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Unmasked: A Future With Defunded Police
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About This Program
We tackle aspects of police defunding, particularly redistribution of funds to other city avenues that will better ensure safety & justice.
As with recent discussions of police reform, conversations of defunding police have escalated from sporadic demands of more radical activists to a mainstream, highly supported concept. We invite you to join local figures of government, activism, and public safety to examine the meaning of defunding and how it will impact the city of Charlotte.
We will discuss the discernible benefits of defunding, such as an increase of funds available for true transformative justice, e.g., funds for housing and social services. We also address how defunding socially shifts us from a culture of punishment to a culture of rehabilitation, addressing deeper issues that often are the foundation for crimes that result in police involvement and thus brutality.
We leverage discussion on this topic to inform ourselves of how city funds are truly allocated, allowing for a more transparent understanding of city budget design and priorities. Finally, we will walk away with tangible points of influence that we as city residents can use to enact change in our community.
The discussion will be streamed via the Gantt Center's YouTube live channel at 7 pm on Tuesday, June 30.
How To Participate
Viewing this program is free and open to the public. To chat during the program and contribute your perspective, you will need a YouTube account with a Gmail email address prior to the program. If you do not have a YouTube account, click here for a step-by-step tutorial on creating a YouTube account.
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About the Moderator and Panelists
Moderator
Dr. Keith Cradle is the Director of Youth/Juvenile Programs for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and responsible for juveniles/youthful offenders dealing with detention and the staff associated with successful implementation of rehabilitation/re-entry and youth development programs/initiatives.Panelists
Kristie Puckett Williams is the Statewide Campaign for Smart Justice Manager for the ACLU of North Carolina and is a working scholar in Mass Incarceration with a focus on the treatment of women including pregnant women in carceral facilities. Kristie holds an M.A. in Human Services Counseling: Addiction and Recovery Counseling. Having survived domestic violence, drug addiction, and long term incarceration via community corrections, she is now an advocate and activist, fighting for the rights of all marginalized and disenfranchised people.
Malcolm Graham is the District 2 Representative of the City of Charlotte, an experienced businessman, dedicated public servant and powerful public speaker, especially on the topics of race and discrimination, community, and common-sense gun laws. He is a Charleston, S.C. native who has lived and worked in Charlotte, N.C. for more than 30 years.Malcolm believes that our economy is stronger when more North Carolinians have an opportunity to participate in it. He has held positions committed to fostering diversity & inclusion at the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Councils, Inc, Bank of America, Time Warner Cable and Bovis Lend Lease.
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