Safe & Just Communities Summit

awesome John Jay building photo

                                   Safe & Just Communities Summit

                                                May 8-9, 2023
                                             John Jay College
                                           524 West 59th Street
                                           New York, NY, 10019

Co-hosted by John Jay College and the National Urban League, the Summit will provide a comprehensive, community centered framework for safe communities – communities that are Resourced, Healthy, Just and Restored.

Over the past three years, the nation has suffered several significant national crises that have affected the safety of communities in profound ways. From the COVID-19 pandemic to increases in shootings, mass shootings, and homicides to high profile incidents of police violence, these events have compelled ordinary civilians and experts alike to call for new investments and solutions for creating and sustaining safe communities.

On May 8-9, 2023, National experts on public safety from across the country will come together at the Safe and Just Communities Summit at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Co-hosted by John Jay College and the National Urban League, the Summit will provide a comprehensive, community centered framework for safe communities – communities that are Resourced, Healthy, Just and Restored. This summit will offer an opportunity to learn from policymakers, practitioners, advocates and researchers from around the country who will share programs, strategies and research that support this framework for public safety.

The opening plenary session on May 8th will kick-off with remarks from John Jay College President Karol Mason (also the former head of the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs) followed by a discussion between U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial.

Summit panels will address key public safety issues, including:

  • Implementing community-based strategies to address violence
  • Transforming responses to people in crisis
  • Advancing policing and police accountability
  • Ending cycles of perpetual punishment and restoring rights
  • Partnering with communities on public safety
  • Proven policies for reducing gun violence
  • Developments in drug policy


Please check the website frequently as the speaker list and program agenda will be updated regularly. For questions about the summit, please reach out to ReimaginePublicSafety@jjay.cuny.edu.