Partners in the initiative known as “A Just GR” want to eliminate disparities and reach equity in public safety, health and community belonging, with a collaboration of community organizations, law enforcement, government agencies, and policy makers.
Rev. Parris McMurray, Pastor of Renaissance Church of God in Christ is the Chair of “A Just GR.” He defines a safe and just community this way:
“A crime- free, victim-free city. A place where risks, threats and hazards are identified, and strategies are developed to lessen their impact. Where young people in particular thrive and steer clear of the criminal justice system. Constantly looking upstream to determine why so many are barely surviving and why more are not thriving.”
Grand Rapids is the first Michigan city to launch its own justice and government initiative partnering with the Aspen Institute which focuses on collecting and analyzing data, amplifying underrepresented voices and reforming systemic racism through conversation and policy change.
“One of the things that they are doing is developing a justice mapping tool, if you will. That allows us to be hyper-local and drill down data into different neighborhoods.”
Leaders plan to use the data to create what they call an “action matrix” by the end of summer then decide next steps to implement strategies.
