Webinar Date: December 17, 2025, 1 pm ET/12 pm CT
For far too long, the U.S. criminal legal system has functioned less as a source of justice and more as a mechanism for racial control, surveillance, and punishment — particularly for Black boys and men. From its roots in enslavement and sharecropping to today’s mass incarceration the system has consistently undermined rights, eroded opportunities, and deepened inequities.
Yet, amid these realities, progress is possible when communities lead the way. This webinar, drawing from the Our Dreams Won’t Be Deferred report, will explore how we can reimagine justice through prevention, restoration, and equity-centered policy reform. Panelists will discuss:
- Scaling community-based violence prevention and restorative justice practices
- Reforming policing and eliminating discriminatory sentencing
- Advancing pretrial justice and reentry programs that restore rights and opportunities
- Addressing cross-system drivers of criminalization and ensuring economic security
By centering the voices of those most impacted and investing in community-based solutions, we can build a system rooted in dignity, accountability, and true public safety. Join us for a conversation that shifts the focus from punishment to possibility.
