Ricardo Garcia-Acosta
Intervention Manager
ricardo@youthalive.org | (510) 594-2588 x311
Intervention Programs Manager Ricardo Garcia-Acosta is in his second tour of duty here at Youth ALIVE!. He’s in a different position this time, but some things never change. The first thing you notice about Ricardo is his deep well of positive energy, full of belief in his mission to bring justice, peace and love to the people and the streets of Oakland. Ricardo grew up around Oakland’s School Street, son of a civil rights lawyer and a political organizer. His heroes were the heroes of revolutions. At 19, he was running a nighttime youth center sports program in San Francisco’s Mission. It was frequented by members of rival groups and yet remained peaceful. Back in 2005, John Torres, now Youth ALIVE!’s Deputy Director, but then director of San Francisco’s Street Outreach and Crisis Response Initiative, hired Ricardo to be the Initiative’s first street outreach worker and case manager. “Even then,” says John, “he had the beat of the people and the streets.” Ricardo learned quickly how to be a strong advocate for his clients, especially in court. In 2008, he became Network director, where he developed and implemented street outreach best practices. He first joined Youth ALIVE! in 2013, as Interim Coordinator and Crisis Responder in our Khadafy Washington Project, supporting devastated families in the immediate aftermath of a homicide. In 2016, Ricardo left to become the City of Oakland’s Violence Prevention Network Liaison, working crucial lines of communication between the city’s community-based efforts and the Oakland Police Department, and providing training to the city’s frontline intervention workers. Now he’s back, supervising our Caught in the Crossfire Intervention Specialists, who work with violently wounded youth in Oakland, and our Violence Interrupters, who mediate conflicts between individuals, groups and gangs before things escalate to further violence. Ricardo’s passion for collective healing, self-determination and community empowerment, continues to guide his commitment to support individuals and families impacted by trauma. At Youth ALIVE! and beyond, he’s using what he has learned, from his parents, mentors and the community, to enact a revolution “grounded in socially conscious acts of kindness,” and to create the next generation of leaders in Oakland. “Out on the streets,” says Ricardo, “love can be an act of revolution.”