OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
The Starting Point
A Community Safety Ecosystem
The Solution
Justice begins and thrives in community. A community flourishes when neighbors depend on and care for one another. Justice is the balance of resources and rhythms—not necessarily equal, but equitable—where people have what they need to live and belong.
By justice, we mean the network of services, organizations, and initiatives connected to the criminal legal system, community safety, and the prevention, response, and healing of harm. Justice is inseparable from safety—and true safety is more than the absence of violence; it is the presence of wellbeing. As a Commonwealth, Virginia has long held the idea of shared wellbeing at its core.
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An ecosystem thrives through diversity, interdependence, and relationships. A healthy public safety ecosystem works the same way. It depends on:
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Diversity—of people, perspectives, and approaches;
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Interdependence—among individuals, organizations, and systems; and
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Strong relationships—complex enough to sustain collaboration, but not so complicated they block action.
Building this kind of community-centered safety ecosystem is our goal: a coordinated, interconnected environment where harm is prevented, healing is possible, and everyone’s wellbeing matters.
We need to reimagine public safety in the Commonwealth as a community-centered public safety ecosystem.
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The Commonwealth needs to reimagine public safety—and put that vision into practice. This requires a coordinating organization that can drive change in three key ways:
Shift the Narrative
Redefining public safety around healing, wellbeing, and restorative approaches across schools, businesses, and community spaces.
Strengthen Collaboration
Aligning justice-focused nonprofits to streamline efforts, reduce duplication, and foster a culture of interdependence.
Advance Measurable Goals
Guiding funding and shaping a shared justice agenda for policy wins and concrete community milestones (e.g., fewer guns, fewer people funneled into the punitive system).
