Pursuing Justice by Fostering Community by Augie Lujan

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."

– Coretta Scott King

Mrs. King is Right. An incredible icon, author, activist, and wife to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she has an in-depth and real-world knowledge of justice. What justice looks like, how to pursue it, and what it looks like. With her experience and perspective, she understood that justice isn't just a concept reserved for grand conversations about the legal system, rules, and laws but about how community members treat one another. Because a community that is compassionate and treats each other fairly would naturally be just - it just makes so much sense. Just as all the civil rights and spiritual leadership believed, justice begins with the people.

Community isn't just the physical neighborhood, homes, and streets - it's the people. Justice isn't just the laws, rules, and punishment - it's the treatment; it's how a community and society function and operate. For decades and even centuries, the United States has been working (and at many times struggling) to become more united. The idealism of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" written into the Declaration of Independence and the aim to be "one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" from our school-aged pledges, are baked into this American Pie.

But, unfortunately, social ills such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia have plagued our progress and been the concrete-thick mud that we've been desperately fighting to break free from.

Traditionally, the adults do all the fighting - the ones who can't seem to get along. It's a disheartening and sad sight when the faults of the parents impact the children. Although there are countless studies and heart-warming videos that show how babies and little children easily get along and don't allow superficial and physical differences to alter how they interact with and treat each other, recently, it's been the youth who have felt the brunt and the burden of ignorance and discrimination.

In the news, it's been common to hear about discrimination regarding race and sexual orientation in specific locations in the South and Florida but states like Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest are not immune to these shortcomings.

In Kitsap County, Latinx parents have been protesting and publicly criticizing the local school systems, alleging racial/ethnic discrimination. In what seems like a scene from a movie about Jim Crow segregation, students have been discouraged from pursuing STEM fields, excluded from resources, taught not to be proud of their ethnic heritage, and taunted with racial stereotypes of "eating too many burritos." The parents haven't been receiving vital information in Spanish, and when they've followed up with school administrators about their and their children's grievances, they are often ignored.

For many citizens in Washington, the Pacific Northwest, or the West Coast in general, this behavior seems uncharacteristic, like something of the past or that only exists in "other" areas, but bigotry and prejudice are a part of their histories as well. Washington State has a long history of segregation, Oregon had many Black Exclusion laws, and sunny California had many 'sundown towns." Though the residents may love only to see these states as liberal bastions of progress, there is a dark history, and this history, ideology, and attitude still exist in places outside of the main cities.

In addition to the racial discrimination, there's also been heavy discrimination against the youth LGBTQ community. While many LGBTQ youth celebrated Pride in June, adults at city council meetings wore shirts reading "It's not okay to be gay" and comparing them to heroin addicts. The image of a hate group is usually one of hoods and capes and has an unmistakable aesthetic of aggression. Still, there are accounts of hate groups that masquerade as parent or community groups that rail against the Black, brown, and LGBTQ communities the same way.

It's a constant struggle for the youth to grow, mature, develop, and love themselves adequately when the adults in the communities act in this manner. There's no consistent and robust support system to nurture them properly, which leaves them susceptible to mental and emotional turmoil. Parsons, a counselor and psychotherapist, spoke of this internal battle. "I try to be honest, but I'm not a fool. You internalize the homophobia. Half the battle of a gay person is in our own heads - there's isolation, withdrawal, drugs, alcohol, and our own fear."

How do we turn this around?

By pursuing justice - by pursuing a sense of community.

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

Yes, it's time to determine what we care about as a society - who all face troubles and stresses and have individual battles and who deserve fairness, decency, and their humanity. Envision a community where people genuinely care about each other, understand that everyone has a story and struggles, and are willing to extend a helping hand rather than judgment. That's what pursuing community justice through compassion is all about.

To be empathetic and compassionate, it takes self-reflection and understanding. When we take the time to understand someone's background, experiences, and challenges, it's easier to empathize with them. We all make mistakes, but compassion helps us recognize that people can grow and change if given the chance.

Another aspect of pursuing community justice through compassion is fostering a sense of belonging - and the youth specifically need a sense of belonging to develop their brightest potential. When individuals feel connected to their community, they're more likely to want to invest in their communities and work to improve them. Building a sense of belonging means creating a space where people can come together, share their stories, and work toward a common goal of a safer and more harmonious community. Just like the Kings believed in pursuing justice through fostering tolerance, compassion, and community, we must follow their example and work to create a society where we all thrive and can find safety, justice, and happiness.

Augie Lujan

My name is Augie Lujan and I am the Co-Founder of at 501(c)3 nonprofit NW Hopeful Horizons and also sit on the Kitsap County Human Rights Council. I grew up in Los Angeles as a latino male in alarge Mexican America family. I had many friends I grew up with get involved with gangs and drugs so at age of eighteen I joined the Navy, right out of high school. While in the Navy I met my wife and have been married for 18 years. After four years in the Navy I received an honorable discharge and pursued a masters degree in criminal justice and later pursued and MBA. My wife and I have resided in Kitsap County since 2007 and have served on various boards, active as volunteers to our community and have lead and mentored youth in our community. We have a blended family with three young adult children, two who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and inspired our development of NW Hopeful Horizon. I currently work as a construction superintendent and assist my wife and youngest son in the launch of our nonprofit and continuing to serve our community with a passion in human rights and equality.

The views expressed in this blog are the sole views of the author. The author and host of the blog are not offering any sort of replacement for mental health therapy or other professional services by reading this blog.