Restorative justice was conceptualized as having both material and social components. These areas are all deeply tied to each other and to the people whose lives were, and continue to be, rooted in Brooklyn. The Listening Session generated numerous ideas to consider in building justice in each issue area.
1. Education- Schools and Libraries closed
The WestEd Report’s detailed data and findings show that: Students attending “high-poverty” schools in North Carolina are far less likely to receive a sound basic education. In 2017-18, 31% of all CMS students attended high poverty schools, but 95-97% were students of color and only 3-5% were white. In the 76 CMS schools where all students qualify for free lunch, nearly 87% are African American or Latino. These schools are also segregated by race. Across all traditional public schools, enrollment is 52% students of color; in high-poverty schools, enrollment is 77% students of color. Overall, enrollment is 44% students of color; in high-poverty charter schools, enrollment is 93% students of color.
Students attending high poverty schools have less access to qualified teachers, qualified principals, sufficient educational resources, and a challenging curriculum, including advanced high school courses and programs for gifted students. These schools also have higher teacher and principal turnover rates.
High poverty schools lack the necessary financial and other resources to provide needed services or meet the additional challenges students will face.
Numerous schools and libraries were closed, including the first Black library in North Carolina. What does restorative justice look like?
● Safe, low-cost out-of-school time programs and summer camps for residents
● Programs about what happened in Brooklyn around the city
● Opening of new schools and libraries for displaced population
● Increase funding/hours for libraries in parts of Charlotte where the displaced population currently lives
● Create a free and public educational exhibit on the history of the neighborhood as part of Brooklyn Village redevelopment
2. Faith Communities- 11 Black churches, the spiritual homes of countless Brooklyn residents, were closed, leaving only one or two in the neighborhood. White churches were opened where they once stood. What does restorative justice look like?
● Build churches to meet needs of the people
● Create more meeting places
● Create interfaith community coalitions (outside of clergy) to raise awareness about Brooklyn village
● Host memorial services across faith communities to commemorate closed churches
3. Businesses- Over 200 businesses closed 216 businesses were closed as their customers and owners were displaced. What does restorative justice look like?
● Support the start of new businesses that the community can use – both those displaced around the city and potential new residents of the area
● Business leadership and management programming for former residents
● Business grants and subsidized rentals for businesses that were forced to relocate
● Programs to fight low income and stagnant economic mobility
● Viable opportunities for economic redevelopment
4. Home and Land Values and Ownership- The land is now prime real estate. In Brooklyn, thriving properties were evaluated as “blighted” and targeted for demolition. This land is now prime real estate, valued at nearly a billion dollars. What does restorative justice look like?
● Start a formal econometric valuation process to compensate former residents fairly
● Rebuild spaces and places that community needs
● Community land trusts to prevent further gentrification
● Increase affordable housing allocation of new development from 10% to 20%
● Stabilize and strengthen existing communities
● Ensure the planning of accessible public space as part of the Brooklyn