A call with Visionary Aqeela Sherrills - Reimagining public safety, transforming community, and sustaining peace

On December 11th, we welcomed new friends and old friends into our global Euphrates living room to amplify the voice of our 2020 Visionary of the Year (VOTY) Aqeela Sherrills. The VOTY award is given to peacebuilders who make the impossible possible and work at the deepest levels of peacebuilding. Aqeela's message of finding the gift in the wound and viewing peace as a journey, not as a destination, reminded us that each of us is a peacebuilder.

Reverend angel Kyodo williams opened the call, setting a tone that beautifully harmonized with the mission and vision of Euphrates. Insisting that peace is the way forward, Rev. angel reminded us that “we are the people that are going to define how it is we live and we are choosing peace...day in and day out, not just by an idea, not just by a theory, not just by a hope and not just by a great by great sound bite, but really by the practice.”

Euphrates Founder Janessa Wilder spoke with Aqeela about his lifelong dedication to healing trauma and seeding peace. He shared his vision for reimagining public safety and his powerful work with Newark Community Street Team (NCST) to not only reduce violence but also to create a true presence of safety. Aqeela emphasized the need to build compassion and understanding into our systems to have true transformative social change. Informed by his lived experiences, Aqeela strives to be present, discover the gift in the wound, and find joy in every day.

If you'd like to watch the call, please click here for the call recording. You also have the option to read the complete transcript at this link here.