Our Mission

Our mission is to build sustainable communities by assisting people to assert their right to local self-government and the rights of nature.

We help communities create a more democratic future.

For over 25 years, we have assisted communities to develop first-in-the-nation, groundbreaking laws for worker rights, houseless rights, democratic rights, and the Rights of Nature. We also provide free and low-cost legal services, grassroots organizing, and education support, to thousands of communities and governments facing injustice locally, nationally, and globally. Contact us now.

“Wouldn’t You Say?”

Welcome to CELDF’s new commentary series that focuses on key concepts in our work to advance Community Rights and the Rights of Nature.

Superficially, these may appear to be separate movements for legal rights but, as we have come to understand, everything’s connected and the artificial separation of human communities from the natural communities that we refer to as “ecosystems” allows the migration of imprudent and commercially biased dogmas into environmental and political policies. Like our “Fast Facts Friday” whiteboard videos, “Wouldn’t you say?” treats key legal, political and ethical concepts with an eye to brevity and accessibility. We hope they’ll be helpful to you and all of our CELDF community.

News from the Grassroots

Fast Facts

Our Fast Facts are quick introductions to big ideas and concepts tackled by the Community Rights Movement! Check out our Fast Facts and find resources to more information to further your knowledge on the topics! Watch them all here

Rights of Nature

Community Rights

Box of Allowable Activism

[The Community Rights and Rights of Nature movement] is the beginning of a social movement that is greater than just the oil and gas industry, it is a potential game changer for all of corporate America.

Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico