JEREMIAH BARBER VIEWS JUSTICE, HEALING AND COMMUNITY; MELVIN MERRITT TELLS US ABOUT PENNY MILL

Jaws of Justice Radio investigates how we can achieve justice from a system of laws deeply rooted in economic, social and political inequality.  We want to dispel misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system. We hope you will listen. On July 20th, 2026, our hour opens with host Bev Livingston speaking with her guest Jeremiah L. Barber, a Kansas City, Missouri cowboy who has spent years balancing the grit of the arena with the heavy realities of the justice system. For over six years he has worked on the front lines of corrections, navigating high-stress environments across the Kansas City Police Department, the Jackson County Detention Center, and the Missouri Department of Corrections. To truly understand the mechanics behind the walls, he also studied Criminal Justice at Metropolitan Community College’s Longview campus. But his time in uniform wasn't just a job - it was a deeply eye-opening experience. As a Black man working in these facilities, it was incredibly tough to face the daily reality that roughly 70% of the incarcerated population were also Black men. Bearing witness to that systemic cycle firsthand left a lasting impact on how Jeremiah L. Barber views justice, healing, and community. Today, he has traded the steel doors for the open pasture and he finds peace and purpose alongside his four horses. After years of carrying the weight and stress of correctional work, working with these animals has become his way of healing and staying grounded. During the second half of our hour, host Terri Wilke will speak with Melvin Merritt, Founder, about Penny Mill.  The ⁠Penny Mill Foundation is a Kansas City, Missouri based non-profit dedicated to empowering communities and bringing different ethnic and social groups together. ⁠Penny Mill regularly hosts free, large-scale community events in the area. Penny Mill’s Community Empowerment Event is back this summer bringing fun and community building to the East side. The event in Blue Valley Park, 23rd and Topping, Kansas City MO features food and entertainment from 10 AM – 4 PM.  Please tune in to hear about it!⁠ On Jaws of Justice, we examine how to find justice in our society.  Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.