El Timpano | Preventing the next tragedy: Senseless killings and the Oakland-based organization trying to fight them.
“I didn’t think that this violence was gonna find me right here in the United States.”
— Coach Javier Arango, Youth ALIVE!
In Colombia, Coach Javier fled violence as a young teen. Today, through Youth ALIVE!’s Pathways program, he’s helping young people in Oakland do the same—supporting them to navigate trauma, stay safe, and build brighter futures through mentorship, healing, and opportunity.
This deeply reported piece from Vanessa Flores and Ximena Loeza of El Tímpano sheds light on the everyday work of violence prevention—done not just in moments of crisis, but in classrooms, parks, and quiet conversations that save lives before tragedy strikes.
As our Deputy Director John Torres shares:
“There is complex trauma that most areas of Oakland experience… If I were the victim of violence, that’s one thing I’m experiencing. I’m going to deal with that. But then tomorrow or next week, there might be a shooting two blocks away.”
We’re proud of Javier, John, and the entire team for doing the vital, often unseen work of healing our communities.