Dear friend,

 

As we look back on October, there has been a great deal of progress towards ending gun violence in our communities. This year we have continued to demand states, counties, and cities to invest their COVID-19 relief or American Rescue Plan funding into community-based violence prevention programs — and it’s working.

Our national fight for $5 billion to pass within the Build Back Better Act also continues. This funding specifically allocated for gun violence reduction will invest in community-based violence prevention programs that will save lives. This is a BIG deal and we need your help making this funding a reality for organizations on the frontlines working to end gun violence. Take action today!

Gun violence in America is a public health crisis that has no boundaries. As fall begins and we enjoy the love of the season, don’t forget about those we lost this summer and continue to lose. People like Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan, best of friends and football stars at University of Utah who were both lost in less than a year to gun violence. Our communities have suffered so much at the hands of this crisis, but Community Justice remains committed and appreciative of you working alongside us to end gun violence. 

 

Onwards, 

 

Greg Jackson Jr.

Executive Director

 

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Upcoming Events and Opportunities

National Hispanic Heritage Month: As we close out Hispanic Heritage Month, be sure to check out our educational webinar that discussed the intersection of gun violence within the Latinx and Hispanic community. We had Andrea Pino-Silva, activist and Gender Policy Advisor for CJAF, Mike de la Rocha, co-founder of Revolve Impact, and Jonathan Garzon, Community Leader for United Parents and Students. Join us in community, and watch the recording here. 

 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and at Community Justice, we believe that we cannot end gun violence without fully committing to ending the crisis of gender-based violence that precedes so many of the homicides in our communities—and this starts with believing survivors.

Be sure to check out our social media platforms as we’ve been sharing important educational content around this crucial topic!

 

Building Community Call: Every month we have a call to uplift communities and advocates across the country to highlight their impact and work in the fight to end gun violence. Join us on Tuesday October 26th, 2021 at 3:00pm ET/2:00 pm CT for this important call that discusses the intersection of domestic violence and gun violence Register here. 

Price of Freedom Viewing Event: Together with Guns Down America, Community Justice is excited to invite you to a film viewing and intimate discussion on the gun violence epidemic in America and firearms. Join us on October 26th at 6pm ET/5pm CT as we view the documentary "The Price of Freedom”. Afterwards, we’ll have a brief discussion of the film with guests. Sign up here. Be sure to take a look at 

the Washington D.C. Lawmakers Panel here where the conversation about the film continues. 

 

Volunteer Opportunities: 

 

November Volunteer Call: Save the date and come join us on November 9th at 7:00pm CT/8:00pm ET for a call centered on healing. Register for the call here and if you have any questions please reach out to [email protected].

 

Check out our Mobilize page, where you will find a complete listing of our events and get the chance to register for them. There are so many opportunities for you to join us, please check it out here.

 

We launched our 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 has an online action center where volunteers & advocates can regularly take action online to help end gun violence. We are currently putting our focus behind the Build Back Better Act and you can complete actions by clicking below:

 

The Build Back Better Act has $5 Billion for community violence and intervention strategies. We need to protect this funding and pass the Act, but we need YOUR help by calling, emailing, and tweeting your representatives.

Community Justice Policy Updates

Big Win in Wisconsin: Governor Tony Evers announced this month that his office is investing $45 million in addressing violence in Wisconsin, including for violence prevention efforts, victim support services, community-based programs, and research initiatives. A portion of the funding will also be dedicated to the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention. 

Since the enactment of the American Rescue Plan, Community Justice Action Fund has led a coalition of gun violence prevention organizations to support Wisconsin organizations like Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund and Focused Interruption to advocate for investments into violence prevention programs. We applaud Governor Evers’s action, modeling leadership in the midwest by making impactful investments in violence prevention in Wisconsin.

North Carolina Task Force for Safer Schools: This month, CJAF Executive Director Greg Jackson and Advocacy Manager Thia’a Rahman spoke beside North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein on the topic of gun violence and school safety. CJAF presented the task force with solutions to school violence that center communities, and called on cities and counties within North Carolina to invest in community violence intervention programs. Thia’a Rahman profiled one such program, Durham’s Bull City United, and explained that they “provide violence intervention services that detect and interrupt potential conflicts. This program also focuses on breaking the cycle of retaliation, which is very, very important in reducing community violence" (Charlotte NPR). 

Texas Special Session: The third Texas legislative Special Session kicked off on September 20th and American Rescue Plan Act funding allocations were on the agenda. Irina Alejandro, Organizing Associate at CJAF, joined Texas Gun Sense to testify to the Texas State Legislature with Texas Gun Sense requesting $20 million for community-based violence intervention programs from the American Rescue Plan funding. Texas leaders can help prevent violence like the terrible school shooting in Arlington, Texas by funding community violence intervention and prevention programs that focus on interpersonal violence.

 

We also hosted a Beyond The Headlines webinar featuring Gyl Switzer, Executive Director at Texas Gun Sense and Naz Soysal, Dallas Chapter Lead at March For Our Lives Texas. You can view it here!

 

To learn more on our policy work, check out our latest policy digest here.

Community Justice in the News

[Op-ed] Gun violence survivor and advocate fighting to #EndGunViolence

Check out this op-ed written by our Executive Director. 

 

NC officials say guns in schools threaten safety and education Thia’a Rahman, States Advocacy Manager, provided a comment on the importance of funding community-based violence prevention programs. 

 

He Was Shot by a Stranger but Treated Like a Criminal When He Reached the ER Take a look at this article that highlights how our justice and health systems fuel violence through criminalizing, traumatizing and silencing those impacted by gun violence.

 

Gun violence is surging, the solution starts with empowering communities

Our State Policy and Communications Director, Sawyeh Maghsoodloo, wrote this insightful piece that dives into the importance of empowering communities to end gun violence. 

 

A CNN Film: The Price of Freedom Our Executive Director, Greg Jackson, was featured in The Price of Freedom movie which highlights the history of gun control and gun violence. Find out how to watch the film here. If you have a few minutes, take a look at the trailer here.

 

Schumer, Adams call for $5 billion from Congress to combat NYC gun violence

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined our New York Fund Peace team to call on Congress to invest $5 billion in community-based violence intervention programs.

 

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

Communities can fight gun violence by intervening at the hospital. An expert explains why it works

Hospital-based violence intervention programs aim to decrease retaliation rates of people who have been a victim of violence.

 

Schumer vows $5 billion in federal aid for anti-violence projects

The Fund Peace team met with U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer who said he would push for $5 billion in the reconciliation bill to pay for community-based programs in cities like New York where outreach has been successful-but remains drastically underfunded.

 

'She has the biggest heart' | 27-year-old vet technician killed in shootout at St. Paul bar

A packed dance floor emptied in seconds when three men fired shots at 15 people at a St. Paul bar, killing Marquisha Wiley, and injuring 14.

 

The Solution to Violence Against Women Will Never Be 'More Police'

"Fighting violence against women is about building up a community where people can live secure and dignified lives, making them less vulnerable to violence in the first place."

 

Providence to direct up to $1.6 million to violence prevention programs

Providence is committing up to $1.6 million of American Rescue Plan funds to establish citywide nonviolence training and youth mentorship programs!

Gabby Giffords: This will make a difference in fighting gun violence

“Even though violence intervention programs have long been under-funded, study after study has yielded promising results and evidence of impact.” - Gabby Giffords, gun violence survivor & co-founder of Giffords.

 

'Everybody has a part to play' | Community leaders working to stop gun violence

It's been all hands on deck, trying to put an end to gun violence in schools. After numerous threats and guns found on campuses, recently people are banding together to find solutions.

Community Justice Action Fund
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Washington, DC 20006
United States
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