ARISE for Social Justice is a Springfield, Massachusetts-based, grassroots organization, the primary purpose of which is to organize locally for welfare reform, affordable housing, and alleviation of poverty. It was founded in 1985 by four women who were frustrated by the poor people/welfare recipients rights situation. Its members, mostly women, are or have been on welfare, and they come from diverse racial, ethnic and educational backgrounds. ARISE's stated purpose is "to learn to speak for ourselves to advocate for positive changes in the treatment of poor people and in the welfare system." It is "an advocacy organization for the urban poor of Springfield," and as such takes up issues that immediately affect its constituency, notably affordable housing, welfare reform, voter registration, child care, and domestic violence. Its purpose is to organize rather than to provide services.

The ARISE for Social Justice Records provide documentation about how ARISE has approached problems affecting the economically disadvantaged and under-served populations in Springfield, Massachusetts and the surrounding area, including welfare reform ("workfare"), affordable housing, domestic violence, voter registration initiatives, and health care reform. The records describe the workings not only of ARISE, but also of the organizations and institutions through which the organization seeks to implement social, political and economic change. The records also document how this grassroots, women-run organization is administered; and how they interact with various regional and national governmental offices and various private funding and social service agencies. Materials pertaining to ARISE's local activism cover such topics as race relations, class, poverty, and welfare rights; homelessness and fair housing, including advocacy for single room occupancy; domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse; prison reform; advocacy for universal/single-payer health care, and health issues including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; childcare; access to education; rights of mentally and physically disabled citizens; drug addiction; prostitution; hunger, and other issues associated with poverty. Types of material include reports, agendas and minutes, correspondence, memoranda, notes, press releases, conference materials, referral records, financial information, grant applications, contracts, newsletters, pamphlets, fliers, manuals, clippings, and a scrapbook.

[NOTE: The contents list for this collection is not online. Contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you would like one sent to you.]