UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE OF MODERN SURVIVOR-CENTERED ECONOMIC ADVOCACY

The Center for Survivor Agency and Justice (CSAJ) is a nationwide
organization dedicated to addressing the intersection of poverty
and gender-based violence. In 2012, CSAJ launched a National
Needs Assessment to understand the landscape of consumer rights
advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. CSAJ contracted the
Capstone team to support the development of its 2024 Needs & DEI
Assessment, reflecting the changes and challenges that have emerged
in the economic advocacy field since 2012, with the goal of enriching
CSAJ’s understanding of its audience, economic and consumer issues,
and practices within survivor-centered economic advocacy. The team
supported CSAJ staff with survey development and created a DEI audit
and plan for survey outreach and communications. The team’s report
includes a three-pronged analysis of survey results and highlights the
critical needs of survivors and advocates, outlining recommendations
to address capacity concerns, reach underrepresented groups, and
support the field of survivor-centered economic advocacy.