2025 Defenders of Justice Grassroots Empowerment Awardee: Siembra NC


The NC Justice Center is proud to present Siembra NC with the 2025 Defenders of Justice Grassroots Empowerment Award


Siembra NC is a powerful grassroots organization led by and for immigrant and working-class Latinx communities across North Carolina. Founded in 2017 in response to escalating attacks on immigrant rights, Siembra has become a vital force for justice. organization has taken on free speech cases, abortion access and reproductive rights, the rights of immigrants, the rights of prisoners and people with mental and physical disabilities, privacy and LGBTQ+ rights, and the rights of citizens to have unimpeded access to the ballot. They support community members in confronting abusive landlords and employers, challenging ICE enforcement and harmful policies, and building collective power through civic engagement. 

With active members in Alamance, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Wake, Randolph, and Rockingham counties — and a growing presence across the state — Siembra NC is rooted in a vision of a just and inclusive North Carolina. As a hub affiliate of Mijente, the organization is proudly pro-Black, pro-indígena, pro-migrant, pro-worker, pro-woman, and pro-LGBTQ+, recognizing that unity across shared struggles is essential to lasting change. 

In 2024 alone, Siembra helped workers recover over $250,000 in stolen wages, registered more than 5,000 voters, and engaged thousands in conversations to build power and strengthen community bonds. Their work is grounded in a culture of collective learning, empowerment, leadership development, and a deep belief that juntos, we can build a better future for all.