The image shows four young adults seated in front of a large projection screen displaying the words "YOUNG MINDS MATTER - TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITIES COLLECTIVELY." The backdrop features colorful portraits of diverse young individuals, aligning with the event's theme. The first person on the left is a woman wearing a pink blouse, the second person is a man with a mustache and a hat, the third is a woman in a gray blazer, and the fourth is a man in a light-colored shirt. They all hold papers and appear to be part of a panel or presentation, possibly at a conference or seminar focused on youth and mental health, as indicated by the logos of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and Prevention Institute on the screen. The setting suggests an academic or professional environment.

Photo from the Young Minds Matter 2023 Conference

Achieving racial justice and safety requires changes in policies, systems, and resources. Policy includes procedures, administrative actions, incentives, and voluntary practices at the organizational, local, state, and national levels. Systems are all around us and shape our community environments and daily lives, and decisions about which policies and systems to prioritize and advance over others are often reflected in the allocation and distribution of resources. These decisions can either contribute to racial justice and safety, or lead to further structural inequities and violence.

To maximize the effectiveness and reach of racial justice-grounded violence prevention strategies, it is important to connect narrative strategy development to policy and systems change efforts. Creating these mutually self-reinforcing connections grounds violence prevention work in a more long-term, affirmative vision of what is achievable when communities are safe and racially just. When we build community narrative power to spread stories describing the world we want to inhabit, we can develop long-term policy strategies that ask for everything that communities deserve. If you have not done so already, review Module 3 for more information on advancing policy, systems change, and resources for violence prevention and safety.

Learning outcomes:

  • Determine the right messenger and voices to help advance your policy efforts
  • Learn about ways to ensure a healing-centered approach for your best messengers
  • Explore resources and examples that support connections across racial justice narratives, policy, and systems change

Questions for reflection

  1. How do your current efforts contribute to policy and systems change that advances safety and violence prevention? What might it look like to strengthen these connections?
  2. How are you leveraging visioning and community voice to further policy and systems change efforts that invest in what communities deserve and need to thrive in the long-term? Whose voices and leadership are you elevating and amplifying in your storytelling and communications efforts around safety?
  3. How do your policy and systems change partnerships reflect an emphasis on building, supporting, and sustaining community voice and involvement? Who else can you partner with and learn from in this space?