This toolkit redefines understanding of safety, specifically through the lived experiences of racially minoritized communities. It argues that while institutions often view safety through the narrow lens of policing and crime, the community sees it as a multifaceted state of well-being that includes spiritual, emotional, and economic security. Safety is presented not just as the absence of danger, but as the presence of agency, belonging, and the power to influence the systems that govern one’s life.

Key Dimensions of Safety

Holistic Well-being: Encompasses bodily autonomy, psychological health, spiritual safety, and a genuine sense of belonging.

Economic & Structural Security: Access to assets, resources, and the ability to build generational wealth, alongside representation within public institutions.

Freedom & Agency: The capacity to live free from coercion and the power to influence systems rather than just being a subject of them.

Collective Power: Safety is held together by shared concerns for social justice and a strong connection to others.

Key Factors Undermining Safety

Systemic Harms: Negative or coercive encounters with the police, criminal justice system, and marginalization within education.

Lack of Representation: Poor visibility and influence within private and public institutions.

Economic Deprivation: A lack of community spaces (buildings/assets) and viable pathways to financial stability.

Internal & Institutional Pressures: Coercive religious practices or individualistic, apathetic responses to shared community problems.