ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) IS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS TO MAKE STRONGER AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS A NORMAL REALITY FOR EVERYONE. ACT CARRIES OUT THIS VISION THROUGH EMPOWERING RESIDENTS LIVING IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS TO STOP ILLEGAL ACTIVITY ON THEIR STREET USING THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND A DESIRE TO SEE SHALOM USHERED BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ACT USES CIVIL LAW TO SHUT DOWN THESE HOUSES THAT EAT AWAY AT THE FIBER OF ONCE PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. ACT'S LEGAL ADVOCACY MODEL IS A PRIVATE SOLUTION TO THE PUBLIC PROBLEM THESE DRUG HOUSES POSE. ACT USES EXISTING CIVIL LAWS TO BRING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE OWNERS OF THE DRUG HOUSES SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THAT FORCES THE CESSATION OF THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. IN 15 YEARS, ACT HAS SHUT DOWN OVER 256 DRUG HOUSES, IMPACTING MORE THAN 39,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE WITHIN JUST 0.1 MILE OF THE SHUTTERED HOUSES. THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH DISRUPTS THIS FIGHT AND PROVIDES A WINNING SOLUTION THAT BRINGS NEIGHBORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TOGETHER USING EXISTING CIVIL LAW TO TACKLE THIS ENTRENCHED PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. ACT'S UNIQUE LEGAL ADVOCACY APPROACH IS A PRIVATE SOLUTION TO A PUBLIC PROBLEM. ACT'S MODEL TAKES EXISTING LAWS - TRADITIONALLY ONLY UTILIZED BY MUNICIPALITIES - AND PUTS THE POWER OF THOSE LAWS INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM, THE RESIDENTS. THIS COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACH COMPLEMENTS THE WORK OF THE POLICE AND THE CITY, RESULTING IN TANGIBLE CHANGE THAT IS LONG-LASTING.