Reimagining Justice This Month: June
Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence — responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism.
Newark: A Blueprint for Safety and Healing, NewarkSafety.org
Newark, as moved through and lived in by its people, is a healing city. It is a city still hurting, still learning from the past, still working hard to figure out just what safety means. For decades, Newarkers have leveraged the power and possibility of their experience and connections to break cycles of trauma and violence. The roots of the public safety ecosystem that has grown in Newark are a deep love of community and a commitment to understanding safety not just as the absence of violence, but the presence of wellbeing, and of thriving neighborhoods. Take a walk through the report, listen to the stories of hard work and innovation to center community and equity in public safety, and sign up for updates.
- A deep love of community, collective community identity, and a spirit of innovation opened channels of communication that engaged a full community and set the social and cultural conditions for transformation (pg. 28-37)
- Political leadership and vision, and responsiveness to community solutions created the political and institutional conditions for transformation (pg. 38-41)
- Community-led strategies like high-risk street intervention, bridge building between community and police, healing-centered programs, and community-led coordination drive transformation (pg. 41-46)
- Systems-led strategies like budgetary support, City-level coordination, and city and state grant programs strengthened the infrastructure for an ecosystem to grow and thrive. (pg. 46-48)
A Public Safety ‘Ecosystem’: Newark’s Success Story, The Crime Report
With community and police violence on the rise in cities across the country, and headlines about rising crime dominating the news, something different has been happening in Newark. The partnership between the community and the system in Newark offers a case study in what’s possible if we care about safety, wellbeing, and equity. As EJUSA’s Director of Violence Reduction Initiatives, Will Simpson reminds us, the community-centered public safety ecosystem that is growing in Newark is the work of generations. (Bonus: read more about EJUSA’s report in collaboration with the Newark Community Street Team and the City of Newark here).
California spends $156 million for violence prevention, Just The News
At a time when communities are suffering and politicians are doubling down on policing and mass incarceration, we need transformational solutions more than ever. We know that the healers who are closest to violence are the ones who know those solutions best. This month, the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) program granted $156 million to organizations – including community-based violence intervention and healing groups – in 79 cities. This funding is a vital step toward justice reimagined, and with $53.4 million still available, we need to make sure community-based groups know about the opportunity to apply for these funds.
In Case You Missed It: Read and Share What’s On the EJUSA Blog
- A Personal Experience with Trauma to Trust — follow Mikaela Levons into Trauma to Trust for insight into what happens inside and outside the room to build bridges and drive change.
- A Review of “Who We Are” — read Jaylah Cosby’s reflection on Jeffery Robinson’s film chronicling racism in America
- Where is the death penalty movement today? — listen to a conversation between Sarah Craft and Jennifer Pryor, Director of Organizing and Community Outreach for Ohioans to STop Exectutions about the evolution of the death penalty movement over the past 17 years.
- Healing Communities through Trauma to Trust — in the Director’s Corner, Jami Hodge invites us to watch a powerful video about the groundbreaking work breaking cycles of trauma in Newark
- Remembering a Victory for Justice — on the tenth anniversary of the repeal of the death penalty in Connecticut, Colleen Cunningham shares the story of murder victim family members changing the narrative and leading the way to victory.
- Fearless Advocating — check out Jaylah Cosby’s profile of Pastor Gwendolyn Cook, who has dedicated her life to stopping sexual violence and breaking cycles of generational trauma
