The Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions

Center for NuLeadership on Human Justice & Healing (CNHJH) is an independent research, training and

The first of its kind in the country, the Center for Nuleadership on Urban Solutions (CNUS) is an independent research, training and Human Justice policy advocacy think tank, founded and developed by academic professionals with prior experience inside the criminal justice system. Formerly at Medgar Evers College in the City University of New York, CNUS is now an autonomous 501(c)(3) nonprofit inst

itution located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. CNUS is staffed by leaders and experts directly impacted by the criminal justice system. CNUS was founded by the late luminary, Eddie Ellis, who was a consultant with Open Society Institute and successfully secured seed funding from Open Society Institute (now Open Society Foundation) for the development and launch of the NuLeadership Policy Group, later renamed the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions. Our theory of change rests upon philosophical and methodological approaches that attest to the practice of Human Justice as the most effective framework for achieving justice, safety and the wellbeing of communities as it advances Community Empowerment, System Realignment and Individual Transformation. OUR THEORY OF CHANGE consists of two frameworks, philosophical and methodological.

[1] Philosophical Framework for Human Justice
HUMAN RIGHTS + HUMAN DEVELOPMENT = HUMAN JUSTICE

* Human Rights - Inherent Rights & Dignity; Legal, Civil & Human Rights Protection
* Human Development - Capability, Capacity & Opportunities for achieving fullest human potential
* Human Justice - Community Investment & Well-Being; Healing & Accountability for the Individual, Community & System

[2] CSI Methodological Framework for Human Justice

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT involves directing resources to targeted neighborhoods to achieve sustainable community development, reinvestment and self-determination in the areas of education, economic development, civic engagement and social services. It involves creating a pool of community stakeholders equipped, trained and adequately resourced to interface with system stakeholders and participate meaningfully and equitably in the decision making process. SYSTEM ACCOUNTABILITY/CHANGE is having a principled mechanism of oversight for quality control, data collection, performance evaluation and community partnership. It is holding the system accountable, analyzing system behavior and forging system-community partnerships for arriving at solutions and outcomes that expand and enable Community Development and Empowerment, and Individual Transformation. INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION places the person, the human being, at the center of any policy, advocacy, practice or program that results in expanded and sustainable life improving opportunities and affirmative support networks. The Center is dedicated to creating new paradigms of justice directed towards reducing mass incarceration, mass unemployment and mass disenfranchisement in communities of color. It produces research, advocacy and activism that challenges and changes the contradictions existing within and among the various disciplines comprising the study of urban affairs, community economic development and criminal punishment. It promotes the development and use of “community specific” and culturally competent models for research inquiry and public policy formulation from the view point of urban communities most affected. The Center works to create new paradigms for achieving Human Justice, a concept developed by CNUS in 2012 to transcend the existing, traditional, criminal and social justice paradigms. We define Human Justice as the merger between Human Rights and Human Development. Our methodology for achieving Human Justice is through community empowerment, system change and individual transformation.

Photos from The Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions's post

12/17/2025

The Human Justice Village is coming together to support the family of Wyatt Payne, a beloved elder whose love, integrity, and quiet leadership live on through the people he touched 🕊️

Wyatt gifted our Human Justice village with his son, Terrance , who is now pioneering our From the Hood to the Woods camping retreats—introducing Black youth, many of whom have never camped before, to nature, healing, and possibility.

Wyatt was smart, hardworking, caring, and deeply resilient. No matter what life placed in front of him—whether challenges at home or struggles at work—he met them with strength, adaptability, and grace. He showed up with a smile, a story, and often a bit of tough love, turning even hard moments into lessons filled with meaning.

At this time, Wyatt’s family is in need of financial support to cover the cost of his cremation services. We are calling on our extended village to give whatever you can. Every contribution—no matter the size—helps his loved ones come together to honor his life and celebrate the love, wisdom, and gifts he shared so freely.

Their GoFundMe link is in our bio and we thank you for holding this family in love, solidarity, and care.

12/03/2025

While Giving Tuesday winds down, we wanted to close the day with a video from us and a small reminder of who we are.

This year marks 25 years of building Human Justice — not just reacting to harm, but creating systems of care, safety, and community power.

We’re raising funds for food, housing, and land justice. We’re currently in the process of feeding families, repairing homes, and creating spaces where we can heal, grow, and live with dignity.

Whether you donate, share, or just take a moment to learn — we appreciate you.

We’re still building and would love if you can join or continue on this journey with us ✊🏾💚

11/24/2025

This week, while the country celebrates “Thanksgiving,” we remember what this day really is — a legacy of stolen land, lives, and futures.

What gets framed as gratitude is rooted in unfortunate genocide.

The truth is Native people were massacred, their cultures criminalized, their lands taken, and their survival made a threat. That history isn’t just in the past — it continues today through land theft, forced displacement, mass incarceration, and systemic erasure.

We don’t give thanks for colonial lies.
We honor truth. We honor historical facts. We stand with Native communities demanding land back, cultural sovereignty, and justice — now and always.

If you’re gathering this week, gather with awareness. Unlearn the mythology. Learn whose land you’re on. Uplift Indigenous voices. And ask yourself what it means to decolonize your table, your values, and your actions — not just on ThanksTaking, but every day.

10/31/2025

In such heavy times with such heavy decisions, it’s okay to take comfort and find joy in the little things. We chose to revel in our for Halloween with some pumpkins 🎃

We have Pumpkin-Neisha, Dread Jack and some other orange friends we created (loll). DM us and show us what you’re up to and doing for joy this weekend 😉👻✨

02/11/2025

In this political climate, as we face a repeat of extreme social injustices in America, it is our duty as a community to keep programs like this going. It is our responsibility to create and sustain spaces that keep us knowledgeable, connected, safe, and forever growing.

Our Plug-In Communiversity: Electricity Workshop was a success! ⚡🔌 The Prime Factors team did their thing, and we all walked away with a deeper understanding of how electricity flows—literally and figuratively. From learning how circuits work to the hands-on wiring activities, this session was both fun and incredibly valuable.

We’re excited to keep this partnership and platform going! Stay tuned for more events with Prime Factors Learning Lab and other Communiversity sessions featuring creatives, academic partners, and hands-on experiences designed to empower and educate our community. 😉

📸 Swipe through to check out highlights from the workshop! If you missed this one, don’t worry—we have more on the way. 💡✨

01/23/2025

✨ It’s a New Year, and we’re starting it off with a spark! 🔌⚡✨

Join us for “The Plug-In” Communiversity: Electricity Workshop and Social Learning Experience happening Friday, January 31st, from 5 PM to 9 PM. This interactive event is your chance to explore how electricity powers our everyday lives, with hands-on demonstrations and insightful discussions.

📚 This workshop is made possible through the collaboration between the Center for NuLeadership on Human Justice & Healing (CNHJH) and Prime Factors Learning Lab . Inspired by witnessing this Prime Factors original workshop firsthand, CNHJH’s leadership team—Chino Hardin, Kyung-JI (KJ) Rhee, and Brittany Smith—are collaborating with Prime Factors presenters Emmanuel Larose, Elliot Ikheloa, Darryl Finkton Jr., and Aubrey Paul to bring this hands-on learning experience to Brooklyn!

Designed for individuals of all backgrounds, participants will have the chance to interact with experienced individuals in the field and participate in demonstrations of common electrical systems ⚡️🛠️

📩 RSVP to [email protected] for the exact location or to ask any questions about the workshop. Let’s kick off the year by learning, connecting, and powering up together! 💡

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Telephone

+1 347-295-0748

Website

http://www.centerfornuleadership.org/

Address

510 Gates Avenue
New York, NY
11216