JANUARY BLOG
stopRED and the Dr. King’s Six Core Beliefs
RED COORDINATOR EFFORTS – A WORK OF LOVE
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. King

The month of January holds the national holiday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King’s birth, and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Around the world and across cultural borders, Dr. King remains
honored as one of the greatest heroes of our times. A review of the efforts and activities of RED Coordinators
and their divisions reveal a work of love for the community, children, and their families. In alignment with the work of Dr. King, much of the efforts of RED, MJJA, and supporters mirror Dr. King’s beliefs.

Dr. King’s beliefs for the nonviolent movement were centered around six basic tenets:
• COURAGE – as a way of life for courageous people;
• UNDERSTANDING – REDEMPTION – RECONCILIATION - seek to win friendship and understanding;
• DEFEAT INJUSTICE – seek to defeat injustice, not people;
• EDUCATE AND TRANSFORM – willingly accept the consequences to its acts and teach/learn better;
• LOVE vs HATE – know that love is active, not passive; it restores community and resists injustice;
• UNIVERSAL JUSTICE – true activists possess deep faith that justice will eventually win.

The MJJA Executive Director, Board, and community supporters salute the works of RED Coordinators. We
realize that COVID, employee shifts, and other social factors have stifled many of the projects conducted by
RED Coordinators and their staves. However, many seeds have been planted for future growth, and many
activities have continued. In the midst of social and political transitions, your efforts are proof that you believe that “justice will eventually win.” For your efforts, MJJA has listed and spotlighted what you have done and continue to do! We salute you and center your accomplishments in Dr. King’s beliefs. Your work inspired us to create the MJJA-RED Framework
for “unPLUGGING THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE. This model, attached below, is based upon many of your past and present RED activities. You deserve to be celebrated! We attempted to list much of your works as
PLUGS in this model. We feel that your efforts, large or small, serve as a means to break the much-needed
leaks into the school-to-prison pipeline. Your work is not in vain.
I look forward to sharing this celebration/presentation with you in our first Noon Lunchtime Session, March 2.
Until then, let us know what you’re doing and how we might be of assistance to you. Again, Kudos!
Love and Respect,
Juanita M. Cleaver Simmons, RED Consultant
“J”