Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
Monifa Akinwole Bandele, founder
Monifa Akinwole Brandele co-founded the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) with a group of organizers and artists committed to human rights. Since 1993, the group has worked in Central Brooklyn doing community organizing and creating programs that respond to day-to-day problems faced by residents. MXGM’s activities include food and clothing distribution, community education programs, women’s caucuses and responses to police brutality.
The People’s Feeing and Clothing Program provides nutrition to homeless individuals and families and educates the community about human rights. Volunteers distribute clothing and provide free legal counseling. A community education workshop series discusses topics relating to organizing, legal rights and political analysis. MXGM’s “New Afrikan Woman’s Caucus” educates Black women and men about sexist oppression. Members are taking leadership roles in organizing around issues of domestic violence and women’s rights.
In collaboration with the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Medgar Evers Center for Law and Social Justice and the National Conference of Black Lawyers, MXGM has developed the Central Brooklyn Community CopWatch to monitor and report instances of police brutality. MXGM also organizes an annual hip-hop concert named Black August to bring attention to the situation of political prisoners in the United States.