OUR MISSION
Community Justice is changing the conversation on gun violence prevention by leading with the people closest to the pain of gun violence. We’re working to end gun violence in Black and Brown communities by empowering those closest to the pain to build political power, amplifying their voices, changing the narrative, and advocating for policy change. Our work has had a significant impact on the gun violence prevention community, and we are committed to building a world without gun violence.
OUR STORY
Community Justice was founded in 2016 by Amber Goodwin, who was employed as a staffer for Gifford’s while working on gun violence. In 2015, following the Charleston shooting, Amber actively listened and learned from leaders with decades of experience in violence intervention. What she observed was a community torn apart by systemic racism and access to firearms, issues that did not elicit policy responses from Congress or local mayors. As she surveyed other gun violence prevention organizations within the halls of Congress, she noticed the absence of individuals who resembled her—a Black woman—who were invited to the table to engage in discussions and lead on gun policy matters. In response, she established an organization with the explicit goal of amplifying the voices of communities most affected by gun violence and ensuring their central role in the debate on gun-related issues.
In 2017, Community Justice (formerly known as Community Justice Reform Coalition) collaborated on a report with the Live Free Campaign and Gifford’s. The report revealed that day-to-day interpersonal gun violence constitutes a disproportionate number of shootings concentrated in our cities, often affecting communities of color. Despite comprising only 6% of the U.S. population, Black men represent more than half of all gun homicide victims each year. Similarly, Latinx men are also disproportionately impacted by gun violence. In 2015, out of America’s 13,000 gun-related homicide victims, over 8,500 were men of color. However, our organizational research uncovered that, while there were ongoing efforts to support the implementation and elevation of technical assistance, there was little to no support for policy or advocacy specifically designed for and led by Black and brown communities.
Community Justice has had a significant impact on the national gun violence prevention community, policy and advocacy, and the public safety/health movement. Our impact has been through building power with and for communities to end gun violence. Community Justice was noted in several news articles and opinion papers after its founding about the need for such an organization in the gun violence prevention movement.
In 2024 and beyond, we will continue to follow the three-fold vision we started with in 2016:
01.
Build a community led by the people closest to the pain of everyday gun violence.
Create a focus that consists of an inclusive and diverse vision beyond only mass shootings.
02.
Transform the narrative on gun violence in the United States, and in particular in urban areas.
Humanize the most impacted people in the movement, but not at the expense of marginalized communities.
03.
Advance policy change to change behavior and norms around gun violence in communities of color.
Prioritize non-carceral solutions and lift up the agency of Black and brown organizations.
Community Justice has traditionally organized both nationally and locally to support Black and brown communities on the frontlines of reducing gun violence. We do this by utilizing a model that builds on:
POLICY
Community Justice works to reduce gun violence by leading efforts on federal, state, and local policy and advocacy. We have a specific focus on leading efforts on the national/federal level as there are dozens of funding streams and opportunities for policy change that we have leveraged over the last 8 years to become the leader in this field of both national policy and advocacy.
We do this work by developing, educating, and advocating on policy and advocacy issues Black and brown communities care about which includes providing model legislation and advocacy plans for stakeholder groups. Additionally, we write, develop, and stay updated on relevant legislation, regulations, and research. Because we are a Black-led organization it is important to our mission to take the time to learn about the historical context, current debates, and potential solutions led by the community.
ADVOCACY
Community Justice engages policymakers through various channels, such as meetings, town halls, letters, and petitions. We cultivate relationships with Federal, state, and local policymakers and their staff to build trust and influence.
NARRATIVE CHANGE
Community Justice provides culture strategy so that directly impacted stakeholders are influencing and changing mainstream narratives about the causes of gun violence. We also help develop clear and compelling messages to effectively communicate the community’s goals, the problem we are addressing, and the proposed solutions.
SUSTAINABILITY
Now more than ever we need to support not only funding streams for programs like CVI, but maintaining and protecting those funds in changing political climates. Community Justice helps to support year-round policy and advocacy engagement capacity though national and local coalition building and partnerships. Community Justice builds coalitions on all levels of government. Our flagship program is the Invest in Us Program, which establishes connections with key stakeholders, including policymakers, community leaders, and organizations working in the same field.
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