By: Mona Cadena, Advocacy and Campaigns Director; Jaylah Cosby, Research and Impact Manager The words we use matter. When politicians and policymakers describe people as “heinous,” “vile criminals,” “evil,” “barbaric,” or “alien,” they aren’t just speaking in extremes. They’re laying the groundwork for policies that increase punishment, expand incarceration, and ultimately makes all of us… Continue reading Words Shape the World
Tag: Public Safety
Sub-issue
The Hope We Need
I will remember this holiday break as a special one. My youngest daughter expressed a new interest in movies about Black history, and I was all in! We watched some inspirational movies focused on the roles of Black women, like the new film The Six Triple Eight, depicting the first and only Women’s Army Corps… Continue reading The Hope We Need
Reinvest in Communities
As I sat down to watch “Reimagining Safety” on Amazon Prime, I expected a typical documentary on police reform. However, what I witnessed transcended mere critique; it offered a profound examination of the historical roots and societal impact of policing in America. Rather than providing a summary of the film, I feel compelled to share… Continue reading Reinvest in Communities
Youth Voices Heard
EJUSA was honored to partner with the Baton Rouge community on a special event convening local youth to hear from and question the city’s police chief. Youth voices are so important in conversations about public safety, so we’re grateful that Chasity Joseph, a youth leader, offered to share her thoughts on the event. Our Ask… Continue reading Youth Voices Heard
What Lies Ahead
I hope that the new year has so far brought you peace, health, and excitement for what lays ahead. I speak for all of us at EJUSA when I tell you how eager I am for the opportunities to build community safety in cities and neighborhoods across the country. There’s so much happening: The Restorative… Continue reading What Lies Ahead
Healing for Network Members
Have you ever thought about your relationship with your breath? To your body? For Black, brown, indigenous, queer, and trans people working on the frontlines of violence intervention, the relationship to the body and breath can be simultaneously sacred, tenuous, and uncertain. BlPOC communities have experienced generations of surveillance from police, forced labor, and bodily… Continue reading Healing for Network Members
Baton Rouge Explores Trauma
Lionel Latouche, our director of Trauma to Trust (T2T), turned the lights back on as the video of Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul apologizing for the killing of Alton Sterling came to a close. My chest was tight, feeling the tension of the room as Baton Rouge community members and police officers waited for… Continue reading Baton Rouge Explores Trauma
Newark’s Community-Centered Public Safety Ecosystem
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,… Continue reading Newark’s Community-Centered Public Safety Ecosystem
A Pillar of Newark
Meet our friend and activist Ms. Sharon Redding. I’m not alone in seeing her as a pillar of her city. She’s worked for the Newark Community Street Team since 2016 as a community advocate. Ms. Sharon is a vital voice connecting her community and its concerns with city and state leaders to build community safety… Continue reading A Pillar of Newark
Blocking Black History Is Just The Beginning
Black History Month ended yesterday. It’s traditionally been a month where we celebrate the achievements of Black people, some iconic and some lesser known but still vital to U.S. history. Our history is deep, long, complex, and incredibly inspiring to me. It is also an important lens for our work, which is why the growing… Continue reading Blocking Black History Is Just The Beginning