OUR STORY
Inspired by Bayard Rustin’s visionary strategy and moral imagination, we nurture dynamic, cross-generational leaders and organizations working to advance justice and equal dignity.
Inspired by Bayard Rustin’s legacy of moral courage, coalition-building, and imagination
We connect the civil rights histories of Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall to the work of today. Rooted especially in the U.S. South, we help people and organizations draw wisdom from the past to support leadership, civic life, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equal dignity.
The Rustin Institute—formerly the LGBTQ+ Institute—was born out of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR). Founded in 2015, the Institute began as a home for research and educational programs that bridged academic insight and lived experience. As our mission and programming deepened, the Institute grew into an independent nonprofit, expanding our capacity to serve communities, cultivate leadership, and carry this work forward.