John,
I recently got a text message from one of the most prominent district attorneys in the country. He thanked me for writing this op-ed on what survivors of violence need — and why meeting those needs, especially in the communities most impacted, builds community safety. He told me that his attorneys were talking about it.
That text came just days before the Safe and Just Communities Summit in New York. I presented there with some amazing allies on the racial disparities in the legal system and what we need to do to solve them.
We all want to be safe. But safety means so much more than the absence of violence. That’s especially true in communities experiencing the brunt of violence. The folks that live there know what they need to thrive — good jobs, affordable housing, great schools for their kids, and so much more. And they’re advocating for and building solutions that will secure them. These solutions aren’t new. They’ve been saving and improving lives for a while.
That was the foundation of my piece that ran in The Nation about the collective community-driven effort in Newark, our flagship city, to build public safety. Just days ago, President Obama named Newark a model community for its effectiveness in violence prevention, a testament to all the work being done there.
I look back on all of that (plus another op-ed, in February, in Essence on why Black history is essential to addressing systemic racism) and think, “Wow!” Each moment is exciting on its own. Take them all together, though, and I believe it’s clear that our work — that you make possible — is resonating deeply across the nation. People are interested in effective alternatives to the policing, prosecutions, and prisons that inflict so much harm, especially on Black and Brown communities.
I find the momentum we’re seeing exhilarating and powerful. I hope you do too! If you’re moved by this progress, I invite you to become a member of our Visionary Circle by committing to a monthly donation. Whether it’s $5 or $50, your investment ensures that the movement to build community safety will have a generational impact.
Thank you for believing in this work.
