Location: Miami, USA
The Project
The Voices of Change pilot program, launched by Reclaiming Our Options Together (ROOT) Legal, is reimagining how communities respond to harm. Instead of relying on punitive systems, the project centers healing, dignity, and accountability. Through pro bono legal support, mediation, and education, ROOT Legal empowers victims, defendants, and families to pursue justice in ways that strengthen community bonds rather than fracture them.
“We want to show people that justice can mean restoration, not punishment,” explained project leader Nessa McCoy.
By bringing together mental health services, job placement resources, social support, and legal aid, the initiative is laying the groundwork for a holistic alternative to traditional criminal justice.
The Impact of the Seed Grant
With the backing of The Pollination Project, this vision began to take root. With this seed funding, the team was able to launch outreach campaigns, build partnerships, and distribute materials that informed the community about non-punitive paths to justice. The grant also supported critical tools such as case management systems, professional memberships, and community events that gave ROOT Legal credibility and visibility.
“The Pollination Project believed in us at such an early stage, and that belief gave us the confidence to move forward,” McCoy shared.
Thanks to the grant, more than 100 people have already been directly impacted, with survivors reporting that they felt supported, empowered, and heard, outcomes rarely prioritized in the conventional system.
The Future
Voices of Change plans to expand its outreach, deepen collaborations with local organizations, and welcome more pro bono clients. By gathering data and community feedback, the team aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of restorative and community-led justice models.
“This is just the beginning,” McCoy affirmed. “With continued support, we can grow a sustainable model that reduces harm and uplifts lives.”
Through a commitment to grassroots leadership, women’s empowerment, and transformative justice, the project is steadily shaping a future where healing stands at the center of community well-being.
We are deeply grateful to The Pollination Project for believing in our vision at such an early stage. Their support gave us the confidence and credibility to move forward in building a new model of justice rooted in healing, dignity, and community care. TPP’s commitment to grassroots changemakers is rare and powerful and it has made a real difference in our ability to serve those most often overlooked by the traditional system.
Nessa McCoy
Nessa McCoy is a passionate advocate for justice and reform, dedicated to dismantling systemic inequalities within the criminal justice system. A Black woman, law student, she brings lived experience and deep commitment to her work in transformative justice. Growing up in a community scarred by punitive policies, she witnessed firsthand the harm caused to marginalized families, an experience that now fuels her vision for a more equitable society rooted in healing and community empowerment. Through her legal education and activism, Nessa strives to amplify silenced voices and reimagine justice as a lived reality of dignity, accountability, and care.
Join The Pollination Project in seeding a global movement of grassroots change. When we invest in passionate local leaders, small acts of generosity blossom into lasting impact. Every dollar you give takes root in communities, growing into sustainable solutions that touch countless lives.
