Citizens For Community Justice Inc

ENVISIONING A FAIR COMMUNITY THAT LEARNS FROM CONFLICT, PREVENTS HARM, AND GROWS IN UNDERSTANDING, THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE & MEDIATION CENTER'S (CJAM) MISSION IS TO PROMOTE A CIVIL AND JUST COMMUNITY THROUGH MEDIATION, EDUCATION, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. CJAM ACCOMPLICES ITS MISSION BY LEVERAGING THE TIME AND TALENTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SERVE AS VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS AND FACILITATORS, OFFICE SUPPORT STAFF, INTERNS, AND BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: CJAM PROVIDED RESTORATIVE PROCESSES TO 76 CLIENTS (YOUTHS, ADULTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS) THROUGH THE VICTIM AND OFFENDER RESTORATION PROGRAM (VORP) AND SHOPLIFTING AND THEFT EDUCATION PROGRAM (STEP). BOTH PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, REFLECTION AND REDUCE HARMS CAUSED THROUGH CRIMES WHICH IS SHOWN TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM. IN VORP, CJAM WORKS WITH CLIENTS (OFFENDERS) AND THEIR VICTIMS. 21 CLIENTS WERE SERVED (87% OF THE OFFENDERS WERE JUVENILES) AND 100% OF OFFENDERS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. STEP TARGETS FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THEFT OR SHOPLIFTING. 55 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED AND 86% SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. CLIENTS ARE PRIMARILY REFERRED BY THE MONROE COUNTY (MC) PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND THE MC PROBATION DEPARTMENT. CJAM CONTINUED TO DELIVER ALL RESTORATIVE PROGRAMS VIA A VIRTUAL PLATFORM, BY PHONE, OR IN PERSON WHEN NECESSARY.

MEDIATION: CJAM PROVIDED FREE OR VERY LOW-COST MEDIATION SERVICES TO 832 CLIENTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CONFLICTS INVOLVING LANDLORDS-TENANTS, NEIGHBORS/HOODS, FAMILIES, ROOMMATES, ORGANIZATIONAL/WORKPLACE DISPUTES, AND CONSUMER/CONTRACTUAL ISSUES. TRAINED CJAM VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS WORKED TO PROVIDE SAFE SPACES TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS. THEY HELP PARTIES IN REACHING AGREEMENTS WHICH BEST MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. CJAM ALSO PROVIDED MEDIATION EACH WEEK DURING SMALL CLAIMS AND EVICTION COURT (376 CASES). 76% OF ALL MEDIATED CASES REACHED AGREEMENT. IN ADDITION, CJAM PROVIDED CONFLICT COACHING AND REFERRALS (255), AND MEDIATION/RESTORATIVE JUSTICE/CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TRAININGS (58 ATTENDEES). CJAM SAW A 153% INCREASE IN EVICTION MEDIATION CASES IN 2021 AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH MONROE COUNTY COURTS TO PROVIDE MEDIATION SERVICES EACH WEEK DURING VIRTUAL COURT.

COMMUNITY VOICES FOR HEALTH: THIS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLOOMINGTON HEALTH FOUNDATION AND IS FUNDED BY THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION. THE PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF HEALTH INEQUITIES BY BRINGING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WITH HEALTH POLICY AND DECISION MAKERS TO CREATE MORE EQUITABLE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. 2021 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND CO-CREATING PROJECTS WITH CVMCH ADVISORY COUNCIL, DEVELOPING AND HOSTING DELIBERATION FACILITATION TRAININGS (27 PEOPLE TRAINED), AND FINISHING UP THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION SESSIONS WITH 45 INDIVIDUALS TO FINALIZE THE HEALTH RELATED ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS, AND HOSTING 10 IN-PERSON OR ZOOM DELIBERATION SESSIONS INVOLVING 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE DELIBERATION SESSIONS UTILIZED THE THEMED DATA FROM THE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO BEGIN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR THREE TOPIC AREAS: EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE, QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE, AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS, ALONG WITH IDENTIFYING THE TRADE-OFFS AND BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS.