Community
In person and virtual connection with others who understand this particular kind of loss, and who hold space for wherever you are in your grief.
There are more of us than you might think…
If you've lost a loved one to homicide and you've ever wondered whether long sentences actually make us safer, you're not the only one. Survivor Action For Equity is a community of people who've asked that same question and found each other. We are committed to public policies that truly make our communities safer.
Maybe you've found yourself questioning whether a long sentence is what justice looks like for you, and realized that what you really want has more to do with healing than punishment.
Who We Are
A community first.
Activists second.
SAFE is a growing community of survivors in California who have lost a family member or close friend to homicide. We come together because we've lived through something most people haven't, and because many of us have landed in a similar place: believing that people who've caused harm are capable of real change, and that permanent punishment isn't what keeps us safe.
You don't need to have it all figured out to belong here. Some of our members are deep in activism. Others come for the community and the chance to be understood. Both are welcome.
There's no single way to be involved with SAFE.
Here's what's available to you.
Activism
For members who want to take action, there are opportunities to share your story publicly, educate your community, or support SAFE's broader efforts.
Training
We don't expect members to arrive as experienced activists. SAFE offers guidance and practice for telling your story in a way that honors both the loss and the healing.
Whatever you choose, healing tends to be part of it.
Our Community
We come at this from different perspectives, and with different ways of living with what's happened to us. We embrace the fact that our members have diverse pathways for dealing with harm and hold a range of viewpoints on issues. What brings us together is a shared belief that sentencing a young person to life without parole, with no opportunity for review, does not actually support public safety.
Community Guidelines
SAFE has a formal set of Culture and Community Guidelines, built collaboratively with our steering committee. They shape how we show up for each other in a space where everyone is carrying something heavy.
Curiosity Over Conclusions
We come to this work with different perspectives, different timelines, and different ways of making sense of what happened. None of us is further along than anyone else.
Confidentiality
What is shared in our spaces stays in our spaces. You are welcome to carry the learning with you, but names, stories, and personal disclosures belong to the people who shared them.
How We Disagree
Relationship comes first. We won't always agree, and we don't need to, but we care for one another and disagree with respect.
Self-Care and Boundaries
We honor our own limits, and we step back when we need to. Supporting each other starts with supporting ourselves.
If You've Lost Someone
If homicide has touched your life and you've found yourself drawn to a different way of thinking about justice, we'd love to meet you. No prior experience necessary. Just a shared belief in second chances.
If You Support What We're Doing
Some of our strongest support comes from people who believe in what we believe but haven't experienced this kind of loss themselves. There are real ways to support SAFE's work without being a survivor.
Come as you are.
Come as you are. People arrive here with different experiences, perspectives, and relationships to what happened. What brings us together is a shared belief that life without parole is not the answer. Whether you're ready to dive in or just want to learn more, the first step is just saying hello.