January has been a time of tremendous loss and outrage for our communities. Tyre Nichols was brutally killed at the hands of police. Last week, three mass shootings in California impacted AAPI communities and all of us. Our communities deserve to live free from violence – whether it is state violence or gun violence.
Our hearts are with all who have suffered loss and harm at the hands of injustice. We will continue to focus our purpose on building power in Black communities and communities of color so that our experiences are centered in creating policy solutions that can truly make a difference.
Client News
Stories can help shape the world we want. That is the fundamental premise behind a new storytelling guide from Economic Security Project’s Guaranteed Income Community of Practice. With storytelling best practices, clear explanation on the elements that make up a good story, and key messaging to include in any story about the impact of a guaranteed income, this guide was designed to meet advocates wherever they are in their storytelling journey to create real policy change. We are proud to partner with ESP on this important resource! Read the guide here.
Campaigns We Love
Across California and the U.S., we see a harmful pattern continue to play out in communities: when crime rates rise, elected officials, policymakers, and members of the media fall back on “tough on crime” policy as if policing and incarceration can make our streets safer, or reduce the number of guns in our communities, or calm the nerves of the communities most impacted by crime and violence. But we know over-enforcement and incarceration don’t prevent crime. They do little to help survivors heal and simply fuel the cycles of crime and trauma. What communities really need are solutions that prevent harm from happening in the first place.
This week, The Alliance for Safety and Justice launched the Just Safe campaign which aims to:
- Shift public opinion on root causes of crime cycles and what works to stop them
- Grow a public safety constituency with lived experience who can shape decision making and elevate solutions that help, not harm, impacted communities
- Empower activist leaders to protect past criminal justice reforms while continuing to change the system
Visit justsafe.org to learn about this important campaign and how you can help lift up the solutions of crime survivors and people with lived experience.
Coming Up
The third annual Black Girl Freedom Week is less than a month away! Save the date for February 13-19 and visit bgfw.1billion4blackgirls.org for a refresh on what this week is about, how it started, and the goals of the #1Billion4BlackGirls campaign. This year’s theme is Arts, Activism, and Innovation. You can tune into the virtual events and conversations on their website or follow along on social media (Twitter: @BlkGrlFreedom, Instagram and Facebook: @BlackGirlFreedomFund) for updates on the week-long celebration of Black girl leadership and joy.