OPEN YOUR MIND TO NEW WAYS OF THINKING
"Changing the Narrative..."
involves actively shifting past established thoughts, viewpoints, or worldviews to promote new understandings, challenge stereotypes, and drive positive change.
Crime Statistics: Firearm Deaths in LA County (2018-2022)
Overall
Black Firearm Deaths
Highest death rate
residents died from firearm injuries, averaging 2 deaths per day
Highest death rate
Black Firearm Deaths
Highest death rate
24.6 per 100,000
Black Firearm Deaths
Black Firearm Deaths
Black Firearm Deaths
higher than that of Latino/Latinx individuals and Whites
Black Firearm Deaths
firearm deaths were among males
are amongst the highest death rates
were suicides
deaths were homicides
LA County Recent Data Reports: September 2024 to April 2025
of unhoused people in LA County have a history of domestic violence
or more of incidents go unreported to law enforcement
become homeless due to domestic violence
Domestic Violence Affects Us All
Speak your truth! #TrueStory #Herstory
Tomiekia Johnson is a Black mother, an incarcerated survivor of ongoing severe domestic violence, and a former highway patrol officer. In 2009, Tomiekia’s husband physically assaulted her in the car while she was driving. While attempting to defend herself from physical violence by her abusive husband, Tomiekia and her husband struggled with a gun, resulting in a fatal shot that ended his life. Tomiekia’s mother called 911 immediately after this happened and Tomiekia was not arrested or charged until two years later. Despite video evidence of her husband abusing her before they got in the car, she was not believed as a victim of domestic violence and her experience of abuse was not taken into account during her trial. Tomiekia was convicted and sentenced to 50 years to life (25 years to life with an additional 25 to life for a gun enhancement). Due to a series of systemic biases, her trial failed to take into account the context of profound violence that she experienced within the relationship. Because of the constant danger domestic violence caused Tomiekia, she has been in prison since 2012, forcibly separating her from her child, family, and community.
For years, Tomiekia experienced severe intimate partner violence, creating an increasingly untenable situation as she did her best to survive. She was targeted with ongoing psychological and physical violence, threats, and coercion from her husband, filling her with fear for her life and for her family’s safety.
She hopes ... to become a mentor and public speaker about domestic violence, especially for young Black women who are struggling with similar kinds of intersections of violence.
"Survivors of domestic and sexual violence should be supported, not punished and imprisoned for the rest of their lives."
According to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations (LACCHR), reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County reached an all-time high in 2023, with 1,350 incidents. This represents a 45% increase from the 930 crimes reported in 2022.
Combating Violence in Our Communities
Awake.org’s Holistic Approach
🔫 Addressing Gun and Community Violence
Through partnerships with frontline organizations, we invest in Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs that employ credible messengers—community members trained to mediate conflicts and break cycles of violence.
Together, we also:
- Support at-risk youth with mentoring, job training, and after-school leadership programs.
- Promote restorative justice initiatives in schools and neighborhoods to resolve conflict and repair harm.
- Strengthen anti-violence norms through neighborhood watch groups and local community events.
- Revitalize public spaces with “cleaning and greening” projects that foster pride and deter crime.
🛡 Supporting Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Our network of partners provides direct, trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic abuse, including safe housing, counseling, legal aid, and financial assistance—delivered in culturally responsive ways.
We recognize that the connection between domestic violence and homelessness is a critical and growing concern. Many survivors are forced to flee their homes to escape abuse, often with nowhere safe to go. The rising severity of domestic violence incidents signals worsening conditions, highlighting the need for more dedicated resources, emergency housing, and long-term support.
In collaboration with our partners, we also:
- Operate 24/7 crisis hotlines and offer mobile advocacy, allowing survivors to get help on their terms.
- Conduct education and prevention campaigns on healthy relationships and recognizing abuse.
- Empower underserved communities, such as LGBTQ+ individuals and Native women, with targeted, culturally specific services.
- Advocate for policy change at the local and state level to strengthen protections for survivors and expand access to housing, healthcare, and justice.
✊ Combating Hate Crimes
By working with groups on the ground, we help build communities that are resilient against hate and united in diversity. Our hate crime prevention efforts include:
- Launching public education campaigns that promote tolerance, inclusion, and awareness.
- Improving reporting systems through accessible hotlines and online platforms in collaboration with trusted partners.
- Partnering with law enforcement and advocacy groups to enhance training and accountability in the response to hate crimes.
- Providing victim support services such as legal aid, counseling, and case management, ensuring cultural competence and dignity.
Leading rapid response and healing efforts after hate incidents to support victims and restore community safety.
Together, We Build Safer, More Just Communities
At Awake.org, we don’t do this work alone—we collaborate with experienced, grassroots partners to bring transformative, community-led solutions to life. By supporting organizations that know their neighborhoods best, we’re creating a future where safety, justice, and healing are within everyone’s reach.
👉 Learn more. Get involved. Stay Awake.
We seek to provide a hand up, not a handout!
"Changing the Narrative One View At a Time."