At Community Works, we foster fellowship, unity, and shared purpose through lived experiences. Our newsletter showcases growth and strength through lived experiences, celebrating achievements while gearing up for new opportunities ahead.

Justice Demands Humanity, Now More Than Ever

While headlines and major grant cycles can fluctuate, our commitment to radically transforming the justice system remains unwavering.

Our work—which centers the humanity of every individual impacted by the system—is not a quick fix; it is a slow, ongoing journey. That is why your continued support is so vital. Community Works is powered by intentionality, lived experience, and the community that invests in us.

Enjoy this latest edition and be motivated to invest in the work and the people as we actively shift the paradigm.

ProjectWHAT!—Taking Ownership of the Narrative🎤

ProjectWHAT! (PW) finished October strong, centering the voices of youth who are often overlooked: Children of Incarcerated Parents (CIP).

Story Sharing as Healing: Story sharing is at the core of our program, and we are so appreciative of the PW youth advocates for demonstrating their expertise. During our "SUSU: See us Support us" campaign, our youth advocates bravely shared their narratives, many of them for the first time in front of an audience.

A Path to Resilience: Taking ownership of one’s story is a foundational part of the healing process. We applaud the incredible PW youth advocates, peer mentors, and adult allies for creating a space where this critical work can happen.

Join the Next Cohort: We are actively taking applications for the next cohort of PW Youth Advocates. If you know system-impacted young people (ages 13-21) in the Bay Area looking to build leadership and advocacy skills, they can join our weekly meetings every Thursday from 5-7 pm.

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CW at UC Law—Shifting the Legal Paradigm ⚖️

If we want to transform the system,

we must train the next generation of practitioners.

Restorative Practices Strategists Kevin M. and RJD Conference Coordinator Jason W., with support from Dee M., Restorative Practice Strategist and Artist, recently led a contemplative simulation for a Mediation Clinic class at UC Law:

Challenging "Blind Justice": Our experts engaged second- and third-year law students in a direct-experience contemplative simulation, prompting a deeper, more critical look at the concept of "Blind Justice" and introducing the restorative practices that ensure humanity and intentionality guide justice.

Transformative Impact: The response was overwhelmingly positive, with Professor Mattie Robertson recognizing the session's "care and intentionality" and the experience being called "truly cathartic and transformative" by an attendee.

This high-level advocacy is vital to transforming our system. Your investment ensures we can continue expanding our reach and developing our culturally-grounded curriculum to train more professionals, educators, and community members.

To set up a consultation, email Info@communityworkswest.org

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🎨 Sustain the Healing: The Power of Restorative Arts

At Community Works, we know that true justice must address the root causes of harm. Our Survivor Empowerment Restorative Arts program is a powerful, catalytic component of our work, intentionally integrating humanity and healing through creative expression.

A Crucial Outlet: The program recently concluded a 10-week cycle that paired domestic violence education with restorative arts, giving participants a crucial outlet for creative expression and resilience building.

Accountability Through Art: The creation of separate art pieces for men who have caused harm and women survivors encourages mutual recognition and relational accountability in a safe, non-shaming environment. This work strategically contrasts punitive justice models, focusing instead on transforming behavior.

Culturally Grounded: Our approach is deeply rooted in culture. Artistic methods, like textile arts and collage, reflect participants’ cultural backgrounds, emphasizing cultural reconnection to restore traditional ways of living in harmony.

We celebrate Restorative Practices Strategist Dee M., who shared this insight and is celebrating 21 years with Community Works this December, and Community Artist Taima D., who teaches techniques while encouraging the use of culturally meaningful symbols and colors.

Will you support this powerful, holistic approach to justice?

Your donation directly ensures that our participants continue to have access to this creative outlet for therapeutic storytelling and healing,

allowing us to secure funding specifically for our artists and vital art supplies.

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Please mark your calendar for GivingTuesday on Tuesday, December 2, 2025!

This year, you have the power to Choose Your Impact by directing your gift to the area of our work that resonates most with you:

Justice Demands Humanity