News

ABC7 News Bay Area | Oakland youth advocate turns experiences to help create change for her community

Posted August 18, 2026

For Torrian Coats, advocacy started before she even had a name for it. While attending Skyline High School, she experienced lockdowns, shootings and other acts of violence on campus. Those situations motivated her to look for ways to make a difference in her community.

That led her to Youth Alive!’s Teens on Target program, a youth violence prevention group that gives Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) high school students a space to talk about violence in their communities, share their experiences and develop their leadership skills.

“In high school, when I joined Teens on Target, and I fell in love with doing more advocacy,” Coats said. “I realized, oh, I’ve been doing this for a while… I want to keep doing this. And that’s how I’m here today."

Her advocacy has extended beyond the classroom and into the broader community. Coats has traveled to the California State Capitol to advocate for issues affecting young people and has participated in advocacy efforts with Moms Demand Action, bringing her perspective as a young person impacted by community violence to the conversation.

Through Teens on Target (TNT), she has grown from a high school freshman into a youth advocate who now helps engage and mentor other young people.

The Guardian | Three in five young gun violence survivors do not receive mental healthcare – this California bill can fix that

Posted July 10, 2026

The Guardian just published an important article about the Thrive Act, legislation co-sponsored by Youth ALIVE! that would provide free mental health services to young survivors and witnesses of gun violence across California.

The Sac Bee | Here’s how California can help gun violence survivors begin to heal

Posted July 9, 2026

“No one should navigate surviving gun violence alone.”

In a powerful new Sacramento Bee op-ed, gun violence survivor Jazzy Eastman shares her journey of survival and healing, and why California must pass the THRIVE Act.

The Oaklandside | OUSD commits to violence intervention in Oakland schools next year

Posted June 16, 2026

Violence prevention belongs in our schools.

A new article from The Oaklandside highlights proposals to continue investing in violence prevention services across Oakland schools and the critical role community-based organizations play in creating safer, more supportive environments for students.

Cal Matters | Young survivors of gun violence find therapy helps. But will California do more?

Posted June 2, 2026

A proposed California bill would provide free mental health services to young survivors of gun violence, addressing a devastating reality: only 37% of child survivors receive mental health care within six months of a shooting, often because of cost and insurance barriers.

The article features a young Oakland survivor who connected with counseling support through Youth Alive after being shot at a house party two years ago. While recovering physically, therapy also helped him process trauma, anger, and regain confidence in himself and his future.

We’re deeply proud of our staff, including Rhea Corson-Higgs, whose work was highlighted in this piece.

This work saves lives.

The Guardian | How Youth Alive Serves Latino Community, Despite Trump Funding Cuts

Posted April 7, 2026

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.

KALW | How community intervention programs are reducing gun violence

Posted March 27, 2026

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.

The Guardian | Oakland homicides fall to 25-year low – how did it stem the violence?

Posted March 23, 2026

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.

The Oaklandside | A School-Based Violence Intervention Program That’s Working — and at Risk

Posted February 19, 2026

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.

KQED News | She Stops School Fights Before They Start. Oakland May Cut Her Job

Posted December 24, 2025

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.