It feels like this month just showed upâŠand somehow it’s already slipping away.
Yet so much has happened. From extreme heat to extreme policies, this summer has been relentless. The current administrationâs alarming actionsârolling back protections, underfunding community services, and deepening surveillanceâare making it even harder for our people to access care and safety.
But listen, donât stress. Just donât sit still either.
At 1M4, weâre building what the system refuses to:
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Mental health crisis tools built by and for our communities
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Trainings that help people respond to crisis without calling the police
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Spaces for healing, check-ins, and collective care
This work matters. It saves lives. And it canât happen without you.
Donate, share, and join, because even in chaos, we shield the village.
“The hard, painstaking work of changing ourselves into new beings, of loving ourselves and our people, and working with them daily to create a new reality – this is the first revolution, that internal revolution.“
â Safiya Bukhari
What We’re Watching
When Crystal recognized that her daughter was in a mental health crisis, she chose care over criminalization. This powerful story shows how the Right Response can change everything. In partnership with 1M4, Georgetown Lawâs CICS, and Canopy Rootsâ Minneapolis BCR team, this video highlights what community-led crisis response can and should look like.
Weâll be sharing more stories like this soon! đżÂ Learn more about Canopy Roots
Get Involved
We recently met the Canopy Roots team in person in NYC.
Can you tell we had a great time sharing lifesaving insights and collaborating?
We need your help in reaching your local community
Join us in our Community Platform today!
(donât let the ârequest to joinâ button scare you. Weâre just really careful about keeping our spaces safe)
A Family Needs Our Help
We need your voice in the fight for justice and accountability.
On December 21, 2023, Elisha Cimeon Johnson, a former Sacramento sheriffâs deputy, husband, and father of two, was unlawfully arrested and brutalized by the Buhl, Idaho Police Department. He was charged with three felonies for battery of an officer, plus a misdemeanor for obstruction of justice and a traffic violation. All charges were dropped after a bodycam review revealed the truth.
This wasnât just a mistakeâit was an act of corruption. Elisha is now suing the department and its police chief, Jeremy Engbaum. Despite the evidence, the Buhl City Council has refused to fire the chief who sanctioned this wrongful arrest.
đ Weâre asking you to make a call today.
Call the Buhl City Council and demand the immediate removal of Police Chief Jeremy Engbaum. If no one answers, leave a message. Every call matters.
Call now: 208-543-5650 (Buhl City Hall)
Bodycam Footage: Watch here
We do not typically share visuals like this to avoid traumatizing our audience, but we believe itâs important for you to see what happened. The video does not depict physical harm, but it is still upsetting because it shows a clear abuse of power.
Your Expertise is Needed!
Weâre completely revamping The Right Response Directory and need your input to ensure it meets our communityâs needs.
This critical resource connects you to alternative first-response programs offering compassionate support through peer responders, clinicians, and trained EMTs for calls like welfare checks, noise complaints, traffic incidents, and mental health crises.
Your feedback is vital for us to improve. Please take a few minutes to complete our confidential survey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
A Mental Health Tip For You
Feeling tense and not even sure why? Our bodies often hold stress long after our minds have moved on.
Thatâs why somatic tools, simple movements that help regulate the nervous system, are so powerful. Try this one next time you need a quick reset:
Do a âshoulder drop + exhaleâ to release built-up tension fast.
1. Inhale slowly through your nose.
2. As you exhale, drop your shoulders away from your ears.
3. Do this 3 times, letting your jaw unclench and your hands relax.
Even 30 seconds of conscious release can help signal to your nervous system: Iâm safe.
Spread Some Blessings!
The consequences of police violence extend far beyond the loss of life. For families affected, itâs the loss of income, the sacrifice of basic necessities, and the start of a high-cost legal fight. If you have the capacity, consider donating to 1M4. Proceeds help support impacted families and sustain the work of 1M4 toward ending police violence for good.
Sis, we know youâre holding so much: the schedules, safety plans, and late-night worries. You show up even when your tank is low. But you deserve rest. Your nervous system deserves peace because the road ahead will require all of us.
Thatâs why 1M4 is building tools that center your wellness, leadership, and right to feel safe and supported. Weâre here to help you breathe, reset, and protect not only the people you love, but also yourself. As we face whatâs next, letâs keep choosing rest and resistance. Letâs keep shielding the village together.
In August and beyond, help raise awareness of alternatives to police for mental health emergencies. Share the Right Response directory with your local community, snap a few pictures, and let us know about it. We would love to highlight you and your advocacy in our newsletter and social media pages. Share your advocacy results HERE. Whether you shared with two people or 200 people, each life matters.
We are celebrating you as the trusted voice in your community!
Any questions? Simply hit âreply.â
Ready to join in shielding your community? Click HERE
Ok so⊠weâre on TikTok now! Follow, engage, and rep 1M4 over there. Weâre doing our best to reach the people.
Help some Sistas out!
 You Got Your 1M4 Merch Yet?
Visit the 1M4 merch store to make sure youâre representing at court support, protests, or in line at your favorite coffee spot. We want to see YOU in your 1M4 gear. Every purchase goes directly to funding the work of 1M4 increasing access to safety and wellness. Â
