Hometown Heroes: Youth ALIVE! Annual Report 2022-2023

Hometown Heroes

Youth ALIVE! Annual Report 2022–2023

Dear Friends,

The last year has been a tapestry of transitions. For myself, it has been a heartwarming homecoming to Youth ALIVE!, where I carry the torch passed on by my remarkable predecessor, Anne Marks.

Our dedicated team, which is the heartbeat of our organization, has been adapting to a renewed sense of togetherness as we find our rhythm working together inperson more and more each day. Our community members, partners in the field, and invaluable supporters have demonstrated unwavering commitment, especially as we faced an unsettling rise in violence within Oakland. But let me assure you that transitions, while challenging, can be the very crucibles in which growth and progress are forged.

Over the past year, our heart and soul have been embedded in every thread of the prevention, intervention, and healing programs here at Youth ALIVE!. We have sown seeds of hope that we eagerly cultivate with love. In the coming year, as we embark on an in-depth strategic planning process, we are filled with hope and determination to create a vision for a healthy and safe Oakland. We firmly believe that the pieces are in place to make this a reality.

Through open houses and other upcoming engagement opportunities, we invite you to learn more about our diverse programmatic approaches, how they work together as a

Program Overview

Founded in 1991, today Youth ALIVE! is Oakland’s anchor agency for community violence intervention, prevention, healing and advocacy. Our programs are designed to enter the lives of those affected by violence at multiple stages of exposure:

1) Teens on Target (TNT), our youth leadership and violence prevention peer education program;

2) Caught in the Crossfire, our hospital-based violence intervention program, the nation’s first, meets victims immediately after a violent assault to discourage retaliation and provide support on their path away from trauma and back to school, work, and the community;

3) Pathways assists youth emerging from

comprehensive model, and why Youth ALIVE! is regarded nationally as a model of community violence intervention.

It is your steadfast support and belief in our cause that propels us forward. Together, we have the power to embrace these next transitions as avenues for transformative change, building a community where peace and safety are a shared triumph.

With deep appreciation and resolve,

Joseph Griffin, DrPH

Juvenile Hall or at-risk for academic failure with intensive case management, life mapping and mentoring; 4) Khadafy Washington Project, named for the murdered son of its founder, brings emotional, practical and financial support to devastated families of homicide victims in the immediate aftermath of a killing;

5) Violence Interruption, a team of problem solvers with experience in the streets of Oakland, mediates conflicts between gangs or individuals, defusing tense situations before the guns come out;

6) Counseling Services provides therapists trained in treating trauma; 7) Advocacy for Change works with TNT youth leaders and clients from all of our programs to create and support strong public safety and equity policy at all levels of government.

DONATION IMPACT

$50K runs one of our Teens on Target violence prevention program sites for 6 months.

$25K helps 15 grieving families bury a loved one if the state denies their appeal.

$10K teaches 300 middle school students the skills to talk a friend out of using a gun.

$5K provides 10 gunshot wound survivors with services proven to prevent re-injury, retaliation, and further violence.

$1K covers a TNT student’s stipend, a critical first paycheck for many.

$250 amplifies the story of a survivor advocating for systemic change.

Youth ALIVE! accepts donations by mail or online. We welcome one-time gifts or monthly recurring donations. Please also consider remembering us in your estate planning and becoming a member of our Legacy of Healing Circle. Find out more at YouthALIVE.org or email lgreenberg@youthalive.org.

PREVENTION

Teens on Target

At Teens on Target (TNT), students from Oakland neighborhoods most affected by violence learn to honor their own stories, to use their experience to make change, and to teach their peers to avoid and prevent violence. TNT also provides work experience. Paying students for developing violence prevention expertise and presentation skills reinforces the importance of their violence prevention efforts. Every year, TNT trains approximately 100 violence prevention youth leaders at three high schools, who educate hundreds of middle school students throughout Oakland. They learn to speak to the media and to city leaders about their stories and their own ideas for change and engage in advocacy efforts in their communities.

In the 2022–23 school year, TNT engaged 95 Youth Leaders who: presented 114 violence prevention workshops to 973 students in 9 OUSD middle schools; participated in 47 community engagements; received 1,378 hours of 1:1 mentoring from our staff of professional Violence Prevention Educators.

All 2023 TNT seniors graduated; 100% of them are attending college!

I’ve noticed that I’ve become a leader since joining TNT. TNT helped me find the confidence I needed to handle myself in tough situations and it’s helped me to become more sure of myself. I’m no longer afraid to be me, speak up when I see something wrong, and bring awareness!

- Sierra Taylor, TNT leader for 4 years

After our 2023 program, among TNT youth leaders surveyed:

» 100% believe young people have the power to reduce violence in their community

» 98% would not choose violence to solve a conflict

» 85% would talk a friend out of carrying a gun

» 65% helped mediate a conflict in the last 6 months that would have led to violence

Advocacy for Change

To push for permanent, systemic solutions to the daily violence terrorizing our community and city, Youth ALIVE!’s Advocacy for Change (A4C) program raises the voices of those most affected by violence. Through A4C, the Youth ALIVE! family—including clients, survivors, program staff, and our Teens on Target youth leaders—address city, state

Advocacy Highlights

AB 1929: Medi-Cal for Violence Prevention Services

On 8/22/22, Governor Newsom signed our bill, AB 1929, into law, making California the fifth state to allow Medicaid to reimburse violence prevention services. Youth ALIVE!’s advocacy and expertise was pivotal in creating and securing this policy change, with our staff testifying at the State Capitol and meeting with state senators and assembly members to build support for the bill.

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Our Policy and Advocacy Director, Gabriel Garcia, traveled to the White House in July to celebrate Congress passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which includes $250 million for Community Violence Intervention (CVI), the largest federal investment in CVI work ever.

Victim Compensation Budget

In the State Senate, Senator Nancy Skinner passed a state budget item increasing funding for the California Victim Compensation Program, and increasing the maximum amounts survivors can receive for their needs, including:

» Raising the limits for the first time in 20 years for:

· Funeral and burial expenses

· Relocation expenses

· Crime scene clean up expenses

» $23 Million for Trauma Recovery Centers

» $50 million for Flexible Assistance to Survivors of Violence

and federal leaders to advocate for sensible policies that reduce community violence and that promote a public health approach to violence prevention. A4C works with violence prevention coalitions, proposes and analyzes policy, gives testimony to legislators, and conducts community outreach.

Victim Compensation Reform

We sponsored two bills in the State Capitol that would create significant reforms to the California Victim Compensation Program. Although neither bill passed, we are determined to continue pushing to ensure more victims and survivors have access to these healing resources.

Senate Bill 933: Expanded Services for Crime Survivors Would have removed several barriers to eligibility for victim compensation that Youth ALIVE! clients face, such as automatically being disqualified if a survivor does not cooperate with law enforcement investigations.

Senate Bill 299: Equal Access for Victims of Police Violence

Extends eligibility for the Victim Compensation Program to victims of police violence, and ensures the survivors of homicide victims can receive benefits regardless of whether they cooperate with police. Also makes sure that biased or unfair police reports do not prevent people from getting the healing resources they need.

This work requires constant, intentional outreach, creating platforms to hear directly from those closest to the issue and convert what they are saying into policy change. It is something that, because of our position in the community, really only Youth ALIVE! is able to do.

- Gabriel Garcia, Youth ALIVE! Policy & Advocacy Director

TNT leaders with AG Rob Bonta

Policy & Advocacy Director Gabriel Garcia at press event with Rep. Barbara Lee

TNT Youth Leaders at State Capitol

INTERVENTION

Caught in the Crossfire

The time directly after violence erupts in a community is vital for determining what happens next. Through Caught in the Crossfire (CiC), a Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP), Youth ALIVE! staff meet victims of violence at their hospital bedsides to:

1. convince them, their friends and family not to retaliate; and

2. offer ongoing personal support focused on safety, healing, and growth.

CiC Intervention Specialists—credible messengers of change recruited from the community we serve—address both the urgent need for violence intervention and the ongoing service needs of survivors, helping them get back to life. Caught in the Crossfire is the first Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP).

In 2022, CiC:

» Served 171 clients and an additional 284 received short-term crisis intervention

» Of those 171, only 4% were re-injured

» 90 received assistance in obtaining Victim of Crime compensation

» 72 received help with an education plan

» 61 received help with employment

» 28 received housing assistance

“ I want to be the person now that I needed back then someone who could have helped me. I like to pay it forward. I’m quiet but loud in the work that I do.

- Gericka Frison, Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

In area teams, Youth ALIVE!’s Violence Interrupters (VIs) take to the streets of Oakland at all hours, heading to wherever violent conflict or escalation is brewing, to engage those involved, to bring alternative solutions, peaceful resolutions, and to defuse tensions before the guns come out again.

VIs are from the very communities and neighborhoods where they now work to save lives. Most have worked in street outreach for years. Most lived the street life or spent time incarcerated. They understand the nuances of community conflicts, the barriers faced and the great promise of young people in Oakland’s most impacted neighborhoods. They

Violence Interruption Pathways

Pathways is Youth ALIVE!’s mentoring case management program for youth at risk for exposure to violence, on probation, or emerging from a period of incarceration.

Our model involves regular, consistent contact with a focus on positive adult attention and support to build relationships. We meet the youth where they are: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our staff are recruited from the community and share similar experiences to the youth we serve. Pathways regularly helps youth re-enroll in school and find employment in addition to providing another caring adult in a young person’s life.

are mentors, problem solvers and life savers. “Sometimes community healing means breaking the cycle of violence before things erupt,” Nina Carter, Senior Violence Interrupter, said.

In 2022, Youth ALIVE! Violence Interrupters:

» Conducted 219 mediations and resolved 164 conflicts without further violence

» Completed 157 safety assessments at the hospital bedsides of shooting victims

» Relocated 36 families in danger to safety

In 2022, Pathways:

» Mentored 56 youth, 35 of whom enrolled in school; 13 of whom re-enrolled in school

» Supported 18 youth in attaining employment

» In 2023 we introduced school-based Pathways Intervention Specialists at Castlemont and Rudsdale High Schools

Violence Interrupter Team

Violence Interrupter Team

Pathways Team

“ This is more than just a job. The name Pathways resonates with me because I try to present other pathways to the youth. I want to show them there are other ways to do things.

- Glen Upshaw, Jr., Intervention Specialist, Pathways ”

Youth ALIVE! in the community

Part of what makes Youth ALIVE!’s work innovative and effective is that the bulk of our programs and services take place out in the field in our community. You’ll find us at schools and parks, in neighborhoods and on the street; at hospital bedsides and at the homes of survivors; at conferences, on college tours, at the State Capitol and City Hall. Wherever our community is, Youth ALIVE! shows up. All of our staff, whether on the frontlines or working behind the scenes, are hometown heroes.

“ Tell those students I love them. We come from the same place and now I’m in the White House, so anything’s possible .

- Vice President Kamala Harris speaking to Youth ALIVE! Policy & Advocacy Director Gabriel Garcia, about the Teens on Target youth leaders

I’m loyal, I’m compassionate, and I want to help because I didn’t have this type of help when I was young. If I did, I would have been totally different. We have a chance to really make a difference.

- Chauncey Jackson, Violence Interrupter

HEALING

Khadafy Washington Project

The Khadafy Washington Project (KWP) sends crisis responders into the immediate aftermath of each Oakland homicide to support families and friends of the victim. Named for the murdered son of its founder, KWP provides emergency financial assistance, relocation services, urgent help applying for victim compensation and planning funerals. KWP staff and Youth ALIVE! counselors hold regular healing circles for families of Oakland homicide victims.

In 2022, KWP crisis responders:

» Worked with 133 families of homicide victims, including some outside of Oakland

» Supported 26 family members in 13 Circle of Care healing sessions

Seeing mothers cry is the worst. There is nothing you can say or do to make them feel better. But I love the fact that I can support them and give them some sense of relief, no matter what that looks like.

- Lanisha Jones, Crisis Responder, KWP

“ ”

KWP Founder Marilyn Washington Harris and KWP Program Coordinator Jessica Segura

Counseling Services

Youth ALIVE! mental health counselors take their therapeutic services into the field, meeting wherever survivors feel safe and comfortable. They provide community-based services in collaboration with our Intervention Specialists, who are trained in recognizing the symptoms of trauma that occur in survivors of violence. Youth ALIVE! counselors assist each client in creating their own road map to healing.

All of our clients are eligible for this crucial and free service in their quest to heal their trauma after violence. However, for people who have grown up in violent neighborhoods, the traditional 50-minute therapy session is not always the best approach. By bringing therapy out of the clinic and into the community, Youth ALIVE! has seen an increase in the number of clients engaged in active therapy from 3% to over 35%.

In 2022, our Counseling staff:

» Served 121 clients

» Provided 1,192 hours of services, of those, 835 hours were individual mental health hours, 179 were group hours, and 78 were individual mental health services provided through intensive individual outreach.

While there is still a big stigma in our community on mental health services, we at Youth ALIVE! know that mental health is part of physical health. We also know that while hurt people can hurt people, healed people have the power to foster healing in others. It is such an honor for me to guide our participants and their families in healing from trauma in two different languages (English and Spanish). As a bilingual, bicultural counselor, I am able to support members of my cultural community in ways that other clinicians may not be able to do.

- Angelina Gutierrez, Mental Health Counselor

Healing Team retreat

Healing Team of KWP Crisis Responders and Mental Health Counselors

KWP Program Coordinator Jessica Segura poses with KWP clients at a recent healing event

KWP Founder Marilyn Washington Harris, Mental Health Counselor Angelina Gutierrez and Healing Director Nicky MacCallum

Youth ALIVE! Staff

Alia Glover, Community Leadership Liaison

Angelina Gutierrez, Counselor

Angie Teal, Operations & Human Resources Director

Anne Marks, Executive Director Emeritus

Antoine Towers, Violence Interrupter

Ayodeji Ewegbemi, Client Payment Specialist

Carla Ashford, Violence Interrupter

Carlos Jackson, Lead Intervention Specialist, Pathways

Camilo Valezquez, Violence Interrupter

Chauncey Jackson, Violence Interrupter

Denay Harris, Development Associate

Doral Myles, Violence Interrupter

Eric Adams, Lead Violence Interrupter

Ernest Ynostrosa, Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

Gabriel Garcia, Policy & Advocacy Director

Gericka Frison, Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

Glen Upshaw, Violence Interrupter Team Manager

Glen Upshaw, Jr., Intervention Specialist, Pathways

Guadalupe Serrano-Lopez, Lead Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

Jackie Quintanilla, Finance Manager

Jaime Oseguera, Violence Interrupter

Janiesha Grisham, Violence Prevention Educator, Teens on Target

Jason Williams, Program Support Manager

Jaymes Fitzpatrick, Violence Prevention Educator, Teens on Target

Jessica Segura, Khadafy Washington Project Coordinator

Jim O’Brien, Senior Writer

Jose Reyna, Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

Joseph Griffin, Executive Director

John Torres, Associate Director

Juan Cortez, Violence Interrupter & Latino Liaison

Kesse Taylor-Jenkins, Program Specialist

Lanisha Jones, Crisis Responder, Khadafy Washington Project

Lauren Greenberg, Development Manager

Lila Blanco, Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

Lizeth Torres, Office Manager & Finance Assistant

Marilyn Washington Harris, Family Support Liaison, Khadafy Washington Project

MaryAnn Alvarado, Program Manager, Teens on Target

Mey Saelee, Administrative Assistant

Miguel Avila Torres, Relocation Coordinator

Nancy Lopez, Intervention Specialist, Caught in the Crossfire

Nasir Bari, Violence Interrupter

Nicky MacCallum, Healing Director

Omari Sinclair, Violence Interrupter

Paris Davis, Intervention Director

Salvador Avalos, Violence Interrupter

Sasha Long, Intervention Specialist, Pathways

Sue Danne, Finance & Administrative Director

Tiara Upshaw, Program Associate

Tori Logan, Crisis Responder, Khadafy Washington Project

Tonyia (Nina) Carter, Senior Violence Interrupter

Castlemont High School

Carlos Avalos

Fernando Castaneda

Rayla Chatman

Sanaiyah Davis

Jalesha Fitzpatrick

Davyonna Foster

Ernesto Galaviz

Jerry Gonzalez

Mylah Kingsbury

Navaeh Mark

Malik Mayfield

Robert Miller

Michael Pomeroy

Casey Powell

Kenaiya Powell

Angelica Ramirez

Eric Ramirez

Lizbeth Ramirez

Maria Ramirez

Naijon Rodgers

Lanasia Sipp

Malachi Smith

Ezekiel Taggart

Eliza Tapui

Sierra Taylor

Xavier Tillery

Juliana Tokoma’ata

Carmen Tolento

Makaela Weems

Lailani Wilkerson

Jaelyn Williams

Fremont High School

Samuel Adereye

Amir Alamari

Ariel Baker

Leslie Brown

Jessica Calmo-Perez

Carlos Chavez

Kaleeyha Davis

Edwin Estrada

Ninarolye Gilbert

Tenee Hendrix

Jon Brian Higareda

Kimberley Higareda

Imanii Hogan

Ja’kayla Lott

Jenifer Matias Lorenzo

Yajaira Montano

Anja Motuliki

Leo Pantaleon-Pelaya

Ihonny Perez

Magali Ramirez

Ashley Rodriguez

Youth Leaders Board of Directors

Sarah Chavez Yoell Board President Government Relations

Local Public Affairs Pacific Gas & Electric

Angela Jenkins

Board Vice President Vice President

Accountable Communities Prisma Health

Alisa DeWys Board Treasurer Manager Google

Stan Weisner Board Secretary Director Emeritus Behavioral Health Sciences Department UC Berkeley Extension

Nadine de Coteau Manager Engagement & Partnerships Apple

Michael Munson Operations Manager KTOP-TV10

John Bliss President SCI Consulting Group

Tracy Jensen Senior Services Administrator City of Oakland

David Muhammad Executive Director National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform

Melisa Rodriguez

Kevin Romero

Sophia Sanchez-Cristobal

Emily Sanchez-Cristobal

Miklo Santiago

Selena Santigo

Acharia Sheppard

Kaliyah Thomas

Aaliyah Walker

Ayana Williams

Eternity Wilson

Skyline High School

Alejandro Arellano

Parrish Barnett

Komogodue Basgayoko

Savannah Beverly

Reed Bontowski

Torrian Coats

Gilbert Salinas Chief Equity Officer Department of Health Services

Contra Costa County

Kyndra Simmons Director Frontline Training & Technical Assistance Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (The HAVI)

Carol Lynn Thompson Principal Counsel, Litigation University of California

Office of the President

Sebastian Drumer

Hailey Easiley

Mason Garth

Isaiah George

Zorina Guidry

Taylor Johnson

Jason Jones

Riley Norman

Ke’Merriah Outland

Alicia B. Pablo

Elisha Patrick-Turner

Kai’lee Porter

London Price

Naraly Rodriquez

Joel Ruiz

Yvon R. Salas

Jordan Smith

Kaiden Taylor

Ja’Kayla Weaver-Percelle

Autumn Weems

Youth Advisory Council

Jalesha Fitzpatrick

Castlemont High School

Xavier Tillery

Castlemont High School

THANK YOU

Roger Abraham

Deanna Abrams

Melissa Adams

Jeff Akeley

Akonadi Foundation

Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Department

Alameda County Health Care Services Agency

Alameda County Probation Department

Alameda County Board of State and Community Corrections

Alameda Health System Foundation

Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Foundation

Kristin Aldrich

Ahmed Ali Bob

Teresa Allen

Robert Allen, Jr.

Renato Almanzor

American Arbitration Association

American Heart Association

Fatima Amin

Rizalyn Andrews

John Angell

Anonymous

C Cheryl Archer

Gregory Archer

Helen Archer-Duste

Kendra Armer

Nancy Auker

Francesca Austin

Elena Ayers

Vidhya Babu

Karin Bagot

Saurabh Bajaj

Michael Baker

Chuck Baker

John Balmes

Bank of Marin

Karen and Jeffrey Banks

Bing Bardez

Lindsay Barenz

Rachel Barish

Esteban Barnaby

Dorothy Barnett

Barrios Trust

Lynn Baskett

Katie Bass

Bay Area Commuinty Resources

Marla Becker and Daniel Lipton

Sara Bedford

Gordon Beebe

Nel Benningshoff

Jodie Berger

Connie Bergstrom

Yvonn Bernklan

Susan Bernosky

Carolyn Bernstein

Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Foundation

Annikka Berridge

Hanna Berridge

James Betts

Cathay Bi

Stephanie Bickham

Virginia Biteng

Stephen Blair

Jill Blaney

Hudson Blechman

Robert Blechman

Teri Bleckner

John Bliss and Kim Thompson

BLOCK

Frank Block

Yael Bloom

Zacary Blume

Sallie Blytt

James Bogucki

Carol Bohnsack

Wendy Bomberg

Folio Books

Ruth Borenstein

Mark Bostick

Nancy Bott

Kerry Bourdon

Eng Bozzini

Helena Brantley

Eric Breitbard

Hallie Brignall

Ryan Brody

Sara Brody

Anna Brooks

Claire Broome

John Brown

June Brumer

Bryan Cave Leighten & Paisner

Sean Buchanan

Elinor Buchen

Donald Bullick

Susan Burns

Linda Bytof

Marilyn Cachola Lucey

Deane Calhoun Bunce and Dick Bunce

Dick Callahan Philantrhopic Alliance Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation

The California Endowment

California Board of State and Community Correcrtions

California Office of Emergency Services

California Victim Compensation Board

The California Wellness Foundation

Eugene Canson

Geri Carder

CARESTAR Foundation

Ali Carley

Neil Carman

Ian Carpenter

Catholic Charities of the East Bay

Tiffany Chan

Mickey Chatman

Sarah Chavez Yoell and Michael Yoell

Thomas Chen

Robin Chetkowski

Francis Chin

Children’s Support League of the East Bay

Simone Chou and John Kusakabe

City of Oakland, Human Services

Department

City of Oakland, Department of Violence Prevention

Dyanna Christie

Whitney and Brett Christopoulos

Elizabeth Claman

Michele Clark

Karen Clayton

The Clorox Company Foundation

Judith Coates

Holly Coates-Bash

Elizabeth Coffey

Donna Coffman

Doris Cohen

Abby Cohn

Ray Colmenar

Computer Courage

Noel Cook

Christine Cooper

Priscilla Correa

Shannon Cosgrove

We are grateful to our supporters who make Youth ALIVE!’s work possible. Special thanks to the members of our Community Circle (Listed in green)

Laura Simonson Costain and David Costain

Chesa Cox

Pamela Craig

Zachary Craig

Emily Cronbach

Anne Cross

Daniel Crouch

Carol Curtis

Sonia Daccarett and Alex Bernstein

Alyssa Damianakes

Fania Davis

Nadine de Coteau and Sean Callum

Kay Decorah

Donna DeDiemar

Dr. Cathy DeForest

Kay Demattei

Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Brandy DeOrnellas

David DeSilva

Alisa DeWys

Kanwarpal Dhaliwal

Griffin Dix

Janie Dobbs

Stephanie Dominguez Walton and Zack Walton

Michelle Dong

Estelle Dong

Sharon Donovan

Hailey Drake

Briana Driver

Stephanie Duggan

Norman Dupont

Eileen Ecklund

Sabrina Ellis

Jamie Elmasu

Aimee Eng

Kira Enriquez

Angeles Estelles

Alfonso Estrada

Michael Evans

Anne Everton

Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund

Noelle Fa-Kaji

Family Violence Law Center

Casey Farmer and Galen Wilson

Stefanie Faucher

Elan Feinstein

Nina Fendel

Gladys Ferguson

Catherine Fernandez

Judy Ferrari

Michael Ferris

Peri Ferris

Florelyn Fine

First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Amy Fitzgerald

Nick and Sally Fitzhugh

Nancy Fitzpatrick

Sharon Flanagan

Ulla Foehr

Virginia Fontana

Curt Forderer

Louise Fortmann

Paul Foster

Hopelab Foundation

John Fountain

Pauline Fox

Julie Freestone

Ari Freilich

Ellen French

Yvonne Freund

Kendal Friedman

Dalton Fusco

Camie Gadda

Katherine Gallagher

Emma Garcia

Leonardo Garrido

Paul Eugene Garrison

Linda Gayle

Gina Gemello

Janet Gennai-Rizzi

Edward Gerber and Joyce Meyer Gerber

Kristin Germeroth

Susan Getreuer

Debalina Ghosh and Pradosh Mohapatra

Raphael Gilbert

Sarah Gill

Shira Gill

Chaim Gingold

Roger and Beth Goldberg

Sasha and Lynn Goldberg

Michael Gomez

Brendalynn Goodall

Alice & Steve Goodman

Bill Goodykoontz

Jennifer Graves

Lauren Greenberg

Matthew Griffin

Brenda Grisham

Tom Grossman

Meliss Grover

Anne Groves

Nanci Gunning

Caheri Gutierrez

Angelina Gutierrez

Rhoda Haberman

Joan Hall-Feinberg

Nancy Halloran

Maureen Halloran

Anne Halloran

Akemi Hamai

Sally Hanley

Edward Hannemann and Anne Bodel

Harbor Point Charitable Fund

Hartley Family Foundation

Caitlin Hartsell

Pamela A. and Howard Hatayama

Tracy Haughton

Amanda Hawes

Paula Hawthorn and Michael Ubell

Michaela Hayes

Zach Heir

Heising-Simons Foundation

Shon Henderson

Julie Henig

Laurie Herbert

Isabel Herman

Monica Hersch

Julie Hess and Satch Slavin

Cindy Hill-Ford and Roy Ford

Lisa Hillier

Alexandria Hilton

Nancy Hinds

Jef Holloman

Catherine Hsu

Brian Huck

Lim Hui Ben

Enid Hunkeler

Sally Hunter

IFPTE Local Number 21

Paul Irving

Stephanie Isaacson

I Held Him in My Arms”

Client Story: Annette Miller

In May of 2017 my youngest son, Deante, who everybody called Peak-a-Boo, had graduated from McClymonds High with a 4.0. He had a room full of trophies and medals. On the morning of November 28, 2016, I was at home when a car came skidding by and ran up onto the corner. Out fell Peek-a-Boo’s friend Otis. He yelled to me, “Peaka-Boo’s been shot!” and that’s when I learned Peak-aBoo—and later his best friend Trevon—were dead.

I rushed to the scene on 39th, police tape everywhere. The police themselves seemed distracted, disinterested. I slipped under the tape, approached the body, and pulled back the gray blanket: there lay my youngest son, just 19, with a massive fatal wound to his chest. I took him into my arms and cried.

Before I got back to my house [KWP Crisis Responder] Tammy Cloud was already there. I knew Tammy from West Oakland, she’d even gone to school with my brothers. Tammy told me she was with Youth ALIVE! and was here to help me. She was a comforting presence, like family. Before Tammy left, she told me she’d made an appointment for me at the Victim of Crime office for the next morning, to apply for victim compensation. It would help me pay for Peek-a-Boo’s funeral.

That night I got a phone call from Marilyn Washington Harris. I knew who Marilyn was because she was everywhere in West Oakland. Marilyn had started Youth ALIVE!’s program to help families of homicide victims after her son Khadafy had been killed back in 2000, just a few months after he graduated. That’s the thing about Youth ALIVE!: the people they send to help you, they feel familiar. You know they understand how things are in Oakland.

Marilyn and Tammy helped me through the worst time of my life, but that was only the beginning of my relationship with Youth ALIVE!. I go to the Circle of Care monthly support group. I feel comfortable in that space.

You can express yourself, be yourself, with no judgment. It has something to do with them being from the community, even from the streets.

My activism was reignited. Many mothers are never told that their murdered child had possessions on them—stuff in their pockets, phones with pictures on them—things a mother would want. YA!’s Marilyn Harris helped me fight to get Peak-a-Boo’s possessions from the police. We never got his car back, which had been impounded. Along with YA!’s Policy & Advocacy Director, Gabriel Garcia, I helped change the City’s policy to charge survivors to retrieve their loved-one’s impounded car. Remembering that I had never once been contacted by OPD after Peek-a-Boo’s death, I helped fight for the city to change the way it treated victims, to stop treating them like they were suspects. With YA!’s Healing Director Nicky MacCallum and other mothers of lost children, we developed a training for OPD to show them how they could—and why they should—treat victims and survivors with dignity.

Today, I have Peak-a-Boo’s things, but I don’t have him. To lose a child is to lose part of yourself forever. If it wasn’t for my work trying to change things, if it wasn’t for the true caring and understanding of people like Tammy, Nicky, Marilyn and Gabe, I’m sure I’d break down. It’s a constant battle, but there is life after a tragedy like mine. I’m grateful to Youth ALIVE! for helping me find that life.