James King (He/His)
Co-Director of Programs
“Criminal justice reform advocates, policymakers, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, under-resourced communities, and progressive funders must recognize and elevate impacted people as essential thought leaders and policy experts—not just subjects of policy.”
Leading Edge Idea
James is building an Emergent Strategy Lab to end mass incarceration and redirect resources toward community-based solutions that enhance collective well-being by addressing the root causes of harm, by bringing together current and formerly incarcerated scholars and advocates to develop policies that dismantle and replace the current retributive model of incarceration.
What is your vision for your community and California?
I want to elevate currently incarcerated and system-impacted leaders as key voices in California’s criminal legal reform and community safety movements. Impacted communities are underrepresented in many areas of movement work. Through the Emergent Strategy Lab (ESL), I will provide them with access to research, support, and resources so they can develop policy recommendations that shape statewide legislation and serve as models for other states.
How will the Leading Edge Fund support you in achieving your vision?
The Leading Edge Fund will be essential in realizing the Emergent Strategy Lab’s vision by:
- Funding a first-of-its-kind lab that elevates currently and formerly incarcerated people as policy experts and thought leaders.
- Providing tools and support to gather unseen data and foster strategic collaborations, shifting policy-making from reactive to proactive.
- Offering mentorship and coaching to balance immediate action with long-term strategy, enhance program management, and explore inclusive organizing models.
Can you share a story that exemplifies the problem you are trying to solve (either personally or in your work)?
In California’s legal reform movement, I am often one of the few formerly incarcerated people at the table, frequently serving as a proxy for those still incarcerated. However, true inclusion of currently incarcerated individuals in policy discussions remains lacking. My proposal aims to create infrastructure for their thought leadership, ensuring policies reflect their needs and experiences.
The lack of meaningful integration of directly impacted people in policy development has led to blind spots in addressing root causes. Despite progress in decarceration and prison closures, the movement has struggled to advocate for community resources that prevent crime and support reentry. This gap has allowed “tough on crime” policies to resurface, especially amid failing social safety nets.
Briefly share 1) Who needs to understand your work and 2) What is your call to action for them?
Criminal justice reform advocates, policymakers, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, under-resourced communities, and progressive funders must recognize and elevate impacted people as essential thought leaders and policy experts—not just subjects of policy. These individuals should be fully integrated into movement work, from data gathering to policy development and strategic planning. Through this lab, we can create inclusive structures that drive both immediate reforms and long-term systemic change.