The Center For Third World Organizing

The Center For Third World Organizing o Promote race-based analysis and its application to local and global struggles for economic and social equity.

The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO, pronounced "C-2") is a racial-justice organization dedicated to building a social-justice movement led by people of color. Our Goals
To achieve social and economic justice, CTWO strives to shift the balance of political, economic, and communicative power by bringing the voices of poor people of color to the decision-making table. CTWO works to:

o Forge

links between various communities of color to address the common problems of poverty and disenfranchisement;

o Increase the pool of highly-trained, race-conscious organizers of color to work for community and labor organizations that contribute to the long-term struggle for racial and social justice. o Strengthen the capacity of grassroots organizations to develop and implement effective organizing campaigns that attack the root causes of inequality and oppression.

Ben came into MAAP with a sharp analysis rooted in his lived experience as a system-impacted person with a deep commitme...
08/19/2026

Ben came into MAAP with a sharp analysis rooted in his lived experience as a system-impacted person with a deep commitment to advocate for system-impacted communities.

A seasoned policy advocate and organizer, Ben worked to remove barriers, expand second chances, and support people rebuilding their lives. His advocacy spanned Stockton and across California, where he championed rehabilitation, violence prevention, and opportunity for those impacted by the justice system. His work with TimeDone and San Joaquin Delta College’s Project Phoenix reflected his belief in people’s capacity to transform their lives and communities.

Within the MAAP Class of 2024, Ben was more than a fellow organizer. He was a big brother to many. He brought experience and wisdom, freely shared his knowledge, offered guidance, and continued learning alongside others.

Ben believed those closest to injustice must lead its transformation, and he embodied that belief through his organizing, advocacy, and consistent presence in his community.

His impact lives on through the people he worked alongside, the communities he served, and the MAAP family who learned and organized with him.

We extend our deepest love, prayers, and condolences to Ben’s wife, children, family, loved ones, and all those impacted by this loss. May they be surrounded by care and community as they grieve and honor his life and legacy.

Rest in Power, Ben Amador.
MAAP Class of 2024

ATLANTA, GA! Let's organize!Join us September 26th to 27th for our 2-day Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by the Black Mal...
08/18/2026

ATLANTA, GA! Let's organize!

Join us September 26th to 27th for our 2-day Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by the Black Male Initiative!

Black Male Initiative Georgia (BMI) seeks to achieve effective outcomes for our communities by empowering Black men economically and civically through direct action, advocacy, and grassroots organizing.

Check out the link in our bio or bit.ly/ctwo101 to learn more and sign up.

OAKLAND, CA! Are you ready to be skilled up? Join us September 19th to 20th for our 2-day Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted...
08/12/2026

OAKLAND, CA! Are you ready to be skilled up?

Join us September 19th to 20th for our 2-day Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by Anti-Police Terror Project!

The Anti Police-Terror Project is a Black-led, multi-racial, intergenerational coalition that seeks to build a replicable and sustainable model to eradicate police terror in communities of color. They support families surviving police terror in their fight for justice, documenting police abuses and connecting impacted families and community members with resources, legal referrals, and opportunities for healing.

Check out the link in our bio or bit.ly/ctwo101 to learn more and sign up.

Interested in hosting an Organizing 101 Bootcamp? Sign up to join an info-session! Visit bit.ly/ctwo101Every year, CTWO ...
08/06/2026

Interested in hosting an Organizing 101 Bootcamp? Sign up to join an info-session! Visit bit.ly/ctwo101

Every year, CTWO partners with organizations committed to serving and empowering communities of color to wage impactful campaigns on critical front-line issues. Hosting this training is your opportunity to deepen your impact, engage your community, and grow your organizing capacity.

It's been 161 years since enslaved people were alerted of their freedom in Galveston, Texas. We honor this day to celebr...
06/19/2026

It's been 161 years since enslaved people were alerted of their freedom in Galveston, Texas. We honor this day to celebrate the emancipation of Black americans and the work being done to continue the fight towards liberation.

Q***R HISTORY IS MOVEMENT HISTORY.There is no way to honor q***r history without the people who organized, resisted, and...
06/12/2026

Q***R HISTORY IS MOVEMENT HISTORY.

There is no way to honor q***r history without the people who organized, resisted, and created spaces of safety and belonging. Q***r history and movement history are inseparable.

William Dorsey Swann (1860–1925) is recognized as the first person dubbed the “Queen of Drag.” Born into slavery, Swann began hosting underground drag balls in Washington, D.C., during the 1880s. These gatherings provided rare spaces for community and self-expression at a time when blackness and q***rness were heavily policed.

Over the years, Swann’s balls were repeatedly raided, and he was eventually arrested for keeping a “disorderly house.” After being sentenced to 300 days in jail, Swann petitioned President Grover Cleveland for a pardon. Although the request was denied, the act itself was a powerful form of resistance. Supported by 30 friends who signed the petition, Swann’s appeal is considered one of the earliest known legal and political efforts In defense of q***r people's right to gather free from criminalization, suppression, and police violence.

Source: House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens by Channing Gerard Joseph

CTWO IS HIRING!We’re looking to hire a Director of Strategic Initiatives and Impact. To learn more about our organizatio...
06/11/2026

CTWO IS HIRING!

We’re looking to hire a Director of Strategic Initiatives and Impact. To learn more about our organization, this position, our benefits, and the application process, visit bit.ly/ctwohiring or the link in our bio. Apply by June 26th.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA! Are you ready to be skilled up? Join us July 18th & 19th for our Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by ...
05/21/2026

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA! Are you ready to be skilled up?

Join us July 18th & 19th for our Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by United Women of Color.

United Women of Color empowers girls, women, and their communities by uniting people across ethnicities to address civic and educational gaps for advancement

Check out the link in our bio or bit.ly/ctwo101 to learn more and sign up!

SAN FRANCISCO! Are you ready to be skilled up? Join us July 1st & 2nd for our Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by 5 Elemen...
05/18/2026

SAN FRANCISCO! Are you ready to be skilled up?

Join us July 1st & 2nd for our Organizing 101 Bootcamp hosted by 5 Elements Youth Program and ¡Poder!

5 Elements uses hip-hop culture and Ethnic Studies to develop the social and emotional learning of youth through art, critical education, and civic engagement. ¡Poder! organizes with Latinx immigrant families and youth to put into practice people-powered solutions that are locally based, community-led, and environmentally just.

Check out the link in our bio or bit.ly/ctwo101 to learn more and sign up.

At CTWO, liberatory leadership is essential to our framework. It refines how we move both internally and externally as a...
05/14/2026

At CTWO, liberatory leadership is essential to our framework. It refines how we move both internally and externally as an organization.

➡️ Swipe to learn more about the framework we developed in collaboration with the Liberatory Leadership Partnership (LLP)

Address

900 Alice Street, Ste 300
Oakland, CA
94607

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