In 2018, I left the Department of Justice after a dozen years as a prosecutor. I had seen our criminal legal system up close and came away certain that it was too big, too rigid, and too steeped in its racist origins to ever deliver true justice.
I wanted to find the solutions to violence, mass incarceration, and the trauma caused by both. After coming to EJUSA, I found them in one particular community.
Last year, in partnership with the City of Newark, NJ, and the Newark Community Street Team, we documented what a community-centered public safety ecosystem looks like and how residents from all corners of the city were taking ownership of their safety. We released a report to capture that story.
Today, I’m thrilled to share with you a multi-media digital platform that breaks that story into pieces with a feature docustory, other videos that you can share via social media, short descriptions of the crucial parts of the ecosystem, and more.
Here’s a great example, with some of the key leaders in the ecosystem, including our own Will Simpson and Lionel Latouche, describing what safety means to them:
I chose this video because that definition of safety is key. It’s not just the absence of violence. The presence of well-being is every bit as important — that means food security, quality education, good-paying jobs, and affordable housing.
The video is a great entry point into community-centered public safety. I hope you’ll explore the entire site and all the videos and share it with your networks.
