The relationships we hold with our neighbors, family, chosen family, kinfolk, friends, and co-workers are the fabric of our communities. This interconnectedness — the people we know, those we recognize on the streets, our houseless neighbors, our shared history, and our clear collective identity — contributes to a deep and rooted love for our communities.

Evidence of this love shows up in things like community leadership engaging with elected power, communities that self organize to advocate for their needs, and community care programs.

Building a public safety ecosystem that invites and centers the needs of our community members who are most impacted is an expression of our love for our community.

As grassroots leaders of Newark began to connect more and more with one another, the strength of interconnected activism across generations, neighborhoods, and roles emerged. In Newark, resources, wisdom, and organizing power are not separated on islands but deeply connected around a common goal: to make Newark safe and prosperous.

Leaders in any community can nurture these dynamics. To succeed, they must lead with love and be intentional in creating opportunities for community members to sit at the decision-making table.