Sergio Diaz knows how to make people feel comfortable. It is a skill he learned from his years as a salesman selling shoes, cellphones and lawn care hardware in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is no longer a salesman, but relating to others is still crucial in Diaz’s work as a gun violence prevention specialist for the Oakland non-profit Youth Alive.
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On this edition of Your Call, we’re discussing community violence intervention programs in the Bay Area.
Every year, 46,000 people die from gun violence in the US – that’s over 125 deadly shooting every day, according to Giffords. Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens, and people of color are disproportionately impacted. Youth ALIVE!’s Associate Director John Torres, LMFT was interviewed on KALW Public Media alongside partners Paul Carrillo of the GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention and Michael Texada with The Wraparound Project at SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL.
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A recent article in The Guardian highlights a powerful shift in Oakland: homicides have dropped to a 25-year low in 2025, down nearly 50% from 2021 levels. This is real, measurable progress—and for those of us working every day in violence prevention, it reflects years of intentional, community-rooted effort.
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Oakland’s decrease in violence didn’t happen by accident. It reflects sustained investment in community-rooted prevention — including Youth ALIVE!’s School-Based Violence Intervention (SBVI) pilot.
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Over two years working as a school-based violence interrupter at Castlemont, Saffold, 54, has learned to decipher the signs that can precipitate a fight. Yelling is obvious, but sometimes they’re more subtle: A student just seems different one day. Maybe they’re quiet or grumpy.
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Violence Is a Public Health Crisis — and Prevention Works
Last week, ABC News shined a critical spotlight on gun violence in Alameda County — and on the community-based solutions that are helping save lives. Youth ALIVE!’s Executive Director, Dr. Joe Griffin, was interviewed as part of the coverage, elevating both the urgency of this moment and the importance of sustained investment in violence prevention.
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Youth Alive!’s school-based violence interruption program—trusted by students, families, and schools—is now at risk of losing its funding. This comes just days after the shooting at Skyline High School, where our team was on campus providing immediate support and crisis response.
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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.
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Last Wednesday, a Skyline High School student was shot—an act of violence that shook the entire Oakland community and struck painfully close to home for Youth ALIVE!.
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The Oaklandside just published a powerful interview by Ashley McBride with Carla Ashford, Youth ALIVE!’s school-based Violence Interrupter at Skyline High School—a candid look at what it takes to de-escalate conflict, build trust, and keep young people safe in real time.
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