I can’t tell you how excited and honored I am to be in this seat and in community with you for the first time. It has only been a short time at this point, but the energy and passion from the amazing EJUSA team about the work is inspiring.
We can’t do this important work alone. Will you forward this piece to one friend or family member you think is hungry for a new justice system?
Some of you may have already learned a little bit about me, but I want to be clear about how I come into this work:
…I am the daughter of a survivor of violence…
…I am the sister of a Black man who was ensnared in our system of mass incarceration…
…I am a former prosecutor who ultimately recognized that our current justice system is a machine of harm that simply needs to be replaced…
…Perhaps most importantly, I am a mother to two young girls who deserve to live in a world where violence is rare, where they are safe, where they can thrive free of racial oppression.
I took this role because the more I learned about EJUSA, the more I saw a unique focus on solutions that address violence by promoting community-based responses that center those most impacted by harm. Our framework for a new justice system — built brilliantly by our former leader, Shari Silberstein, and the EJUSA team — will deliver something that the current system does not: safety, healing for everyone impacted by a harmful event, and accountability that truly repairs.
I can’t wait to grow the work that will make our vision real. And, honestly, we can’t wait. The tragic murder of George Floyd changed the way millions of Americans see our justice system. They are questioning its purpose, recognizing the racism on which it was built. They want something new.
We know what that new thing looks like. But we can’t do this alone. The EJUSA team, our community partners driving the solutions, and I need your support. The difficult work of change takes all of us.
So I’m asking for a favor as I settle into this role: Share this post with one friend or family member who is ready for this new vision of justice. Urge them to sign up to follow our efforts and learn about opportunities to support us as we work toward making this new vision of justice real.
