This Thursday dive into the latest episode of iChange Justice podcast with our host Joy Gilfilen featuring Doug Gustafson, Chairman of HomesNOW, a Whatcom County 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to ending homelessness. This isn't just about housing; it's about empowerment. 🏡

Doug shares how Homes Now's innovative, tenant-run model is transforming lives right here in Whatcom County. You'll hear about success stories like the North Haven Tiny Home Community, where residents are not only housed but also actively involved in building and managing their own shelters. This unique approach provides housing and equips individuals with valuable construction and life skills, fostering true self-sufficiency. 💪

"We're not just providing a place to live; we're empowering people to be part of the solution to their own housing situation," says Doug. "This model proves that when government, community, and those experiencing homelessness work together, everyone wins."

The episode also highlights how HomesNow has driven significant changes in local policy, transforming arbitrary housing limits into sustainable, community-driven solutions through collaborative efforts and a pragmatic mindset.

Discover the challenges overcome, the lessons learned, and the replicable strategies that make HomesNow a beacon of hope and a blueprint for other communities. Tune in to understand how empathy, practical problem-solving, and collaboration can lead to transformative social change.

In a world grappling with escalating societal challenges, the iChange Justice podcast pulls back the curtains on the intricate dance between local realities and national implications within the criminal justice system. Hosts Joy Gilfilen and Karen Ball invite listeners to journey into Whatcom County, Washington—a seemingly small corner of the Pacific Northwest that, as they meticulously reveal, serves as a powerful microcosm for the struggles and solutions facing communities across the entire nation.

From the unique pressures of border security to the pervasive influence of the prison industrial complex, Gilfilen, with decades of on-the-ground experience, paints a vivid picture of the "Snaggletooth Dragon" of conflicts and paradoxes that erode public safety and economic well-being. Ball, a seasoned veteran in criminal justice and social change, expertly guides the conversation, prompting Gilfilen to distill complex global issues into tangible local impacts.

But this episode is not merely a lament; it's a call to action rooted in hope. As they delve into the origins and application of the "Joy Triangle Model," Gilfilen and Ball underscore the profound power of local engagement, authentic leadership, and the conscious pivot from fear-based thinking to regenerative action. They remind us that true change, like law enforcement itself, begins at the local level, where neighbors once helped neighbors and communities cultivated profound care. Through their impassioned dialogue, listeners are left with a renewed sense of possibility: that by understanding and addressing the nuances of a place like Whatcom County, we can indeed change justice, not just for one community, but for all.

In a significant step for the iChange Justice Podcast, Joy Gilfilen announces Karen Ball as a new co-host. This partnership aims to broaden the conversation on social, criminal, and economic justice, using their combined expertise to navigate complex issues and foster civic dialogue.

Karen Ball, with master's degrees in criminal justice and extensive experience in restorative justice, conflict resolution, and community organizing (including domestic violence prevention and nuclear weapons abolition), will bring a critical lens to the show. Both Joy and Karen reveal a surprising shared realization that challenges conventional understanding: the justice system, often perceived as a guardian of fairness, is deeply intertwined with an economic problem. They affectionately term the cost-intensive and complex "Prison Industrial Complex" the "Snaggle Tooth Dragon."

Their diverse backgrounds – Joy as a "wild and crazy cowgirl" with a knack for problem-solving from farming communities and Karen as an educator rooted in criminal justice and 4-H – provide unique perspectives. They both note that their 4-H experiences instilled a strong work ethic and community focus, albeit from different parts of the country.

A core "myth" they aim to bust is the notion of a uniform American justice system. Karen, drawing from her varied experiences, emphasizes that each state's legal system is distinct, and the concept of "We the people has, at this point in history, never meant all of the people." This profound statement highlights historical exclusions based on gender, race, and land ownership, revealing a fundamental "us and them" dynamic embedded in the nation's founding.

The podcast will continue to dissect and understand the complex layers of justice, challenging assumptions and providing a platform for nuanced conversations about creating healthier, more equitable communities.