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A NOTE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
As the holiday season approaches, we know that for many in our communities, this time is not filled with joy but rather with grief and the absence of loved ones. For people who are missing loved ones because of gun violence, the holidays can be a painful reminder of what’s been lost.
At Community Justice, we honor and stand with you. Your strength fuels our resolve to fight for safer communities and a future where families are whole.
Our work in this space is far from over. Together with you (our partners, advocates, and supporters) we’ve made strides this year. Yet, we know there’s much more to do. As we prepare to welcome a new year, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building a world where all families can thrive.
– José Alfaro & Adzi Vokhiwa, Executive Director & Vice President
DECEMBER RECAP
Community Justice Hosts Annual Holiday Party
Community Justice hosted our Annual Holiday Party in Washington, D.C., bringing together partners, front-line advocates, and staff members along with their loved ones for an evening filled with joy and connection. The celebration included appearances from Kris Brown, President of Brady United; Dr. Chico Tillmon; and Anthony Smith.
Special thanks to The Gathering Spot DC for providing the perfect venue for our celebration and exceptional hospitality!
Community Justice and Partners Join Legislators for Safer Communities Meetings in DC
Community Justice joined the co-chairs of Legislators for Safer Communities [[link removed]] , a new, independent, and nonpartisan coalition of state legislators committed to reducing gun violence, for meetings in Washington, DC with Members of Congress and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. In these meetings, the co-chairs and organizational partners discussed the role of state legislatures in investing in violence intervention, supporting victims of gun violence, and other opportunities to advance gun safety at the state level in the new year.
Community Justice Congratulates New Leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Community Justice extends heartfelt congratulations to Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the newly elected Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), the incoming Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) for the 119th Congress.
READ OUR FULL STATEMENT HERE [[link removed]]
NOVEMBER RECAP
Community Justice Helps Determine the Path Forward for the CVI Movement
In November, Community Justice joined several webinars and listening sessions with our partners at The HAVI and Cities United to hear concerns from the CVI field and discuss plans for 2025 and beyond after the most recent presidential election.
STATES IN ACTION
In Louisiana , Brent participated in a panel discussion with the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, focusing on the upcoming legislative sessions and the potential impact of legislation on Black and Brown children across the state. The panel explored strategies to galvanize young people, local and statewide nonprofits, and other stakeholders to build collective power and resistance against the Republican super majority. The discussion emphasized the importance of continued advocacy and coalition-building in the fight for justice and equity.
Brent also attended the inaugural statewide convening hosted by the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention. This historic event offered an invaluable opportunity to connect with local Community Violence Intervention (CVI) leaders, participate in coalition-building workshops, and network with elected officials. He also attended insightful panel discussions featuring local thought leaders, further reinforcing the commitment to addressing violence and promoting safety across the state.
In Georgia , Brent joined Sandy Hook Promise at one of their intensive boot camps in preparation for an upcoming partnership in 2025, where he engaged with students passionate about gun violence prevention and gained insight into their perspectives and ideas. It was a rewarding opportunity to connect with the next generation of advocates and prepare for future collaborations on initiatives to reduce gun violence in Georgia and beyond.
In Maryland , our Northeast Regional Advocacy Manager, Tarria, has been working on the firearm relinquishment bill with our local partners, focusing on the dangerous intersection between gun violence and intimate partner violence.
In New Jersey , the Medicaid reimbursement bill has passed through the budget and appropriations committee! (Woohoo). Now, we’re preparing for next year’s legislative session to gain support from the house and senate.
In Michigan , the Senate passed HB 6046, Medicaid for Community Violence Intervention, during its lame-duck session. The bill will now head to Governor Whitmer's desk for signature. Once HB 6046 is signed, Michigan will become the 9th state in the nation which allows CVI services to be reimbursed by Medicaid.
In Texas , Christina Delgado, our Southwest Advocacy associate, has been gearing up for the 89th legislative session. During this session, she will be organizing Texas Invest in Us partners to advocate for bill HB230 Statewide Office of Violence Prevention.
The Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, which Community Justice co-leads alongside our partners at Texas Gun Sense, is preparing for the annual Gun Sense Majority Advocacy Day on February 27, where young survivors will share their stories, and advocate for legislative change and funding to prevent violence in their communities.
In Arizona , Christina is also helping to organize various organizations on the ground for an in-person advocacy day and in-person training for the newly forming Arizona coalition.
NEWS OF INTEREST
Statement from President Joe Biden Marking Twelve Years Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting [[link removed]]
The legacy of this tragedy is one of great loss—but also hope. Twelve years ago, moms sitting at their kitchen counters went online, expressed their outrage, and organized for commonsense gun safety legislation.
‘It’s More About Prevention’: Police Chief Jeffrey Norman on Gun Violence in City [[link removed]]
When Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman was sworn in as the head of MPD in 2021, the city was in the midst of a historic rise in gun violence. The increase in shootings since the beginning of the pandemic peaked in 2022, when the city recorded an all-time high 215 murders, most of them gun-related. The city also recorded a record high in non-fatal shootings that year with 867. Those numbers have dropped since then. Both homicides and nonfatal shootings decreased in 2023, and that pace continued this year.
$4 Million Federal Grant to Combat Gun Violence in Pennsylvania [[link removed]]
Announced on Friday at Temple University Hospital by Lt. Governor Austin Davis, the grant underscores the urgency of addressing gun violence as both a public health crisis and a community epidemic. Standing in the hospital that serves as a frontline witness to Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic, Davis emphasized the statewide scale of the issue.
Greensboro gun violence prevention groups launch initiative to prevent end-of-year spike in shootings [[link removed]]
Last year, Greensboro had a record-breaking number of homicides. The end of the year, based on previous years, is known to see a spike in gun violence. The city’s Office of Community Safety and its partner nonprofits don’t want this same ending for 2024.
Georgia governor’s prayers for classroom safety not enough to stop gun violence [[link removed]]
After the Apalachee High School massacre in Winder, Gov. Brian Kemp posted on social media that he was “praying for the safety of those in our classrooms.” He has expressed similar thoughts about prayer being the solution to gun violence in the past. But his prayers obviously are not working, a fact he continually chooses to ignore. In fact, he has chosen to make our already inadequate state gun laws even weaker.
Weekend violence in Philly leaves 4 people dead, 20 others injured [[link removed]]
Three young people were shot Friday afternoon at Dilworth Park after an apparent fight near the ice rink that’s adjacent to City Hall. Two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old were shot, police said. One of the victims was shot in the face and is listed as in critical condition. Two others are listed as stable. The shooting was the start of what turned out to be a violent weekend in Philadelphia, with 24 people shot, four of whom were killed.
Former Abundant Life School Coach Calls for Gun Reform After Mass Shooting [[link removed]]
Mark Martinez told Newsweek that no other developed country experiences school shootings at the same level as the U.S. "This is a USA problem. What other developed nation deals with regular school shootings? Let's do what those other nations figured out years ago," he said.
Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist Announce Operation Safe Neighborhoods Reaches New Milestone with more than 750 Illegal Guns Off the Street [[link removed]]
Operation Safe Neighborhoods is a statewide crackdown on crime aimed at reducing gun violence by getting illegal guns off the street and out of the hands of people who cannot legally possess a gun due to prior criminal history.
Mass. gets an ‘A’ in gun safety for first time from Giffords Center [[link removed]]
For years, Massachusetts was given an “A-” in the rankings. According to the GIFFORDS Law Center, there were several changes from last year that resulted in the state’s changed grade, including the banning of ghost guns, the prohibition of guns at polling places and government buildings, the strengthening of the state’s existing extreme risk protection order law, and the investment of $48 million in community violence intervention programs.

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