The Oaklandside | How to de-escalate conflict, according to Oakland violence prevention experts

What does it actually take to stop a conflict from escalating into violence?

A new article from The Oaklandside, written by Roselyn Romero, takes readers inside the work of community violence prevention and features three members of the Youth ALIVE! team: MaryAnn Alvarado, Teens on Target (TNT) Program Manager; Deandre Shackelford, School-Based Intervention Specialist at Lighthouse Community Schools; and Doral Myles, Citywide Violence Interrupter.

The story explores an important part of violence prevention that often happens quietly, long before a crisis makes the news: recognizing when a conflict is escalating and helping people find another way through it.

For Youth ALIVE!, de-escalation begins with relationships.

Our staff work in Oakland schools, neighborhoods, hospitals, and communities where trust cannot be assumed. It has to be earned. That means listening, understanding what is driving a conflict, staying calm when emotions are high, and knowing when and how to intervene.

MaryAnn, Deandre, and Doral each bring different perspectives to this work. MaryAnn leads TNT, where young people learn skills to prevent violence and become leaders for safety in their schools and communities. Deandre works directly with students as a School-Based Intervention Specialist, helping address conflicts before they grow into something more serious. And as a Citywide Violence Interrupter, Doral responds to conflicts throughout Oakland, using relationships and credibility to help prevent retaliation and further harm.

Their work also demonstrates something we believe deeply at Youth ALIVE!: violence is preventable.

De-escalation is not simply about what happens in a single tense moment. Effective violence prevention requires knowing people, understanding the dynamics surrounding a conflict, and creating enough trust for someone to make a different choice. Sometimes that means giving someone space. Sometimes it means listening. Sometimes it means knowing exactly who needs to be brought into the conversation.

These skills are central to community violence intervention, but they also have lessons for all of us. Conflict is part of everyday life. How we respond to it can make an enormous difference.

We’re grateful to Roselyn Romero and The Oaklandside for taking the time to highlight the expertise of the people doing this work every day, and we’re especially proud of MaryAnn, Deandre, and Doral for sharing what they’ve learned through years of working alongside Oakland young people, families, and communities.

Read the full Oaklandside story:
Conflict de-escalation tips from Oakland violence interrupters