Through leadership development and community organizing, RFP supports community members to envision and organize for policies and practices that build personal and community well-being. Through an ongoing youth organizing program with leadership development at the center, Roots for Peace supports youth to advance human-centered policies, build alternatives for safety, and divest from policing and militarism.

RFP engages in “care-first” systems change work. We define "care-first" as an umbrella term that moves away from punitive, police-first models of “safety.” Instead, we seek investments in community, care-based strategies and services to holistically create safe, healthy communities.

In essence, we advocate for alternatives that push for “care first” and “police last” (en route to “never”). At the micro level, care-first can look like divestment from policing and investment in community-based alternatives to safety.

At the macro level, care-first can look like pushing for investment in public health/community needs. These may include health care, mental health services, food, housing, transportation, and other elements of a built environment that support a community to thrive.