The night before Thanksgiving, legendary Newark street peacemaker Sharif Amenhotep found himself surrounded by legions of city police officers as they sought to confiscate his mini-bus from his vending area on Branford Place and Broad Street. The incident got particularly dicey when officers appeared to be cutting or doing something to the underside of the… Continue reading Ecosystem in Action
Tag: Violence
Imagining the Possibility of Safety
At the beginning of the summer, our executive director, Jamila Hodge, sat on a panel in a crowded gymnasium in Newark talking about transforming the justice system. “The system is going to do what it’s going to do,” she said. “It is a machine, and it was built for a purpose, and that was to… Continue reading Imagining the Possibility of Safety
Punitive Systems Only Create More Cycles of Trauma
Reimagining Justice This Month: September Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence — responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism. Alternatives to Police and Prisons: Activists Share How to Better Address Violence, Teen Vogue Justice reimagined is not only possible, it’s already here. Youth leaders in communities… Continue reading Punitive Systems Only Create More Cycles of Trauma
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
The Movement for Public Safety
Some time ago, we hatched an idea for a handful of videos, narrated by Newark residents, that would tell about the city’s strides on public safety. That idea culminated in late June with a 56-page report and a two-day convening that brought together dozens of Newarkers, including the mayor, and policy experts and funders of… Continue reading The Movement for Public Safety
Newark: A Blueprint for Safety and Healing
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… Continue reading Newark: A Blueprint for Safety and Healing
Fearless Advocating
Pastor Gwendolyn Cook was a preacher before she became a fierce advocate for young women swept into sex trafficking. As a preacher she had the unique position of supporting her congregants in their lowest moments, including while they are in prison. The individuals that stood out to Pastor Cook the most were young girls. Pastor… Continue reading Fearless Advocating
Healing Communities through Trauma to Trust
A vision of a world where violence is rare is EJUSA’s north star. As we work toward making that vision a reality, we must address the violence that over-policing inflicts on Black and brown communities — which sows enduring fear and distrust. We invite you to watch a short video on Trauma to Trust, a… Continue reading Healing Communities through Trauma to Trust
A Personal Experience with Trauma to Trust
When someone joins the EJUSA team, the organization works to get them to Trauma to Trust quickly to experience the exploration of trauma and its impact on people and communities. My turn came in the fall of 2021. I hit the road, in central New Jersey, at 6 a.m. to get to the training center in… Continue reading A Personal Experience with Trauma to Trust
Remarkable Women
Reimagining Justice This Month: February Reimagining Justice This Month highlights stories about effective responses to violence — responses that disrupt cycles of violence, heal trauma, and address structural racism. Remarkable Women: Tonja Myles, NBC Local 33 In this spotlight on one of EJUSA’s Trauma & Healing Network members, Tonja Myles, we can see what is… Continue reading Remarkable Women