources and Partnerships Director Lakisa Muhammad co-chairs the Arizona Maternal Health Policy Coalition.
  • Arizona Self Help Partner — Lists as a resource for free online application for social services.
  • Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive justice and activism.
  • Black Phoenix Organizing Collective Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive justice and activism.
  • Camelback Family Planning Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • Children’s Action Alliance Partner — Lists as a resource for child passenger safety.
  • Cihuapactli Collective Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • City of Phoenix Emergency Financial Assistance Services Partner — Lists as a resource for emergency financial assistance.
  • Desert Star Family Planning Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • Diaper Bank of Central Arizona Partner — Lists as a resource for safe and healthy families.
  • Dove Black Birth Equity Fund Partner — Lists their grant application as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • Ebony House Partner — Lists as a resource for housing and shelters.
  • Family First (Tanner Community Development) Partner — Lists as a resource for safe and healthy families.
  • Healthy Families Arizona (Department of Child Safety) Partner — Lists as a resource for safe and healthy families.
  • MODABA Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • Maggie’s Place Partner — Lists as a resource for housing and shelters.
  • Mijente Partner — Co-Executive Director Maria Teresa is a member of Mijente.
  • Movement for Black Lives Partner — Co-Executive Director Maria Teresa is an inaugural Electoral Justice Fellow with the Movement for Black Lives.
  • Postpartum Support International Partner — Lists their Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line as a resource.
  • Postpartum Support International (Arizona Chapter) Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive healthcare services and support.
  • Shades of Blue Project Partner — Lists as a resource for Black Maternal Mental Health.
  • Sojourner Center Partner — Lists as a resource for housing and shelters.
  • South Phoenix Healthy Start Partner — Lists as a resource for safe and healthy families.
  • The Zion Institute Partner — Lists as a resource for child passenger safety.
  • Together, We Rise Partner — Lists as a resource for reproductive justice and activism.
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