An advertisement appeared in the January 14, 2010 edition of The Arizona Republic newspaper comparing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to the infamous 1960s Birmingham public safety commissioner Theophilus Eugene “Bull” Connor. The strongly worded statement was sponsored by the Center for New Community and signed by sixty prominent Black leaders from twenty-three states.

The Center for New Community is a national organization committed to building community, justice, and equality. The Center is grounded in many faith traditions, and builds community where the dignity and value of all humanity is manifest.

Established in 1995, it has grown from a vision to an organization working nationwide to cultivate civic life and advance systemic change, in partnership with local leaders, organizations, congregations, and other institutions. The need to build democratic and inclusive community has seldom been greater.