Episode 35: Sidney Black II "Formerly Incarcerated Impact on CVI Work (Part 2)

The conversation continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the role of formerly incarcerated people in Community Violence Intervention (CVI), I sit down with my co-defendant, my best friend, and one of the sharpest minds in this work—Sidney Black, Lead Neighborhood Change Agent for Advance Peace, a national leader in CVI. We get into the CVI discussion immediately. Sidney breaks down what the Advance Peace model actually looks like on the ground and what their team is doing right now in Lansing, Michigan to intervene in cycles of harm and build real pathways for transformation. We also revisit my stance from Part 1—where I said that “credible messenger” specifically means an ex-contributor—and Sidney brings his own perspective to the table. Together, we unpack why lived experience is not just valuable but fundamental to authentic CVI work. Lastly, we get into the nuances of language, especially when navigating relationships with police inside a CVI framework—what helps, what harms, and what communities need to be aware of as this field continues to grow. Another raw, honest, necessary chapter in this ongoing conversation.