Kesse Taylor-Jenkins

Kesse Taylor-Jenkins understands the value of Youth ALIVE!’s services from both sides of the work. She has experienced more than enough violence for a lifetime and uses her personal experience in service to others experiencing loss. Youth ALIVE! empowerment groups helped her begin to process her grief, and on the other side of that grief, she found her way to Youth ALIVE! not as a client but as staff.

The Oakland native’s contribution to the Violence Interrupters as the Program Specialist is mostly behind the scenes. Active with clients through bedside visits, she is also the linchpin that works with data , schedules, paperwork, safety assessments, end logistics. Her contribution is invaluable to keeping clients and staff organized.

“I like being able to support the team whose boots are on the ground,” Kesse said. “I can be myself and people want ideas. I like to be a part of the solution, supporting the team because I know they are supporting families like me.”