5604 Manor Organizations

5604 Manor is home to several community organizations that are helping build a more welcoming and sustainable Austin.

Workers Defense Project

Workers Defense Project (WDP) is a membership-based organization that empowers low-income workers to achieve fair employment through education, direct services, organizing, and strategic partnerships.

Workers Defense Project was founded in August 2002 by employees and volunteers of Casa Marianella, a local shelter, to address the problem of unpaid wages for Austin’s low-wage workers.

WDP is a worker center and part of a national movement of organizations that seek to provide low-wage workers with the resources they need to improve their working and living conditions. WDP provides a source of power and hope for many low-wage workers who have access to few resources to improve their living and working conditions. WDP is one of the few organizations in Texas working to address workplace abuse faced by low-wage workers. WDP is one of the most established worker centers in the south and a leader in fighting for fair conditions for working people.

Third Coast Activist Resource Center

Third Coast Activist Resource Center was created to help people in the Austin area in their efforts at sustainable organizing. The Center’s two main goals are (1) to distribute educational resources and organize community events about U.S. policy around the world, and (2) to strengthen the local activist network that is part of a national and international movement for global justice.

• organizing guest speakers, panel discussions, and films;
• maintaining a website, ThirdCoastActivist.org, with a local events calendar and directory of activist groups, downloadable materials, event fliers, and news links;
• coordinating local speakers, videos, and print materials for use in classrooms, churches, and community groups; and
• maintaining an email announcement list for events in the Austin area.

Cooperation Texas

Cooperation Texas is an Austin-based organization committed to the development and support of green worker cooperatives. Our mission is to help build worker-owned green businesses and strengthen existing democratic workplaces through cooperative business development, education, training and movement building — placing those most directly affected by social and economic inequality at the center of our work.