To share knowledge and explore new approaches to corrections, diversion and re-entry, the University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center (UHCDC) hosted “Breaking Cycles Symposium: Re-envisioning a Health, Housing, and Corrections Continuum” in partnership with the Department of Public Safety, Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission, Correctional Reform Working Group, YWCA Oʻahu and the Governor’s office on October 10–11.
“This was a true collaboration that demonstrates how the university can create new space for government and community members to come together to work towards real systems change,” said Cathi Ho Schar, an associate professor at the School of Architecture, director of UHCDC and a co-organizer for the event.
Throughout the last year, the UHCDC team, including faculty, staff and students from the School of Architecture, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, William S. Richardson School of Law and the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, engaged the community around alternative models to a new jail facility and a more robust community-based continuum of care.
Talking to incarcerated individuals, their families, cultural and spiritual leaders, community organizations, public agencies and elected officials led the UH team to plan the event, in response to a call for more collaboration across public and private entities.
Important messages from Gov. Josh Green, Public Safety Director Tommy Johnson and others highlighted the need to address the mental health, substance abuse, housing and justice needs in Hawaiʻi through stronger partnerships with the community.
“We genuinely appreciate this opportunity to look at our many challenges as a collective of agencies and organizations,” said Johnson.
The event ended with a workshop soliciting action items related to whole systems change.
Find more information on the symposium here. For more information on the project go to the UHCDC website.
