Shifting the Narrative: Addressing Gun Violence as a Public Health Epidemic

48,000 people die each year from gun violence. Last June, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced that gun violence is a public health crisis and he’s not alone. One of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approaches to addressing this public health crisis is advancing collaboration across multiple sectors. Collaboration through a public… Continue reading Shifting the Narrative: Addressing Gun Violence as a Public Health Epidemic

How We Respond to Tragedy

About six weeks ago, Najee Seabrooks sent out a call for help. He texted his co-workers at the Paterson Healing Collective — an EJUSA partner and ally in the movement to build community safety — that he was in crisis and he needed them. Najee was trained as a healer and a violence interventionist, so… Continue reading How We Respond to Tragedy

Victory in NJ

Community members across New Jersey spoke out about funding for violence intervention funding. And they were heard.  Earlier in the year, the governor of New Jersey announced a gun safety plan. However, when the state attorney general released the department budget, funding for hospital-based solutions — solutions that work — was missing. After hearing about… Continue reading Victory in NJ

Reflections from an EJUSA Intern

Kasandra Mojica earned one of two Shari Silberstein Reimagining Justice Internships in the fall 2021, working in communications. Throughout her time at EJUSA, she learned about our vision to address harm in a trauma-informed way, instead of with punishment, and she wrote this piece as a culmination of her internship. Kasandra graduated from Rutgers University… Continue reading Reflections from an EJUSA Intern

Pivoting in this Health Crisis

At this point, there isn’t any aspect of life in the U.S. that hasn’t been affected by the pandemic. This is especially true in Black and Brown communities. Covid-19 has magnified every inequity. People are struggling to put food on the table, pay their rent, get high-quality health care, and make sure their kids are… Continue reading Pivoting in this Health Crisis

For survivors of police torture, justice means education | Reimagining Justice This Month

Image: Darrell Cannon, an activist and survivor of Chicago police torture. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence – responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism. For survivors of torture, justice means education, WBEZ For survivors of police torture in Chicago, repair meant more than a financial settlement. It meant educating the city’s youth on the realities of… Continue reading For survivors of police torture, justice means education | Reimagining Justice This Month

Rewriting the Law Books

It’s been a long time since the death penalty has grabbed so much public attention. Where to begin? Maybe where you least expect it. Ending the death penalty nationwide: “You can feel the momentum…” Conservatives have become a force in the growing movement to repeal the death penalty. Leading off, there’s a good chance that… Continue reading Rewriting the Law Books

Reckoning With Violence | Reimagining Justice This Month

Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence – responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism.   Reckoning with Violence, New York Times People convicted of violent crimes are too often overlooked in justice reform movements. If the ultimate goal is to end mass incarceration, though, we cannot… Continue reading Reckoning With Violence | Reimagining Justice This Month

We need to decriminalize trauma. | Reimagining Justice This Month

Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence – responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism. Are you registered to vote? Many key criminal justice issues at the local, state, and national levels will be impacted by elections. Visit vote.org to confirm your registration or to learn how to register… Continue reading We need to decriminalize trauma. | Reimagining Justice This Month

“The justice system let me down.” – Reimagining Justice This Month

Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence – responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism. I Survived a Violent Crime then the Justice System Let Me Down, The Marshall Project A woman shares her personal experience as a victim of violent crime and how she was forced… Continue reading “The justice system let me down.” – Reimagining Justice This Month