How Credible Messengers Save Lives

Smart Justice

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One of the most powerful tools in the fight against violence isn’t found in the courtroom—it’s in the community. Credible messengers are people with lived experience in gangs, incarceration, and the streets who now use their past to build trust and guide others toward a different future.
In this episode, we meet Julius Buie, who spent more than two decades in gang life before becoming a credible messenger in Pulaski County. Today, he mentors youth, advocates in courtrooms, and offers second chances to people on the edge of violence.
His story shows why credible messengers are essential partners in reducing shootings, saving lives, and creating safer communities.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Credible Messengers (00:00:00)

2. Julius Bui's Gang Experience (00:01:22)

3. The Power of Lived Experience (00:04:12)

4. Building Trust and Second Chances (00:07:22)

5. Creating Ripple Effects of Change (00:11:13)

6. Hope and Transformation (00:13:58)