In this episode of Justice Redesigned, host Maria Alper sits down with Lukasz Konieczka, the founder and CEO of Mosaic, a charity supporting LGBT+ young people. Lukasz, an expert on intersectionality and social justice, discusses his "Belonging Framework" and how it serves as a pragmatic tool for fostering inclusion across both the non-profit and corporate sectors.

The conversation dives deep into the systemic issues plaguing modern society, from the "domination culture" that fuels transphobia and hate crimes to a piercing critique of how capitalism necessitates exploitation. Lukasz also shares a radical vision for the future of the penal system, arguing for a shift toward the "Dutch model" of prisons where dignity and humanity are restored to those in care.

Key Takeaways

The Belonging Framework: Originally designed for LGBT+ youth, this framework identifies specific behaviors that contribute to a person feeling they truly belong within an organization.

The "Canary in the Mine": Trans women are often the first to be attacked in a regressing society; Lukasz notes that when oppression against one group increases, hate crimes across other categories typically rise as well.

Agency and Longevity: Providing individuals with even small choices—a sense of agency—is scientifically linked to increased well-being and life expectancy, particularly in controlled environments like nursing homes or schools.

Capitalism as Injustice: Lukasz argues that capitalism inherently functions through the "theft" of labor and natural resources, prioritizing individualism and profit over sustainable social solutions.

The Dutch Prison Model: A plea to move away from dehumanizing, high-security environments in favor of simulated "outside world" environments that treat residents with dignity, privacy, and humanity.

Intersectionality in Care: Effective support requires challenging internal biases (such as racism or sexism) even within marginalized communities to ensure young people become part of the solution rather than the problem.

SOCIAL LINKS

⁠⁠⁠www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠www.workplacehuddle.com⁠⁠⁠

Lukasz Links

https://www.mosaictrust.org.uk/

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lukaszkonieczka

HOST BIO

Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM).  

Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠