Krestafi: There seems to be a big shift under way in the united states, and actually around the world, when it comes to understanding crime and punishment. Raj ddev was awarded a protigious mccarthur fellowship back in 20 18. He got that award for his work on participatory defense, which is an idea that he's going to tell us all about. Krestafi: This is an episode that pushed me, and i'm really hoping will push you too, to explore new ways to engage in reform. You're listening to how to be a better human i'm your host.
How would you describe your community? And what if the stories you tell have the power to save someone from injustice? With the popularity and support of movements like Black Lives Matter, it seems the world is reckoning with how we think about the systems and institutions that support mass incarceration. Today’s guest, Raj Jayadev, wants us to focus on “proximate, intimate change” in our local communities and courts. He is the co-founder and coordinator of Silicon Valley De-Bug, a community organizing, media and advocacy organization based in San Jose, California. For over a decade, De-Bug has employed a methodology they call “participatory defense”, an approach where families whose loved ones are facing the criminal court system can use their stories to transform the landscape of power in the courts. Raj and the De-Bug team have expanded their work into the National Participatory Defense Network, with hubs in more than 30 cities. His community organizing and writings have been featured in the New York Times, BBC, and TIME Magazine. In 2018, Raj was selected as a MacArthur Fellow. If you’d like to learn more about participatory defense or get involved, you can start at: https://www.participatorydefense.org/