The goal of AJGR-JGP is to eliminate disparities and achieve equity through data sharing and systems collaboration to secure public safety, health and well-being and belonging in Grand Rapids. The name reflects the organization’s broad focus on creating a more just and inclusive community, emphasizing action, accountability, and systemic change. AJGR-JGP is a community-driven, multi-sector approach to safety and invites collaboration among community-based organizations, government agencies, policymakers, and other multi-sector partners to promote justice and community safety.

Neighborhoods with high crime rates and law enforcement engagement also face persistent insecurity in housing, health, education, transportation, and employment. Many of these neighborhoods also experience a lack of resources and limited investment in these same systems. Data will be organized by neighborhoods to ensure assets and needs are accurately portrayed.

The initiative was formed through a partnership with the Aspen Institute, a global leader in driving change through dialogue, leadership and action. Aspen Institute has provided critical guidance and resources to help A Just GR share its strategy for building a more just community through community development, equity-centered leadership and policy reform. This isn’t a one-time research project to collect new data and make broad recommendations. Instead, it’s an effort to coordinate and consolidate existing data efforts into a shared platform so systems can be analyzed together. AJGR-JGP is not only getting data from a variety of agencies, but we are also listening to people in the community, valuing their expertise, and helping to find reasonable solutions to ongoing challenges.

AJGR-JGP’s intentional focus on neighborhood outcomes will allow us to reach those who need the most resources and to better address community priorities. The shared data and analysis will be used to support collaborative policymaking, partnerships, and resource sharing across law enforcement, government partners, and community members.

AJGR-JPG is a community-driven, multisector approach to safety that comprises of a Justice Collaborative that includes residents, community-based organizations, government agencies, policymakers, and other multi-sector partners to promote justice and community safety.  The Justice Collaborative conducts a justice audit reviewing local data in four categories: crisis management operations, jail resource use and case processing, neighborhood conditions and victimization, and community asset mapping.  The Leadership Council, the governing body of AJGR-JGP, reviews and approves the justice audit findings and develops an action plan based on those data findings with the help of the Justice Collaborative.