Dear friend–
Can you believe it’s already the end of summer? The past few months have been busy, but impactful. Our fight in demanding states, counties, and cities to invest a portion of their American Rescue Plan funding into community-based violence prevention programs continues — and it’s working. Many cities and states across the country are recognizing that investing in their communities is an effective solution to ending gun violence. Check out a few recent victories in Michigan, Akron, and Atlanta!
While Congress is in August recess, we’ve been putting pressure on legislators to pass the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which is the largest proposed investment in community-led strategies in U.S. history! This act would create a national grant program in the Department of Health and Human Services to support, enhance, and replicate community violence prevention units in local government and community-based nonprofit organizations. This is a BIG deal, and we need your help getting the job done. Join us in fighting for the Break the Cycle of Violence Act!
Thank you for your continued support. We wouldn’t be here without you all.
Onwards,
Greg Jackson Jr.
Executive Director
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
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Building Community Call: Every month we have a monthly call in order to uplift communities & advocates across the country to highlight their impact and their work to end gun violence. Join us on Tuesday August 31, 2021 at 3:00pm ET/2:00pm CT for this month's Building Community call we will highlight the August Recess events that were hosted around the country to advocate for the $5 Billion in CVI Funding and the Break the Cycle of Violence Act. Sign up here.
Daily Action Hours: From now through September, we are hosting Daily Action Hours to call Congress to pass the Break the Cycle of Violence Act. Join us on Mondays at 6:00pm ET/5:00PM CT and Tuesday-Thursday at 1:00pm ET/12:00PM CT. Make your voice heard and get plugged in! Register here and join the Zoom here.
Invest In Us Coalition: We organized a robust coalition of national advocacy groups to push for federal funding to address gun violence. We have achieved HISTORIC executive actions from President Joe Biden and are now focused on getting Congress to step up to secure federal funding. Learn more about the coalition here and sign up to volunteer with our federal efforts to fund violence prevention and intervention efforts.
Fund Peace Summits: Our summer of #FundPeace is coming to an end. The Fund Peace campaign traveled around the country making stops in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Albany to educate communities and leaders on the importance of investing in community violence intervention programs to end gun violence. A special stop was made in Baltimore, Maryland to honor the families of beloved leaders of the Safe Streets anti-violence program, Dante Barksdale and Benny Wilson, both killed by violence while working to end gun violence in Baltimore.
Volunteer Opportunities
Did you know we launched our brand new Facebook Community? If you’re interested in sharing information, building community, and getting updates, join our Facebook group here to learn more about issues and solutions that affect our community and aid in our fight to end gun violence.
Opportunities to Take Action Online:
Community Justice launched its Online Action Center where volunteers & advocates can regularly take action online to help end gun violence. We are currently putting our focus behind the Break the Cycle of Violence Act and you can complete actions by clicking below:
Community Justice Policy Updates
ICYMI: The Biden-Harris Administration announced a comprehensive strategy to tackle gun violence across the nation. The plan is designed to be preventative, tackling root causes of violence. Some initiatives include investing in evidence-based community violence intervention programs, summer youth programming, expanding services for teens and young adults, and aiding formerly incarcerated individuals as they reenter their communities. Notably, the strategy also includes guidance for localities to use their American Rescue Plan funds to reduce violence.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds: A major priority for us this summer has been to encourage states, counties, and cities to invest a portion of their American Rescue Plan funding into community-based violence prevention programs, which are proven solutions to ending gun violence. As a result of our Invest In Us Coalition and Fund Peace campaign, dozens of state and local governments have committed a portion of their allocated ARP funding towards ending gun violence. Most recently, the Virginia state assembly allocated $4 million of their $4.3 billion in ARP funds towards ending gun violence. Michigan followed suit with $75 million committed by Governor Whitmer and another $1.5 million committed by the City of Jackson towards gun violence prevention.
Break the Cycle of Violence Act: Senator Cory Booker and Representative Steven Horsford’s Break the Cycle of Violence Act is groundbreaking legislation that will provide additional funding for community-led, evidence-based, gun violence intervention and prevention programs--the largest proposed investment in history! We are proud to share this bill with 81 co-sponsors and growing! Learn more about it here.
To learn more on our policy work, check out our latest policy digest here.
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Community Justice in the News
The Key To Fighting Gun Violence Is Investment In The Community, Not More Policing CJAF leadership was featured in Blavity alongside March for Our Lives about the importance of investing in communities instead of more policing.
Just like COVID-19, gun violence is a public health crisis Our Advocacy Director, Greg Jackson drafted an Op-Ed in the Hill about the connection between the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis of gun violence in our communities across the country.
Washington Post: Biden lays out strategy to tackle rising homicides
The Biden-Harris Administration announced a new comprehensive strategy to tackle gun violence across the nation, including investing in evidence-based community violence intervention programs.
Black News Channel Greg Jackson was featured on BNC to speak on the importance of re-introducing the Break The Cycle Of Violence Act.
All In with Chris Hayes, MSNBC Our Founder and Executive Director, Amber Goodwin, joined Chris Hayes to discuss community-based strategies to combat the rise in gun violence.
FOX 26 With a rise in gun violence in Houston, Texas, Amber joined FOX 26 to share the importance of understanding the root causes of gun violence.
Gun Control In America, Al Jazeera Greg Jackson touched on Biden’s commitment to funding community violence intervention programs and the root causes of gun violence.
Black policy advocates played role in Biden’s gun crime prevention plan Following the announcement of Biden’s comprehensive strategy, TheGrio highlights the role CJAF played in advocating for these measures.
The Mehdi Hasan Show, Peacock TV Our Advocacy Director, Greg Jackson, joined Mehdi Hasan to provide detail on community-based violence interruption programs and emphasize the importance of funding these initiatives.
News of Interest
ABC News: Gun violence in America: Mental health
The complex relationship between gun violence and mental health.
Community leaders urge city to pay for safe havens and other violence prevention projects
Community leaders asked the Council to invest $12 million from the America Rescue Plan in gun violence prevention.
The Biden administration has quietly backed an idea that recently became law in Connecticut. Advocates say they hope more states will soon follow.
Gun violence is surging — researchers finally have the money to ask why
With historically high levels of new funding, US gun-violence research is starting to find its footing.
City in Crisis: Philadelphia faces a gun violence epidemic
Philadelphia is one of 15 cities nationwide joining a federal effort to expand and enhance community violence interruption programs.
Community members rally behind mothers who lost their sons to gun violence
As the violence in New York City continues, community members from the 70th Precinct Interfaith Clergy Council rallied behind mothers who lost their sons to gun violence.
NPR: When Shootings Erupt, These Moms, Pastors And Neighbors Step In To Defuse Tension
Amid a rise in violence, these violence interrupters step in and mediate conflict.
Community Justice Action Fund
1875 K St NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States
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