(February 8, 2024) — Players Coalition, the nonprofit founded by NFL players Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins, now with more than 1,500 athlete advocates across 12 professional leagues, announced during Super Bowl week that it would officially support and partner with Community Justice and Equal Justice USA (EJUSA), two national organizations with a deep focus on community-centered solutions to violence that embrace a public health approach.
“The past year saw historic reductions in murders and violence in cities across the nation. Organizations like Community Justice and Equal Justice USA are major contributors to that achievement, as they partner with local communities to build solutions that are proven to prevent violence. Players Coalition is excited to be part of this fundamental shift in how we create safe communities,” said Kyle Arrington, Super Bowl Champion, Author, Philanthropist, and Players Coalition Advocate.
Both organizations will receive $100,000 grants from Players Coalition Charitable Foundation to further their mission and extend their impact in 2024.
Community Justice is a national organization working to build power with and for communities of color to end gun violence. Started in 2016, Community Justice leads Black and brown-led coalitions, policy solutions, and advocacy campaigns to reduce gun violence. Community Justice works with survivors, grass top leaders, policymakers, and frontline advocates to support community-led solutions that create comprehensive public safety ecosystems.
“Gun violence takes lives or leaves long-lasting physical and emotional scars for those impacted,” said Amber Goodwin, founder of Community Justice. “We are honored to have the Players Coalition’s support for our work to achieve evidence-informed, community-driven solutions to this public health crisis. As a national gun violence prevention organization laser-focused on supporting Black and brown communities, we know this partnership can help save lives. Through investments and partnerships like these, we can end gun violence in all forms with sustained advocacy and community investments to make a lasting impact.”
EJUSA is a national organization that works in 16 states and 16 specific cities to transform the justice system by promoting responses to violence that break cycles of trauma. The 44-person team builds community safety through a race equity lens by partnering with grassroots leaders and organizations that know what they need to reduce violence; strengthening their solutions for ending police violence and the death penalty; and redefining justice as healing, safety, and repair for everyone affected by harm.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Players Coalition for its investment and, especially, its commitment to public health-focused, community-centered solutions that will strengthen Black and other marginalized communities,” said Jamila Hodge, CEO of EJUSA. “This is the future of public safety, and the dedicated activists of the Players Coalition can play a huge role in educating people and building awareness that these are proven solutions.”
