Global Citizen Center

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Our History

The Global Citizen Center began as an initiative of Global Exchange, a 17-year-old membership-based, international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Global Exchange has long been a pioneer of educational social enterprise, programs, and activities. The organization also manages a national speaker’s bureau, produces events such as Reggae in the Park, leads international Reality Tours, and operates four Fair Trade retail stores. Global Exchange initially conceived of the Global Citizen Center in 2000 as a way to advance the development of the Green Economy and more effectively address the larger issues of environmental sustainability and social justice. The Global Citizen Center derives direct benefit from its association with Global Exchange through the sharing of resources, knowledge, and expertise.

Also in 2000, Global Exchange and Co-op America launched the Green Festivals as an interim strategy for building the network of organizations and the base of public support that a permanent Center would require. The Green Festivals are currently in their fifth year and in 2006 drew over 60,000 attendees to weekend events in San Francisco and Washington DC.

Co-op America, based in Washington DC, was founded in 1982 and works to harness economic power to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. The organization’s experience that is relevant the Global Citizen Center project includes its work developing a network of 3,000 Green businesses and promoting related best practices through its annual Co-op America Business Network (CABN) Conference.

After three highly successful Green Festivals in 2002 and 2003, planning began in earnest on a mixed-use, multi-tenant facility, designed specifically to galvanize the work of a strategically-assembled group of tenants, all of whom contribute in some way to a more sustainable future. A team of consultants and volunteers completed the initial project planning. A preliminary building program was developed, based on the Green Festivals experience and a needs assessment survey of prospective tenants.

The Global Citizen Center was incorporated in April 2004 and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in August, 2005. Prior to receiving its nonprofit designation, the Center was operating as a philanthropic initiative under the fiscal sponsorship of Global Exchange.

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