Juan Carlos Carmona

Born and raised in Hayward, Juan Carlos Carmona began his journey in violence prevention at the age of 14, serving as a peer mentor with La Familia Counseling Service. He led after-school groups for middle school students, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to supporting youth and strengthening communities.

He went on to manage the Gang Risk Intervention Program (GRIP) with the Alameda County Office of Education, providing mentorship, advocacy, and job opportunities to students across the Oakland, Hayward, and Fremont school districts. After budget cuts impacted education programs, Juan Carlos stepped in to lead after-school programming at Oakland Tech, where he oversaw 22 programs and engaged more than 350 students daily. His leadership helped the program earn recognition as one of the top model programs in California.

Juan Carlos also served with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department until an injury brought him back to outreach and community-based work. He continued to serve vulnerable communities by managing programs in San Francisco’s Tenderloin during a critical time marked by the fentanyl and homelessness crisis.

Since joining Youth Alive in April 2025, Juan Carlos has led the Hometown Heroes fellowship, supporting a new generation of violence prevention leaders. His work is grounded in years of experience and a deep commitment to building safer, more connected neighborhoods.