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A NOTE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
The recent presidential election stirred a wide range of emotions, and for many, the new political reality feels like a threat to our movement. At Community Justice, we remain steadfast in our mission to end gun violence in Black and Brown communities and across the nation. Our collective power leads to policy wins and enhances community-led efforts.The resilience of those most impacted by gun violence fuels our determination to push for meaningful change, now and into the future.
With your support, we are committed to building a safer, more just world. Together, we will continue to confront the challenges ahead and create lasting solutions.
Let’s keep moving forward—there’s so much work to do.
– José Alfaro & Adzi Vokhiwa, Executive Director & Vice President
NOVEMBER RECAP
This November, we recognize National Native American Heritage Month by honoring the strength, resilience, and rich cultural history of Indigenous communities. At Community Justice, we also acknowledge the deep-seated impacts of gun violence on Indigenous lives—a reality shaped by historical trauma, systemic inequities, and ongoing acts of violence.
Indigenous Americans face the highest rates of violence, from hate crimes fueled by prejudice to domestic violence incidents involving firearms. Indigenous American women are ten times more likely to be murdered than the national average, and Indigenous youth experience suicide rates over three times higher than their peers. These statistics represent lives cut short, communities in mourning, and families searching for justice.
Our commitment is to stand alongside Indigenous communities in the fight for justice and safety. We will continue to advocate for culturally tailored Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs, better access to culturally competent care, and more mental health resources to address the root causes of violence and promote healing.
Community Justice Responds to Presidential Election Results
Following the reelection of Donald Trump, Community Justice remains unwavering in its commitment to address the persistent issue of gun violence and championing community-centered safety in Black and brown neighborhoods.
While the President-elect’s stance does not prioritize gun violence prevention policies, Community Justice remains committed to advocating for systemic change.
READ OUR FULL STATEMENT HERE [[link removed]]
OCTOBER RECAP
Community Justice Hosts Staff Retreat in Washington DC
Our team gathered in DC for our staff retreat, diving into team-building activities and future planning to continue investing in our shared mission to [[link removed]] end gun violence and create safer, thriving communities.
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Community Justice receives 2024 Founders Award during Cities United Convening
During the Cities United 11th Annual Convening, Community Justice was presented with the 2024 Founders Award, alongside our partners The HAVI, The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), the Community-based Public Safety Collective (CBPS Collective), and the Urban Peace Institute for our work coordinating the CVI Action Plan [[link removed]] report.
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Community Justice and Partners Issue Statements in Response to Oral Argument in Garland v. VanDerStok
Experts from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Community Justice, Everytown Law, Georgetown Law, GIFFORDS Law Center, and March For Our Lives addressed the press about the implications and consequences of Garland v. VanDerStok, a critical case that challenges a reckless decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. If upheld by the Supreme Court, this ruling would strike down portions of the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2022 life-saving ghost gun rule. Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable firearms that can be easily put together in minutes from parts acquired without a background check.
READ OUR FULL STATEMENT HERE [[link removed]]
Community Justice, GIFFORDS, Hope and Heal Fund, and Moms Rising host Hispanic Heritage Month Roundtable at the White House in October
Community Justice, along with our partners at the Hope and Heal Fund, Moms Rising, and Giffords brought together over 40 Latinx leaders, advocates, healers, researchers, and survivors to the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention for a round table discussion on the impact of gun violence in Latinx communities for Hispanic Heritage Month with a list of recommendations and policy solutions rooted in language and and cultural realities of the community.
STATES IN ACTION
In Georgia , our Southeast Regional Associate, Brent, was recognized in the Rocket Foundation’s Community Leader Spotlight. This acknowledgment is a testament to the impactful advocacy work being done in Atlanta and serves as a powerful endorsement of those efforts. It will amplify future projects and further strengthen the capacity to drive meaningful change in the community.
In North Carolina , Brent represented Community Justice at the North Carolina Violence Prevention Conference, where over 200 leaders and stakeholders in the community violence intervention and prevention field came together. The event provided an invaluable platform for strengthening connections, exchanging best practices, and engaging in meaningful discussions on strategies to reduce violence and enhance public safety. During the convening, Brent participated in numerous roundtable discussions, contributing to conversations on innovative violence prevention tactics and the challenges faced by local communities. Brent also attended insightful panels featuring local violence interrupters who shared firsthand experiences and effective intervention techniques.
Brent also attended a private ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion, where attendees were honored and celebrated for their dedication to violence prevention and community healing. The ceremony offered not only a moment of recognition but also reinforced the collective commitment to building safer communities across the state.
In Texas , our Southwest Regional Advocacy Associate, Christina, represented Community Justice at the 11th Annual Hugs Not Walls, where over 100 families were reunited on a platform in the middle of the Rio Grande to hug and be with their families that have been separated by our current border policies.
Our partners at the Border Network for Human Rights hosted the We Will Resist Summit, where coalition Partners gathered in Austin to discuss the risks to our immigrant and Latinx communities as we face the threat of mass deportations and unconstitutional treatment. The summit included expanded engagement to discuss community education, Community Action, and mobilizations, organizing and communication, and narrative change for our Latinx communities.
NEWS OF INTEREST
2 dead, 11 injured in New Orleans shootings [[link removed]]
Two people were killed and 11 others were injured in two shootings during a popular New Orleans second-line parade on [November 17], according to the New Orleans Police Department.
'Deeply troubling': Gun-violence prevention groups react to Trump victory [[link removed]]
Some gun violence prevention groups said Wednesday that they plan to double down in their fight for stronger firearm-control laws in the wake of former President Donald Trump recapturing the White House and promising to roll back President Joe Biden's efforts to curb the national plague.
Yale experts weigh in on gun violence prevention research possibly under threat [[link removed]] This year, the budget bill [[link removed]] for the 2025 fiscal year seeks to eliminate funding for “any research relating to gunshot injury or mortality prevention that treats crimes committed with a firearm as a public health epidemic.” The News talked to Yale researchers about the proposal and the impact it would have on such research.
Federal grant expands Oklahoma City community violence intervention efforts [[link removed]]
A $2 million dollar federal grant will help two nonprofits in Oklahoma City, supporting their efforts to decrease gun violence and disrupt cycles of incarceration. LiveFree OKC and Diversion Hub have a history of collaboration, but money from the U.S. Department of Justice will officially merge their efforts through 2027. The grant will enhance LiveFree OKC’s violence reduction services and increase access to holistic social service support at Diversion Hub.
How city leaders in Detroit are working with community partners to lower crime rates [[link removed]]
In Detroit, a city with similar challenges as Cleveland, local leaders are having success with a program that funds community-run organizations to prevent crime, and they’re encouraging other cities to look at their model.
Everytown to invest more than $2M in community violence intervention programs [[link removed]]
The investment, announced Thursday, will be awarded to 34 community organizations across 27 cities. It is intended to help the organizations sustain long-term projects and offer the opportunity to access additional government, philanthropic, and corporate support.
Safe Streets Brooklyn Achieves Over 365 Days with No Homicides [[link removed]]
The last homicide in the site's boundaries took place 408 days ago on October 1, 2023, at the corner of E. Patapsco Avenue and 5th Street. In the broader Brooklyn community, as of today, homicides are down approximately 86%, nonfatal shootings are down 76%, and total violent crime is down 48% in 2024 compared to this time last year.
Travis County Commissioners approve HVIP program [[link removed]]
Travis County Commissioners Court approves first Hospital-based Violence Intervention Prevention pilot program. On Oct. 22, commissioners approved a $500,000 contract with Ascension Seton [[link removed]] to launch a pilot Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program, or HVIP, intended to “disrupt” the cycles of gun violence.

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