Why TJN exists
The Transforming Justice Network exists to:
- build alignment and power between Ohio leaders in racial and economic justice, police accountability, drug policy, mass incarceration, divest/invest and harm reduction;
- to support frontline organizers leading efforts in their own communities who are doing their work outside of traditional organizational structures or institutions; and
- to strengthen the movement ecosystem in Ohio.
What is TJN now?
The Transforming Justice Network is an ever-evolving ecosystem of people and organizations involved in dismantling the racist criminal-punishment system and building new systems that support equity, healing, restoration, and transformation. Network members have come together, and continue to come together, to form teams for things like: planning protest actions in Columbus; instigating multiple local defund-the-police budget campaigns; building alternative channels for funding; sharing information and strategy on legislative efforts; exploring ways to infuse healing practices into organizing and advocacy; and partnering with national groups in designing a statewide campaign to protect the lives of incarcerated people. If you become active in the Network, you can join an existing team or start a new one! Given all this lively activity, leaders in the Network are also being trained on intentionally building the vitality and interconnectedness of the Network.
Is the TJN a coalition?
No. The Network is different than a coalition, which is usually focused on a single policy goal. Coalitions may form within the Transforming Justice Network, but the Network is bigger, or at least different from, any one coalition.
How did TJN come to be?
The Transforming Justice Network was born out of convenings in 2018 & 2019, where grassroots activists, organizers, and leaders came together to broaden the definition of harm reduction to mean not just making drug use safer, but also tackling head-on the racialized damage created by the criminal punishment system, and to reduce mass incarceration and mass criminalization across the board. And those groups were committed to not only ending the harm, but also building the positive future we collectively envision; thus, initially we used the name “Creating Communities of Care Network” to reflect that future-oriented positivity. After using that name for many months, we realized it was too long and confusing for some. So, we later changed our name to the Transforming Justice Network.
How do I find out more?
Please contact either:
Avery Martens - averysurj@gmail.com
Elissa Schneider - elissa@ohtransformationfund.org
Additionally, the Transforming Justice Network maintains a statewide email list (subscribe below). Individual organizations often use this email list simply to get out news or requests for help on their own projects and campaigns. The Network also distributes it’s weekly newsletter, What’s Moving, through that email list. The newsletter is a great way to find out not only what member organizations are currently doing, but also to get updates on key state legislation and policy-advocacy opportunities in Ohio.
Avery Martens - averysurj@gmail.com
Elissa Schneider - elissa@ohtransformationfund.org
Additionally, the Transforming Justice Network maintains a statewide email list (subscribe below). Individual organizations often use this email list simply to get out news or requests for help on their own projects and campaigns. The Network also distributes it’s weekly newsletter, What’s Moving, through that email list. The newsletter is a great way to find out not only what member organizations are currently doing, but also to get updates on key state legislation and policy-advocacy opportunities in Ohio.