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JUST COMMUNITIES ARIZONA

Tucson, AZ · EIN 870884330 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE L01 · Housing & Shelter · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.justcommunitiesarizona.org
revenue
$689K
expenses
$464K
net assets
$226K
employees
5
volunteers
20
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

We are creating new models for justice and safety outside of Arizona's punishment system.

profile · synthesized from sources

Just Communities Arizona (formerly AFSC-Arizona) is an abolitionist organization working to create new models for justice and safety outside of Arizona's punishment system. They focus on healing and community-based solutions, serving people with convictions, formerly incarcerated individuals, and their communities. The organization operates primarily in Maricopa County and Tucson, Arizona.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $107K
    JCA recruited 5 Community Expungement Advocates to conduct outreach on the availability of public record expungement for past convictions for marijuana possession. During the year, they reached a total of 3,678 contacts through virtual trainings over Zoom for drug treatment and behavioral service providers (12 over the course of the year); In-person presentations (55) at churches, recovery events, and the University of Arizona; and flyering at public events, dispensaries, public transit centers, the Community Food Bank, Swap Meet, and other gathering places. Information on expungement was provided at each intake session at the Pima County Reentry Center during the year. Information on expungement was also mailed to over 2,500 currently incarcerated individuals, who are also eligible for expungement.
  2. #2 $139K
    In 2022, Just Communities Arizona completed an ambitious research project in which we surveyed over 1,200 Tucsonans on their perception of key issues impacting safety in their communities. Through support from Microsoft, the Urban Institute, and the City of Tucson, we employed a team of Community Co-Researchers to reach out to their neighbors and solicit their input, collecting responses from each of Tucson's Wards. The data is now publicly available via an interactive dashboard hosted on our webpage that allows users to filter the data by demographics, geographic area, subject, and many other variables.
named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Safety Incubator Projects
Provides support and resources to small groups of neighbors in Tucson to envision and enact projects that make their community safer and more connected, such as street beautification, resource sharing, and community events.
JustReinvest Grant Program
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving Maricopa County communities, focusing on behavioral health, reentry, job training, jail diversion, and prevention programs, with an emphasis on equitable allocation for small and grassroots organizations.
activities · 8 clusters

what they do

  • Community-Based Restorative Justice Circles 4 activities
    • Community-Based Alternatives to Criminal Justice
      Identifies, supports, and promotes programs and services outside the criminal justice system that foster community, restore wholeness, treat trauma, and promote wellbeing through community research, advocacy campaigns, pilot projects, and awareness initiatives.
    • Leadership Development for Directly Impacted Individuals
      Fosters the leadership of directly impacted people in the movement to end mass incarceration through community outreach, research, leadership training, digital storytelling, and communications campaigns.
    • Leadership Development for Impacted Individuals
      Fosters the leadership of individuals directly impacted by the justice system through community outreach, research, leadership training, digital storytelling, and media campaigns to end mass incarceration.
    • Promoting Alternatives to the Criminal Justice System
      Identifies, supports, and promotes programs and services outside the criminal justice system that create community, restore wholeness, treat trauma, and foster wellbeing, through community research, advocacy campaigns, supporting pilot projects, and increasing awareness.
  • Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 3 activities
    • Advocacy for Criminal Justice Reform
      Works to change laws and policies to reduce criminalization, decarceration, and sentence lengths through policy and advocacy campaigns, constituent mobilization, and coalition building, contributing to passing sentencing reform legislation every legislative session since 2012.
    • Challenging For-Profit Incarceration
      Challenged for-profit incarceration by exposing poor performance of private prisons, leading to a state-mandated comparison review, cancellation of an RFP for 5,000 beds, and passing County and City resolutions against privatizing jail management or services.
    • Policy Advocacy and Legislative Reform
      Engages in policy and advocacy campaigns, constituent mobilization, and coalition building to change laws and policies that reduce criminalization, promote decarceration, and shorten sentence lengths. This includes contributing to sentencing reform legislation and challenging for-profit incarceration.
  • Neighborhood Watch Support & Patrol Programs 2 activities
    • Community Safety Incubator Projects
      Implements community-driven safety projects in Tucson neighborhoods, including Fairgrounds, Arroyo Chico, Palomino Crossing, and Cumbias, to enhance community safety and support local residents.
    • Conducting Community Safety Incubator Projects
      Supports Tucson neighborhoods by implementing community-driven Safety Incubator Projects in areas such as Fairgrounds, Arroyo Chico, Palomino Crossing, and Cumbias to enhance community safety.
  • State-Specific Policy and Community Research Publishing 2 activities
    • Conducting Original Research on Criminal Justice Issues
      Conducts original research on topics such as drug prosecutions and sentencing, conditions, cost, and performance of Arizona's private prisons, and neighborhood perceptions of community safety, which has informed policy in Arizona and beyond.
    • Research and Policy Analysis
      Conducts original research on topics such as drug prosecutions, sentencing, private prisons, and community safety perceptions, which informs policy decisions in Arizona and beyond. This includes publishing reports like "The Barrio Centro Community Safety Participatory Research Project Report."
  • Local Community Grantmaking 2 activities
    • Grantmaking to Maricopa County Nonprofits
      Awards grants to nonprofit organizations in Maricopa County, with $1,000,000 in renewals and new grants planned for 2026, to expand resources for community-based organizations.
    • Support for Community-Based Organizations
      Expands resources for and awards grants to nonprofit organizations in Maricopa County, with plans to distribute $1,000,000 in renewals and new grants in 2026.
  • Criminal Record Relief Services 2 activities
    • Prop 207 Expungement Assistance
      Developed and maintains the largest outreach mechanism in Arizona to provide assistance for Prop 207 expungement.
    • Providing Prop 207 Expungement Assistance
      Developed and maintains the largest outreach mechanism in Arizona to provide assistance for Prop 207 expungement.
  • Youth Narrative and Community Reintegration 2 activities
    • ReFraming Justice Project
      Operates the ReFraming Justice Project, founded in 2015, which provides a platform for systems-involved individuals to drive change through storytelling, public testimony, engagement, and advocacy.
    • Supporting Systems-Involved Individuals through ReFraming Justice Project
      Operates the ReFraming Justice Project, founded in 2015, which provides a platform for systems-involved individuals to drive change through storytelling, public testimony, engagement, and advocacy.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Grassroots Organization and Coalition Building
      Organizes grassroots organizations in Arizona, particularly Black and Brown organizations, around issues like Justice Reinvestment and Prop 207 to foster solidarity and collective action.
    • Organizing Grassroots Organizations for Justice Reinvestment
      Organized over 65 grassroots organizations in Arizona around Justice Reinvestment and Prop 207, fostering solidarity among local Black and Brown grassroots organizations.
    • Publishing Community Safety Research Reports
      Published "The Barrio Centro Community Safety Participatory Research Project Report."
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$689K
Contributions & grants$689K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$464K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$272K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$229K
Cash$23K
Investments$0
Liabilities$4K
Net assets$226K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Caroline Isaacs Executive Director 1 $93K
board members · 10
  • Beth Meyer — Board Member
  • Daniel Howe — Board Member
  • Liane Hernandez — Secretary
  • Luis Carrion — Board Member
  • Marilyn Rodriguez — Chair
  • Ronald Simpson-Bey — Board Member
  • Roopali Desai — Board Member
  • Steven Scharboneau — Vice-Chair
  • Tasha Menaker — Board Member
  • Zachary Stout — Treasurer
relationships · 24

who they work with

  • AZ Village Network Partner — Khalil Rushdan, Justice Reinvestment Program Manager, is the founder of AZ Village Network, which works to remove barriers for justice-involved individuals.
  • American Friends Service Committee Partner — Spun off from this parent organization in January 2022 to become an independent 501(c)(3).
  • Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Partner — Tasha Menaker, Director of Just Communities Arizona, was formerly the Director of Sexual Violence Response Initiatives.
  • CPES, Inc. Partner — Kesha Dawson, Vice Chair of Just Communities Arizona, was formerly the Director of Organizational Development.
  • Center for Progressive Leadership Partner — Beth Meyer, Treasurer of Just Communities Arizona, previously served as the National Vice President of State Operations.
  • Common Cause Partner — Jenny Guzman, Director of Just Communities Arizona, is the Arizona Program Director.
  • Creosote Partners Partner — Marilyn Rodriguez, Chair of Just Communities Arizona, founded this progressive lobbying, government relations, communications, and legislative advocacy firm.
  • Heavy Kettle Popcorn LLC Partner — Daniel Howe, Director of Just Communities Arizona, is the owner and director.
  • Intuit Partner — Kesha Dawson, Vice Chair of Just Communities Arizona, was formerly a Learning Systems Architect.
  • Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. Partner — Jamie Ibrahim, Director of Just Communities Arizona, began her legal aid work here in 2006.
  • Leading For Change (LFC) Partner — Beth Meyer, Treasurer of Just Communities Arizona, is President and CEO of this nonprofit.
  • Maricopa County Government — Manages Justice Reinvestment grant funding via Proposition 207 for Maricopa County.
  • Maricopa County Health Department Partner — Serves as the Fiscal Agent for the Maricopa County Health Department, assisting with the distribution of Justice Reinvestment funds.
  • Match Group Partner — Tasha Menaker, Director of Just Communities Arizona, is a Senior Director of Social Impact.
  • Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona (now PPAZ) Partner — Beth Meyer, Treasurer of Just Communities Arizona, previously served as the Vice President of External Affairs.
  • Second Chance Tucson Partner — Daniel Howe, Director of Just Communities Arizona, is the Co-Executive Director.
  • Social Venture Partners Partner — Kesha Dawson, Vice Chair of Just Communities Arizona, chairs the Fast Pitch Mentor program. Jamie Ibrahim, Director, represented her organization in the 2023 Fast Pitch program.
  • Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. Partner — Jamie Ibrahim, Director of Just Communities Arizona, is the Deputy Director.
  • The Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University Partner — Dr. Grace Gámez, a crucial architect of JCA’s work, now serves as Assistant Director of Advocacy at this center.
  • The Earnest House LLC Partner — Daniel Howe, Director of Just Communities Arizona, is the owner and director.
  • The OpEd Project Partner — Liane Hernandez, Secretary of Just Communities Arizona, joined this organization due to her passion for community and equitable access to justice.
  • Tucson Electric Power Partner — Kesha Dawson, Vice Chair of Just Communities Arizona, serves as the Corporate Learning & Development Manager.
  • UNS Energy Partner — Kesha Dawson, Vice Chair of Just Communities Arizona, is a member of Women in Energy.
  • Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona Partner — Kesha Dawson, Vice Chair of Just Communities Arizona, was formerly the Program Manager.