The United Justice Coalition (UJC) and Roc Nation returned to New York City for the fourth year of the UJC Summit at the Shed on Oct. 17, welcoming more than 1,500 attendees to an emotional and eventful day focused on criminal justice reform, mental health, and education as a tool of prevention and opportunity, while allowing people to share their stories. “We all need support. We all need that village, even though we repeat the saying … it doesn’t wear the truth out,” said Kempis Ghani Songester, a member of the summit’s Mental Health and Justice System panel.
More than 40 changemakers, policymakers, legal activists, organizations, and community members, including Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Rye, Dr. Jelani Cobb, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and Tamika Mallory, came together to discuss the issues within our communities, especially those of color.
Mali GIbbs photo
The summit was filled with difficult but much-needed panel discussions featuring families of victims affected by police brutality, the criminal justice system, and mental health challenges, as well as conversations about how to move forward.
The Family Matters panel, moderated by Angela Rye, was a moving discussion with families affected by police violence, highlighting the systemic barriers they face in seeking justice and support. Social justice activist Tamika Mallory made an introduction before attendees heard stories from Vel’lesiya Wiley, who lost her one-year-old son, Kohen; Nicole Paultre Bell, whose fiancé Sean was killed by police just hours before their wedding; and Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, whose twin brother Terence was killed by police in Tulsa, Okla. “When the cameras go away and people move on to the next thing, we’re sitting in our home alone grieving, because the grief doesn’t go away. We may have a foundation, and it looks good, and we have the logos, and we’re doing community events,” said Crutcher, “but that’s a part of our healing, and we’re doing that with the hope [of justice], because that’s all we have.”
Since 2019, the UJC’s mission has focused on asking how to help those who need it. Akua Williams, a first-year brand ambassador for the UJC and recent CUNY Law graduate, expressed what being a part of this summit meant to her.
“I am here today to teach everyone about the summit, the event, and all the amazing nonprofits we collaborate with to put this together,” Williams said. “Year-long, we do a lot of focus on advocating within the criminal justice space.”
Attendees had the opportunity to connect with 40 national and local nonprofit organizations, such as the Battered Women’s Justice Project, Children of Promise, Center for Policing Equity, National Alliance on Mental Illness, REFORM Alliance, People’s Advocacy Institute, and more. The exhibition provided families of all backgrounds and experiences with access to valuable resources and opportunities for community engagement and advocacy.
Scott Fedonchik, vice president and director of marketing and communications at the REFORM Alliance, a policy-driven organization, said it is important for students to know about the resources available in their communities. “So much of what goes on in the world now is digital, [but] being in person, being able to meet with advocates and people who are really involved, means more than clicks and follows,” Fedonchik said.
Nonprofit organizations such as Artistic Noise and Hudson Link were there to share their work directly with students.
Executive Director Calder Zwicki of Artistic Noise spoke about the Harlem-based program: “We work with impacted young people from [ages] 14–22. Today we are here to showcase our youth art to the public and also spread word about our programs.” He noted that all students in his organization receive an hourly rate of $19.50 and that people can purchase the art pieces, with students receiving 100% commission.
Discussions included a mental health panel featuring Charlamagne Tha God as moderator, with Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren and Dr. Jessica Clemons. They explored how treatment and community-based care can transform mental health crisis response and reduce unnecessary arrests and incarceration.
