The Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), Communities United for Police Reform and Local Progress will co-host a two day National Convening on Police Accountability. In September, CPD partner organizations, elected officials, funders and other local leaders from across the country will gather in Manhattan to envision police reform campaigns that shift local policy, alter relationships between law enforcement and residents of impacted communities, and highlight and mobilize the growing power of immigrant communities and communities of color to stay the tide of ineffective, dehumanizing and discriminatory policing.

The convening will translate the interest and excitement of communities across the country working on issues related to discriminatory policing into a coordinated effort to increase police accountability through changes to state and local policy. In recent years, the hard work and creativity of organizers and advocates from across the country, has elevated the issue of discriminatory policing and the need for responsible, respectful and effective approaches to law enforcement. CPD’s work in coalition with Communities United for Police Reform is a powerful example of this: the New York City coalition has leveraged the expertise of its members—base-building groups, legal services organizations, policy advocates and researchers—to pass the Community Safety Act, a groundbreaking package of police accountability policies.

The National Convening on Police Accountability will focus on documenting and disseminating the lessons learned in NYC, and in cities across the country, among organizers, politicians and community leaders who are eager to see more responsive, respectful and effective law enforcement approaches implemented in their communities. By helping to deepen relationships among partners, elected officials and other stakeholders the convening will be an important contribution to the movement for respectful and responsive policing.