Zach Norris

About the author, quoting from pages 197-198 of the book". . .In addition to being a Harvard University graduate and a New York University--educated attorney, Zach is also a graduate of the Labor Community Strategy Center's National School for Strategic Organizing in Los Angeles, California, and was a 2011 Soros Justice Fellow. He is a former board member at Witness for Peace and Just Cause Oakland and currently serves on the Justice for Families board. . ."About the book: This quote is from the foreword to the book, written by Van Jones, CNN commentator and developer of the series, 'The Redemption Project, "Just as there are no throwaway resources or throwaway species, there are no throwaway people or throwaway communities. Once we recognize the intrinsic value of every member of the human family, we can achieve justice, healing, and redemption. . ." This work includes extensive chapter notes and is well indexed.… (meer)

"Defund the Police" has quickly become a polarizing phrase that can mean different things to different people, even people ostensibly on the same side of the issue. I find Zach Norris' vision of community networks and social programs that decrease the need for such a large prison industrial complex pretty easy to get behind.

At the same time, as far as books go, I found it slow going, and it was hard to build up enthusiasm to pick it up again after each time I slipped in a book mark and closed the cover. It took me almost a month to get through 163 pages. Worth the effort though.… (meer)

Norris relates the stories of individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities that have experienced the harm perpetrated by America’s fear-based model of safety. Norris advocates for a system of caring. In this book he provides specific recommendations for holding people accountable while keeping them part of community. He argues that it is by building strong relationships that we will ensure our personal and communal safety. This is a book to be read by all citizens. Perhaps then we will all better understand how by coming together we build truly safe communities.… (meer)