Evolving Justice
Overview
What is Justice?
The American ideal of JUSTICE is a salient value throughout our constitution.
Yet, America, while comprising a mere 5% of the world’s population, has nonetheless managed to account for 25% of the world’s prisoners. No country, much less one that purports a democracy, has managed to incarcerate so many of its inhabitants.
Further, 1 in every 100 Americans is currently behind bars. The number of people (predominantly poor and of color) incarcerated has risen by over 500% in the last 40 years. Women are the fastest-growing prison population. Millions of children report having a parent incarcerated, and in spite of copious amounts of neuroscience data on brain development, and the impact of childhood trauma, we continue to arrest, charge, and sentence young children as adults.
Most of the people impacted by carceral systems in America, and throughout the world are also the same people who have been most impacted by the legacy of colonialism, slavery, capitalism and varied systems of oppression.
Is this JUSTICE? If no? Then what is?
The lens in which most people answer that question, or work to actualize it, including social workers, will undoubtedly be shaped by viewpoints influenced, and thus congruent with white supremacy!
It is essential that as helping professionals, we recognize that our knowledge, values, and ways of knowing have and continue to be shaped by oppressive and reductionist ideas that are often incongruent with JUSTICE.
Our collective exploration and evolution of JUSTICE is then a necessity in the creation of a liberatory society!
Evolving Justice (EJ) is an educational initiative for social workers, advocates, and concerned people that aims:
- To build community;
- Co-create brave space; and
- Facilitate various dialogue(s) towards the emancipatory exploration of JUSTICE in theory and action.
EJ further believes that central to the aim of JUSTICE is a reimagination of humanity in which no one is their worst action, disposable, or denied an opportunity to fully actualize!
Events
Abolition: What It Is and Why It Matters in Social Work
Tueday, April 29 | 12:00-1:30pm ET
via Zoom
This virtual event is an introduction to abolition as a theoretical and political project in social work for ending state and institutional violence. Clinical Associate Professor and Evolving Justice Director Kirk “Jae” James will be on the panel with Drs. C.M. Hayes, E. Goldblatt Hyatt, Alan Detlaff and Cameron Rasmussen. For more information, contact hayesc5@sacredheart.edu.
Past Events
Robert Brooks and Justice for Incarcerated Individuals: An Intersectional Conversation and Call to Action
Friday, March 14 | 3:00-5:00pm ET
via Zoom
Join Evolving Justice to discuss the systemic failures that led to Robert Brooks’ death; examine the impact of corrections officers strike on individuals experiencing incarceration; understand the importance of the HALT Act and the fight to uphold it; and mobilize for action to protect the safety and dignity of those inside.
Book Talk with Marlon Peterson
Author of Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song
Tuesday, September 5 | 6:00-8:00pm ET
The Parlor, NYU Silver School of Social Work
1 Washington Square North, New York, NY or via Zoom
Hear thinker, doer, and author Marlon Peterson, the Executive Director of College & Community Fellowship, discuss his 21st century abolitionist memoir and his new vision of justice with NYU Silver alum and Adjunct Assistant Professor Pia Hargrove.
The Mental Health Salon
Tuesday, July 19 | 7:00-8:30pm ET
This community conversation presented by Evolving Justice and hosted by Professor Michelle R. Munson, Sejal Mehta, MSW ’22, and Clinical Assistant Professor Jae James aims to humanize and increase understanding of the current mental health crisis facing our society and to share the tools and practices that we are utilizing for health and healing.
The Fire Next Time: The Revolution of the Social Justice Movement
Friday, March 18, 2022
James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time is an American classic that highlights the challenges and struggles of America during the Civil Rights era. A national bestseller in 1963, this literary work galvanized the nation and gave a passionate voice to the civil rights movement. Activist, educator, NYU Silver alum and Adjunct Lecturer Terrence Coffie, BS ’16/MSW ’17, was awarded a Humanities New York Reading & Discussion grant to lead a six-part Reading & Discussion series on Baldwin’s timeless work and its prophetic impact on the social justice movement today. NYU Silver is proud to have hosted the first event in this series.
Re-Imagine Justice 2022
Thursday, April 7, and Friday, April 8, 2022
A conference created to move us; Re-Imagine Justice focuses on collective action toward necessary change. This is NYU Silver School of Social Work’s second such conference, bringing together leading criminal justice professionals from across the country and state for a national and local discussion on the human impact of crime and incarceration, including new approaches to juvenile and young adult offenders, pretrial justice, incarceration, and re-entry.
Social Work & Humanity During COVID - A Conversation with Dr. Pia Raymond
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Adjunct Assistant Professor Pia Raymond joined Clinical Assistant Professor Kirk “Jae” James, Sejal Mehta, MSW ’22, and Bonnie Coker, MSW ’23, for a discussion about the ways COVID-19 has shifted how we show-up as practitioners, educators, students, and community members.
Manhattan District Attorney Democratic Candidate Debate
Thursday, April 15, 2021
A debate among the democratic candidates for the Manhattan District Attorney primary in June with NYU Wagner's Students for Criminal Justice Reform. Moderated by Khalil A. Cumberbatch, a long time advocate for criminal justice reform in NYC and Senior Fellow on the Council on Criminal Justice.
The Black Vote
Monday, November 2, 2020
An open discussion around the Black vote in the US, its historical significance, and impact today.
Courageous Conversations – Addressing Trauma During Times of Crisis Part 3
A Center for Leadership Development at FPWA Webinar
Featuring Dr. Kirk “Jae” James, Wayne Ho, Dr. Danielle R. Moss, and Dr. James Rodriguez
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Evolving Justice Meet & Greet
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
6:00 - 8:00pm EST
NYU Silver Parlor
1 Washington Square North, New York, NY
Contact
Dr. Kirk “Jae” James
Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work, Evolving Justice Director
Email: kaj3@nyu.edu
Phone: (212) 998-5989
Twitter: @EvolvingJustice, @docjae75