The Institute for Community Justice is a comprehensive prison services and reentry program providing health linkages, supportive services, education, and advocacy for individuals, families and communities impacted by mass incarceration.
Philadelphia FIGHT’s Institute for Community Justice will be partnering with the Mann Up Association and the Philadelphia Police Department’s 22nd District to host a Gun Buyback and Bucks for Bullets event on Saturday, October 24th. The event will take place at Moore’s Memorial Baptist Church, 1421 W Dauphin St, from 1 to 5pm.
The event will focus on the other pandemic plaguing Philadelphia neighborhoods: gun violence. The goal of this event is threefold: to reduce the availability of guns in the community, to build community rapport and engagement with law enforcement, and to empower residents to address gun violence in their neighborhoods.
The Bucks for Bullets concept was developed by the Mann Up Association based in SCI-Phoenix. Mann-Up co-founders Tyree Wallace, Anthony Sutton, and Robert Groves believe that having the choice to turn in bullets in addition to or in place of turning in a gun minimizes the fear that is often accompanied by interacting with the police.
Incentives, including Shop Rite and Visa gift cards of varying amounts, will be given for each gun or bullet turned in. Amounts will be determined by the type of gun turned in. All submissions will be done anonymously and without any reprisals from the criminal justice system.
Mission
The mission of ICJ is to serve any person impacted by mass incarceration by providing support services that empower those affected to thrive as their fullest selves. We envision a world free from mass incarceration where communities have equitable access to health, safety, justice, and the opportunity to design their freedom.
Dr. Cruz is a board certified pediatrician who serves as the Medical Director for our Pediatrics and Adolescent Health Center. He has presented and/or published in the fields of community violence and domestic violence prevention, quality improvement, behavioral health, curriculum development and mentorship. In 2019 he received the Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Award for Innovations in Healthcare.