KQED News Talks Future of School-Based Violence Prevention in Oakland
In the days following the shooting of a Skyline High School student, Youth ALIVE! Executive Director Joseph Griffin spoke with KQED News reporter Katie DeBenedetti about the critical role violence prevention programs play on school campuses—and the severe funding threats now putting these programs at risk.
The shooting has intensified calls from district leaders and community members for more, not fewer, violence-prevention resources in schools. But at the same time, one of Oakland’s key programs—the School Violence Intervention and Prevention Program, operated in partnership between Youth ALIVE! and the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) since 2022—may be forced to sunset next spring due to major budget cuts.
As Joe explained to KQED:
“Moments like this are when our school partners and our students expect us to show up.
The only way we can show up is if we know we have the resources and the funding to keep these programs going.”
Why School-Based Violence Prevention Matters
Youth ALIVE! is embedded at Skyline High School through three separate programs, each aimed at:
- preventing conflicts before they escalate,
- supporting survivors after violence occurs, and
- creating healing-centered environments where young people feel safe and connected.
Our staff work closely with students, educators, and families to build relationships that foster trust, reduce harm, and strengthen community. They provide conflict mediation, crisis support, youth leadership training, and connections to wraparound services.
These programs are not theoretical; they are lifesaving. And young people rely on them every day.
The future of violence prevention in Oakland’s schools shouldn’t hinge on funding uncertainties. When young people are processing trauma, navigating conflict, or trying to stay focused under challenging conditions, they need consistent support—not programs that come and go depending on budget cycles.
Youth ALIVE! remains committed to doing everything we can to show up for Oakland’s young people. But as Joe told KQED, we can only do that if we have the resources to keep these programs going.