On February 22-23 — well before the COVID-19 pandemic created a national need for healing likely greater than any in modern history — members of the Equal Justice USA Trauma and Healing Network gathered in Newark, NJ, for the group’s second national convening. As leaders in their communities, network members share a steadfast commitment to healing trauma, reducing violence, and changing the way we talk about and approach justice by elevating healing over punishment. They are survivors, family members of murder victims, formerly incarcerated, law enforcement, and more. Will Simpson, one of our senior strategists, reflected on the weekend.
I joined EJUSA in 2018, several months after the first national convening of the EJUSA Trauma and Healing Network. During my first year, everyone talked about the convening, how amazing the members were, and how powerful the collective work was. So when I had the opportunity to be a part of the planning for the 2020 convening, my excitement peaked. Finally a chance to meet and learn from these amazing people doing healing work around the country!
The day came and I was overwhelmed! The energy in the room was intense and full of passion. Right from the opening introductions you felt the love and sense of family amongst the group. Members shared stories of how EJUSA helped increase funding for a program serving mothers who’d lost their children to gun violence and how we had supported a youth development organization refocus around healing in their community. Through these stories, I could truly see how we are addressing harm through healing. Most importantly, I saw how our work happens through supporting and centering those most impacted by violence. These are the people closest to the solutions.
As the weekend progressed, I saw old relationships flourish and new connections begin to blossom. The ideas about how members could support each other began to surface, and they worked with EJUSA staff to form concrete ideas about the sustainability of their work. I was inspired to see members volunteer to work with EJUSA staff after the convening to create a road map forward!
On day two, we continued the great conversations and learning on different needs within our communities. Members recounted the strategies they used to ensure healing happens in spite of how legal, health, and other social systems may perpetuate harms. We captured members on camera as they discussed their work and how the network addresses trauma and promotes healing.
You can see the fruits of that work in the videos below.
The convening ended with a refocusing on wellness. We hosted a restorative hour to provide members with opportunities to decompress and reflect on our discussions over the two days. Prior to the convening, my colleague and co-facilitator, Mona Cadena, found a box of coloring postcards (adults love coloring too!) and thought that it would be a great practice for people to write a reflective message to themselves about our time together and the importance of our collective work. This proved to be a great way for us to close our time together and got us thinking about what’s next.
Because I was floating around the room, I didn’t write a message to myself that day. Looking back, I think I would have written:
Be inspired by those around you who are healing communities. The work we do is healing work. We are healers.
