CPE Blog

In 2013, a year after the murder of Trayvon Martin, the Black Lives Matter movement mobilized to demand meaningful policy change to address anti-Black violence across the country. While many jurisdictions passed new regulations, such as chokehold bans, and created alternative response programs rooted in community care, a new CPE study reveals that the level of police violence in the form of nonfatal injuries has remained relatively constant. Real change has not been achieved. Our blog post delves into these findings and the urgent steps needed to create safer communities for all.

What does safety really mean in the Antelope Valley? During the Justice Navigator Assessments in Lancaster and Palmdale, CA, the CPE Community Engagement team met with residents to find out how to improve trust between communities and law enforcement. In these listening sessions, the CPE team learned that community members define safety not just through trust, but through authentic engagement and community-led solutions.

In this blog, Marcus McKinney, Senior Advisor for Government Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives at CPE, pens A Love Letter to Los Angeles in honor of #HispanicHeritageMonth. In it, he recalls the city’s history of resilience and how, time and again, Angelenos rise up to fight against discrimination and oppression. Their bravery–especially now when Black and Brown communities are being targeted and discriminated against by the Trump administration’s immigration policies–inspires us to continue advocating for a better future for all.

On September 17, 2025, we proudly joined with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to release two new Justice Navigator Assessments (JNAs) for the Lancaster and Palmdale Stations. This joint rollout event marked an important milestone in our more than three-year partnership with LASD, rooted in a shared commitment: making public safety systems in the Antelope Valley work better for everyone.

As Congress moves to slash Medicaid funding, millions of Americans stand to lose more than just health coverage—they risk losing the stability and safety that come from accessible care. Drawing on the firsthand experiences of a former police chief and a mental health professional, this blog explores how deep cuts to the social safety net threaten not only individual well-being, but also the health and safety of entire communities.

In a society overwhelmed by urgent crises and systemic injustices, the need for care—especially within our public safety systems—has never been more urgent. This blog explores how systemic racism impacts the mental health of Black and Brown communities, highlighting the role of public safety in perpetuating or alleviating these challenges. As National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month shines a spotlight on these issues, the Center for Policing Equity examines the progress made through initiatives like Medicaid and community-centered mental health programs in cities like Seattle and San Francisco. With threats to healthcare funding looming, the call to action is clear: invest in community-based mental health support to ensure justice, safety, and well-being for all.

This blog highlights the important work of Brittenay Causieestko-Lee, the Director of Community Engagement at the Center for Policing Equity, as she shares her transformative journey as a participant in Cohort 3 of the Organizer Accelerator Program, a partnership with the NAACP and the Groundwork Project.

Tracking headlines these days can feel like a procession of bad and worse news. Immigration enforcement is increasingly visible and aggressive, destabilizing families and communities and operating without oversight or accountability.
Yet, without fanfare and not without compromise, communities and lawmakers around the country continue to press forward. As the Government Affairs Associate at the Center for Policing Equity
(CPE), I’ve worked with inspired community members and dedicated elected officials who move the needle for racial justice and are bringing about a public health-centered approach to public safety.