In cities across America, violence, poverty, and trauma are more than statistics—they are daily realities, especially in Black and Brown communities. At the forefront of addressing this crisis is the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action (IRSJA)—a national think-and-do tank that trains frontline leaders, disrupts cycles of violence, and builds sustainable systems for healing through education and grassroots empowerment.
Founded by justice-impacted educators and civil rights advocates, IRSJA is reimagining public safety through community leadership. The Institute partners with municipalities, housing authorities, and schools to implement scalable models rooted in lived experience, trauma-informed practice, and academic rigor.
From Newark to Birmingham, the Institute’s impact is tangible. Programs like the Community Practitioner Certification, Pull Up for Peace, and the Junior Violence Interrupter Program aren’t just changing lives—they’re changing systems.
One of the most powerful examples of this transformation is the story of Khalil Tutt, a Newark native whose life shifted dramatically after incarceration. Khalil entered IRSJA’s Community Practitioner Certification program and emerged not just as a graduate—but as a visionary leader.
Today, Khalil is the founder of New Direction 360, and in partnership with IRSJA, he co-leads one of its flagship youth initiatives: the New Direction Leadership Empowerment Initiative (NDLEI). This year-long program trains at-risk youth to become Junior Violence Interrupters—equipping them with the tools to resolve conflict, lead with purpose, and become credible messengers in their own communities.
Recently, Khalil co-authored the Level Up! Leadership Empowerment Workbook for Junior Violence Interrupters, available now at www.voicesbooks.com. This powerful manual was written in collaboration with IRSJA co-founders Dr. Jamila T. Davis and Angelo Pinto, alongside Shadee Dukes and Alia Clark. It covers identity, mindset, emotional regulation, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and conflict resolution. Youth who complete the program don’t just earn a certificate—they earn a paycheck, a leadership role, and a new vision for their future.
“I used to be part of the problem,” Khalil shares. “Now I’m part of the solution—and I’m making sure young people get the game early. This curriculum is the mentor I wish I had.”
The curriculum is paired with a full facilitator guide and implementation model now used in IRSJA’s 8-week and yearlong city contracts, helping municipalities address violence through prevention and youth leadership—not incarceration.
IRSJA’s broader ecosystem also includes titles like 10 Steps to Healing the Wounded Healer, Money Moves, Voices of Consequences, and Agents of Change—each paired with curriculum and certification models. These aren’t just books; they’re tools for transformation, used by schools, reentry programs, and government agencies nationwide.
As cities across the country seek new solutions to complex problems, IRSJA is offering a bold alternative: leadership through healing, and justice through empowerment.
To learn more about the Institute’s work or to bring their programs to your city, visit www.theirsja.org.
To explore the Junior Violence Interrupter Training Manual, visit www.voicesbooks.com.
Dr. Jamila T. Davis & Angelo Pinto, Co-Founders of the Institute of Research for Social Justice in Action presented with the Janine P. Buckner Award at Seton Hall University.
Khalil Tutt, Senior Community Practitioner at IRSJA and the Founder of New Direction 360.
New Direction Leadership Empowerment Curriculum Guide available on www.voicesbooks.com.