Collaboration and Courage: Lessons from the UJC Summit
By Blair Garner
I had the opportunity to attend the UJC Summit at The Shed, sponsored by Roc Nation. What I experienced was more than a conference. It was a powerful gathering of people committed to criminal justice reform, community healing, and creating better opportunities for those impacted by the justice system.
The summit brought together more than 40 vendors and featured eight informative and engaging panel discussions. Topics ranged from youth justice initiatives and college-in-prison programs to mental health in the Black community and the experiences of incarcerated women.
The room was filled with activists, advocates, students, educators, community workers, and organizations from across the country. There was a genuine sense of purpose and camaraderie. People were not simply showing up to talk about problems. They were sharing ideas, building relationships, and looking for ways to make a difference.
People Doing the Work
Several individuals and organizations stood out to me because of their passion, commitment, and sincerity. While I cannot give everyone the recognition they deserve in one article, I want to highlight a few who made an impression on me.
I had the pleasure of connecting with Mr. Walter “King Tut” Johnson, who shared his new book, Second Chance First Responsibility: How I Rebuilt My Life Inside and Outside of Prison. Our conversation was inspiring. His story is a reminder that a person’s past does not have to determine their future. It also reinforced my belief that we must continue creating opportunities for people to grow, rebuild, and reach their full potential.
I also connected with some emerging organizations doing meaningful work in their communities. The Family Systems Collective, led by Dr. Franchesca Capellan, has a mission that speaks for itself: “We keep families impacted by incarceration connected to resources.” When a family is affected by incarceration, the impact often extends far beyond the individual. Connecting those families to the support they need is an important part of helping communities heal.
Another group that caught my attention was T.R.U.C.3. Inc. I spent time with Vincent, Terrence, and Meshach, three mentors and youth justice advocates whose personal experiences with teen violence have helped shape their commitment to young people. They are using their experiences and wisdom to guide the next generation toward better choices and brighter futures.
Their work highlights something we should never overlook: the people who have lived through difficult experiences can become some of our most effective teachers, mentors, and advocates.
Collaboration Is the Key
As the summit began to wind down, I reconnected with an old friend, Leperry Fore of The Best Inc. We took the opportunity to discuss our next community collaboration.
That conversation brought me back to what I believe was the central message of the entire event: collaboration and courage.
The summit reportedly brought together approximately 50 organizations that tabled to promote their causes, along with 1,700 guests representing hundreds of other organizations and agencies from around the country. Think about that for a moment. So many people, from different backgrounds and organizations, came together around a shared commitment to justice, opportunity, and community improvement.
Yet, as important as these gatherings are, we must ask ourselves what happens after everyone goes home.
Do we follow up on the conversations? Do we share resources? Do we connect organizations that serve the same communities? Do we put our egos aside long enough to recognize that another organization’s success can also be a win for the people we serve?
Too often, organizations working toward similar goals operate separately. We may compete for funding, recognition, or attention when we could be combining our strengths to accomplish much more. The people and communities who depend on our work cannot afford for us to operate that way.
Collaboration does not mean that every organization must do the same thing. It means recognizing what each organization brings to the table and finding ways to work together toward a common goal.
Let That Sink In
In today’s climate, when communities are facing so many challenges and the need for meaningful solutions remains urgent, collaboration is not just a good idea. It is a responsibility.
We cannot talk about healing communities while refusing to build relationships with the people already doing the work. We cannot claim to be committed to change if we are unwilling to share knowledge, open doors, and support one another.
The UJC Summit reminded me that there are people across this country who are committed to making a difference. They are working with young people, supporting families, challenging injustice, educating communities, and helping individuals rebuild their lives.
Now, we must turn those connections into action.
As I continue my own work in the community, I remain committed to building partnerships that produce real results. Because at the end of the day, this work is bigger than any one person, organization, or title.
“If we truly want to move our communities forward, we must learn to move forward together.”
Let that sink in… especially in this climate.
This is Blair Garner, and this is Civically Engaged.