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Dear John,
We are thrilled to announce the launch of three major policy initiatives: the Community Justice Policy Council, Policy Platform, and Policy Exchange.
With these initiatives, we are significantly expanding our policy work and impact to help save lives.
Since our founding, Community Justice has never stopped fighting for laws and policies that support community-based violence intervention and prevention efforts. And we’ve never stopped advocating for every decision maker in the country to prioritize addressing the root causes of violence by putting people and communities first — especially Black and brown communities that bear the brunt of the gun violence epidemic.
That’s why we launched the Violence Prevention Index [[link removed]] (VPI) in 2022, the first and only annual national assessment of comprehensive local violence prevention programs and policies. And it’s why we’ve partnered with community-based organizations and allied officials all over the country.
By listening to communities, reviewing policies through the VPI and other advocacy work, what we’ve known all along has become exceedingly clear. Officials across the country are woefully unprepared to effectively and comprehensively address gun violence using proven community-first public health approaches.
Thankfully, we have the privilege of bringing together some of the brightest, most experienced advocates to help us continue to strengthen our policy goals and resources.
Policy Council
The Community Justice Policy Council is made up of esteemed violence prevention experts, survivors, community leaders, and pioneers from around the country who are on the frontlines of saving lives and communities from the impact of gun violence.
The Community Justice Policy Council will play a pivotal role in continuously formulating and reviewing our organization’s policy positions and goals to ensure they align with the mission of building power with and for communities of color to end gun violence. Policy Council members will have the opportunity to offer recommendations and influence decision-making processes that will drive policy change on all levels of government. We expect the Policy Council to grow in size and strength as our work progresses.
Policy Council Members
[[link removed]] Chee’Tara Alexander is the co-founder and COO of H.O.P.E. Hustlers, a street outreach intervention program. She also serves as a Hospital Violence Intervention Specialist at the only trauma one hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Through both positions and with a trauma-informed care lens, she provides support, resources, and love to youth and young adults with the highest risk for re-injury and retaliation. Chee’Tara is known for her unrelenting dedication, compassion and advocacy for the rights of all impacted, whether directly or vicariously, by gun violence.
Atlanta, Georgia
[[link removed]] Gerald Given, Jr. is currently the Founder and CEO of Raleigh Boots On The Ground, a community involvement and capacity building nonprofit specializing in violence prevention, and a board member of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence. Prior to Boots, Gerald was President of the Raleigh-Apex National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) branch for 4 years and vice president for two years. He joined the NAACP from St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home, a nonprofit serving hundreds of children per day who had been abused, abandoned, neglected or traveled across the U.S. border, where he was the Project Manager and Facilities Director for a $16 million, 20 acre safe and very beautiful campus. Gerald also spent 20 years in the Air Force.
Raleigh, North Carolina Gerald has lost seven family members to gun violence over his lifetime, including his grandfather, uncle, brother, and four cousins. Most recently his two-year-old cousin Israel had access to his father's firearm and accidentally took his own life.
[[link removed]] Bennie Price , the CEO and Founder, is a prominent figure in the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention movement. He leads the 1 Church 1 Soul Ministry, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit known as Big Mama’s Safe House. Bennie also serves as the Program Manager for the Community Violence Interrupters Team G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Rehabilitation Ending Affiliation Ties).
San Antonio, Texas Born and raised in the Wheatley Courts Housing Projects on the eastside of San Antonio, he has overcome a tumultuous past, having been involved in gang activities that led to a lengthy incarceration. Sentenced to nearly a century in the Texas Prison System for offenses including murder, aggravated assault, drugs, and escape, Bennie served 23 years before his release in 2016.
Despite his challenging history, Bennie has successfully worked in gun violence intervention and prevention, drawing from over four decades of firsthand experience. His personal journey, from being both perpetrator and victim of gun violence, fuels his dedication to making positive change.
Driven by his deep-rooted values of faith, family, friendship, and community, Bennie is not only a business owner but also a compassionate leader. His commitment to addressing the scourge of gun violence stems from a profound understanding of its devastating impact on individuals and communities alike.
[[link removed]] With over two decades of dedicated experience, Alicia Nichols , LSW is a highly skilled and passionate professional in the field of social work, victim advocacy, violence prevention and restorative justice. Throughout her career, she has been committed to serving communities affected by various forms of violence, with a particular focus on gender-based violence, homicide, and gun violence prevention. One of Alicia's key areas of specialization lies at the intersection of gender-based violence and gun violence in Black and Brown communities. Recognizing the critical need for intervention and prevention strategies, she works tirelessly on a national level to address this intersection, aiming to mitigate firearm injury and homicide rates. Through a combination of advocacy, education, and community outreach, she strives to enact meaningful change and create safer environments for all.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
[[link removed]] Jonathan McMillian brings over 30 years of expertise in gang intervention, policy, community violence intervention, and youth violence prevention to the forefront of his mission to cultivate safe and vibrant communities. His journey from a past entangled with gangs and incarceration to spearheading crucial violence prevention offices in Denver and Colorado showcases his dedication to change. Through implementing evidence-based strategies and addressing the root social and economic causes of violence, Jonathan has significantly contributed to reducing youth and gun violence. His expertise extends to developing community-led violence intervention programs that have garnered recognition for their impact and his leadership. Passionate about advocating for a violence-free world, Jonathan's work engages policymakers, community members, and the youth alike, driving a collective effort towards a safer future for all.
Denver, Colorado
[[link removed]] Andy Wong is the Managing Director of Advocacy at Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), a 54-year old civil rights and social justice organization based in San Francisco's Chinatown. CAA is a founding partner of Stop AAPI Hate and AAPI Against Gun Violence. Previously, Andy advocated for education equity at The Education Trust-West, gun violence prevention at Giffords, and LGBTQ equality as the founder of API Equality (now Lavender Phoenix). Andy has also worked on a number of electoral campaigns, including managing congressional races in the Sierra Nevada and Silicon Valley and serving on President Obama’s re-election campaign. He is the son of working-class, Chinese immigrants, and holds degrees from Swarthmore College and Princeton University.
San Francisco, California
[[link removed]] Refujio “Cuco” Rodriguez is the Chief Equity & Program Officer at Hope and Heal Fund. Prior to joining the fund, Cuco served as a Program Officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and was a member of the foundation’s Racial Equity and Community Engagement team. He was responsible for developing and coordinating strategic grantmaking activities aimed at addressing racial equity, community engagement, and nurturing opportunities for positive systemic change for historically marginalized communities and vulnerable children. Cuco also supported the development of a Racial Equity Leadership Curriculum for the W.K. Kellogg Fellowship Program; leading research and developing curriculum models; and developing strategic external partnerships with other foundations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other key partners. Most recently, he led efforts to integrate racial equity principles into technology initiatives which included working on new collaborative platforms and developing a racial equity-focused grantee application.
San Luis Obispo County, California Prior to joining the field of philanthropy, Cuco served as division chief and ethnic services manager with the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness.
[[link removed]] Freedom Jones is the Director of Community Violence Intervention Programs for Lifebridge Health’s - Center for Hope & Founder/CEO of Street Pauses Inc. She is a seasoned community advocate with over 20 years of experience as a strategist, professional trainer, and consultant. Freedom is a driven and skilled visionary who has extensive non-profit management experience and that has addressed social, economic and community health issues. Through her passion and commitment to supporting BIPOC people living in underserved neighborhoods in New York and now Baltimore, Freedom has established strong community partnerships and has been able to make a meaningful impactful towards social change. Beyond her remarkable activism, Freedom is a highly respected Metal Sculptor whose artistry has graced numerous one-woman and group art exhibitions across the Mid-Atlantic region. Her multifaceted contributions to both social change and the arts have made her a true luminary in her field.
Baltimore, Maryland
[[link removed]] Luis Jonathan Hernandez , hailing from The Bronx, is a visionary leader whose unwavering commitment to driving systemic change and advancing the needs of America's most marginalized communities has left an indelible mark on the social justice landscape. As a co-founder of Youth Over Guns, Luis has been at the forefront of the movement to combat gun violence and create healthier environments for young people, making a profound impact on the pursuit for a world that is safer and more just.
Bronx, New York
[[link removed]] Jawanna Hardy is a remarkable individual whose life’s journey has been defined by her unwavering commitment to creating positive change in her community. As the visionary founder of Guns Down Friday, she has become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for transformation in the heart of Washington, D.C & Prince George’s County.
Washington, D.C. Jawanna’s path to activism was shaped by her strong Christian faith and the powerful examples set by her activist mother and uncle. Her dedication to making a difference took her on a unique journey that encompassed both military service and humanitarian efforts.
[[link removed]] Andrew Woods is the founding CEO of Hartford Communities That Care, Inc., located in the City of Hartford Connecticut. In 2004, he established Connecticut’s first Hospital Violence Intervention Programs (HVIP), then in 2020, established the state-wide Connecticut Hospital Violence Intervention Program (CT-HVIP) Collaborative to advocate for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) resources and policies. Under his leadership, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to enact legislation authorizing Medicaid to reimburse trained and certified Violence Prevention Professionals.
Hartford, Connecticut In 2021, Mr. Woods chaired the Connecticut General Assembly’s Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Advisory Committee, which resulted in a 556-page report that called for state investments in gun violence prevention and intervention efforts and to establish what’s now the Commission on Community Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention.
[[link removed]] Christian N. Matthew is a dedicated and passionate youth advocate, renowned for his exceptional leadership skills and innovative approach to gun violence prevention and social justice. His commitment to this cause stems from a deeply personal experience, having been impacted by a tragic incident of gun violence at the tender age of 5 when his 16-year-old cousin killed his father and then took his own life. This devastating event ignited a fire within Christian to positively impact the community and protect young individuals from the horrors of gun violence.
Bronx, New York In 2021, Mr. Woods chaired the Connecticut General Assembly’s Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Advisory Committee, which resulted in a 556-page report that called for state investments in gun violence prevention and intervention efforts and to establish what’s now the Commission on Community Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention.
[[link removed]] Dr. Aquil Basheer, the founder and executive director of the Brotherhood Unified for Independent Leadership Through Discipline Program (BUILD), is an expert on violence intermediation, public safety and hardcore gang intervention. In addition to leading BUILD, Dr. Basheer instructs and consults worldwide, founded the License to Operate Movement and is also an Adjunct Professor for Alliant University International.
Los Angeles, California His training sessions have garnered international attention and support, having traveled the world over to: train specialty teams in Brazil; SWAT teams from Argentina; elite executive protection specialists from Africa; private crisis elimination teams from London; public safety experts from Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai; gang intersession specialists in El Salvador; and emergency responders/peace keeping intervention experts across the United States. He has provided his expertise in Geneva, Switzerland to the World Health Organization to guild their international violence prevention template and to the United Nations to assist in drafting the International “SaferCity” blueprint.
He is a published author of the critically acclaimed book Peace in the Hood: Working with Gang Members to End the Violence, which has set the standard for hardcore community-based violence intervention. Dr. Basheer has received awards and honors, including the Doctorate of Letters in Humanities from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and the “California Peace Prize.”
[[link removed]] Kaaleah Jones is a dedicated community advocate addressing public safety, economic opportunity, and ending the school to prison pipeline. She was a Young Leader Fellow with Cities United and serves as Vice President of Abu Unity Foundation, which works to prevent violence among youth and young adults through arts, mentorship, and civic and community engagement.
Newport News, Virginia
[[link removed]] Asya Ardawatia is the Co-Executive Director of March for Our Lives Houston and senior at Dulles High School. She's organized and spoken at rallies at the Houston City Hall and Texas Capitol, town halls, mutual aid drives, and workshops. Asya works with the UTMB’s Center for Violence Prevention on policy briefs and as a fellow for the Institute for Youth in Policy on policy reviews. She has served on her city's youth council, school advisory committee, and as a staff writer for The Progressive Teen, a publication from the High School Democrats of America.
Sugar Land, Texas
Policy Platform
Community Justice’s Policy Platform represents the work of the Community Justice team in partnership with our newly convened Policy Council. The goal of releasing this Policy Platform is the same as our organization’s mission of building policy power, advocating, and winning for our communities.
Take a look at our Policy Platform here. [[link removed]]
This document will be a living and breathing enumeration of our policy goals that’s updated quarterly by the Policy Council, allowing us to continuously provide governments and advocates with the most current best practices and policies to tackle gun violence. This Policy Platform will also help us formulate the Community Violence Prevention Policy Exchange, a model policy bank that will be released in the fall of 2024.
Community Violence Prevention Policy Exchange
The Community Violence Prevention Model Policy Exchange is a first-of-its-kind law and policy resource library specifically for lawmakers and advocates working to end gun violence through a data-driven public health approach. This project will include policy articles, publications, model policy banks, and specific information for policy makers for peace [[link removed]] .
In order for us to effectively address the ongoing gun violence epidemic, decision makers must codify the long-term infrastructure, investments, and strategies needed to shift our primary approach to violence from reactive response to proactive community-led prevention and intervention. The Community Violence Prevention Model Policy Exchange will provide the policy tools and expertise to help get us there and will be fully launched at an event this summer and at a convening during the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus summits in DC.
Together, our Policy Council, Policy Platform, and Policy Exchange provide the resources officials and advocates need to help turn the tide on the enduring gun violence epidemic. And with your support, Community Justice can scale these efforts to meet the needs of every impacted community across the country.
Thank you for being a partner with us in this lifesaving fight.
In community,
Amber Goodwin
Founder, Community Justice
Anthony D. Smith
Advisory Board Chair, Community Justice
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Contact Us
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