What is Community Safety?

Together we are (re)defining community safety in Grand Rapids.

2023 Campaign

(re)Investing in Communities

 

The intentions of the Community Owns Safety Coalition is to become a hub for intersectional collaboration, mutual aid and organizing for direct action. We are excited to continue hosting these open spaces for working groups and interested community members on a monthly basis.

We have many dedicated folx in Grand Rapids providing direct resources to our neighbors with the most urgent needs. At our gatherings we identify working groups throughout the city that are interested in intersectional approaches to reinvesting in community and what resources are required to sustain those efforts.  

Historically, change has been achieved through working class citizens joining in solidarity and organizing the masses into direct action. We know change is possible and we know the only path forward is together – so let us seize the time!

2022 Campaign

We envisioned a safer city.
We learned about our budget.
Now, we organize to fight for our vision.

Watch the visual story of our movement to unpack our communities’ political priorities and our commitment to organize together until we reach our goal. Residents called for more education around the budget, more funding for social services in the General Operating Fund, and less investment in emergency/crisis response over prevention.

“Our city. Our money. Our say.”

2021 Campaign

Public Safety Is…

Public Safety Is the result of significant investment in community resources, services and programs that lead to better housing, health outcomes, and economic opportunities. To achieve true Public Safety, the community must have greater influence on the City of Grand Rapids budget priorities.

The Public Safety Is campaign has three goals:

  1. Inform the Grand Rapids Community of how the City of Grand Rapids sets its spending and budget priorities

  2. Create the opportunity for the community to weigh-in on setting spending and budget priorities

  3. Develop a widely-shared definition of Public Safety that is rooted in community voice