ABOUT JUSTICE & THE NEXT 250
Justice & The Next 250 is a project of The Just Trust inviting the country to look ahead. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we’re bringing together advocates, culture-makers, policymakers, and community leaders to shift the conversation from what’s broken to what’s possible—centering solutions that can shape safer, more accountable communities for generations to come.
WHY THIS CAMPAIGN? WHY NOW?
For more than fifty years, the criminal justice reform field has done essential work documenting harm, exposing failure, and naming injustice. That work changed public awareness, shifted policy debates, and built a shared understanding that the system as it exists causes real damage to individuals, families, and communities.
Because of that work, we are no longer in a moment of discovery.
We know what is broken.
We know who has been harmed.
And we know that the status quo does not deliver safety, accountability, or dignity.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the question before us is no longer whether the system needs to change. The question is what we are building next — and whether it is strong enough to last. Jutsice & The Next 250 is an invitation to lead from that future, together.
GET INVOLVED
Our grantee partners are at the center of this campaign. Your work represents what is already possible — and what can be scaled, strengthened, and sustained in the years ahead.
We invite you to engage with the campaign in ways that make sense for your work, audiences, and moment — no one-size-fits-all approach. Participation can take many forms, and your organization may choose one or multiple ways to engage. By joining the campaign, you are helping to model how the field can move forward with confidence, credibility, and real pride.
HOST AN EVENT
Hosting an event is an opportunity to bring people together around what comes next in your work and community. Formats, audiences, and focus areas should reflect your lane. Our only ask is that it would be a convening of forward-looking conversations.
What it Looks Like:
-
Convene a gathering centered on what comes next in your area of work
-
Formats may include panels, listening sessions, film screenings, town halls, teach-ins, or creative activations
-
Events should reflect your community and expertise—not a prescribed agenda
-
TJT is proud to offer $1,500–$2,000 microgrants to support event costs.
