This spring in April, Central City came alive with music, dancing, giveaways, and something even more powerful: community care. The Heal the Block initiative returned to New Orleans, transforming one of the city’s under-resourced neighborhoods into a hub for healing, hope, and connection. Originating in Newark, NJ, Heal the Block was designed as a collaboration…
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Just days ago, the Department of Justice canceled over 365 federal grants for community safety—including community violence intervention (CVI) programs, crisis mental health response, and services for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
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Two nights ago, the Department of Justice sent us a devastating letter: “This award is being terminated because … [the] Department has changed its priorities with respect to discretionary grant funding…” The award was $2.9 million. Our priorities for that money were to invest it in community-based public safety strategies–specifically, five innovative organizations throughout Louisiana…
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It’s been exactly one month since Louisiana put a man to death. Jessie Hoffman was the first death row execution in the state in 15 years. Not only was Hoffman’s death by nitrogen gas suffocation cruel; it has done nothing to deter violence in the state. In fact, in the four weeks since his execution,…
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Nicole Scott, the founder of The BRidge Agency, has a deeply personal connection to the work she does. “This is my life story,” she shared. “I am the single mom who used to drop my child off at school and then go sit in the library to learn how to start a business from the…
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Last month, March 3rd marked two years since the Paterson Healing Collective (PHC) lost Najee Seabrooks, who was killed by Paterson police during a mental health crisis. Even though PHC is one of the most highly regarded programs of its kind in the country, Paterson police refused to allow their members to intervene for Najee…
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Felony murder laws are among the most extreme and unjust policies in the U.S. criminal legal system. These laws allow prosecutors to charge individuals with murder even if they did not kill anyone, did not intend to kill, and in some cases, were not even present when a death occurred. The result? Harsh, disproportionate sentences…
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In New Orleans, where traditional responses to domestic and sexual violence often fall short, Beyond Harm is charting a different path. This small but powerful organization is expanding its programs to address violence and trauma. EJUSA will partner with Beyond Harm and accelerate their growth, providing funding and critical supports needed to help organizations like…
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A Legacy of Racially Disparate Executions Oklahoma’s death penalty has always disproportionately targeted people of color. The earliest recorded execution in the state occurred in 1841, and of the 39 people executed in the 19th century, 79% were Native American men, while 15% were Black men. It wasn’t until 1899 that the state recorded the…
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Lawmakers in Charleston are currently considering legislation that would reinstate the death penalty in West Virginia, 65 years after the last execution.
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