Youth ALIVE! Chosen Nonprofit of the Year

Posted: June 20, 2019

Honored by Sen. Skinner

Kyndra Simmons, DiShawn Barnett, Sen. Nancy Skinner and Carlos Jackson in Sacramento

Youth ALIVE! is proud to announce its selection as a 2019 California Nonprofit of the Year by California State Senator Nancy Skinner. Intervention Director Kyndra Simmons, Intervention Specialist Carlos Jackson and Pathways participant DiShawn Barnett traveled to Sacramento in June to be honored by their state senator and assembly members during a celebration luncheon as part of California Nonprofits Day.

Youth ALIVE! believes young people growing up in violent neighborhoods have the capacity to create change. Its programs promote violence prevention, intervention and healing in Oakland, through youth leadership training, mentoring, education, mental health counseling, support for young gunshot victims beginning at their hospital bedsides, for families of homicide victims in the immediate aftermath of a killing and conflict mediation between individuals and gangs.

“At Youth ALIVE!, our frontline staff is so dedicated. Their work to raise the voices of those affected by violence in Oakland, to make people safer, and to heal their trauma, saves lives every day. We are incredibly grateful to Senator Skinner for recognizing us as a Nonprofit of the Year,” said Youth ALIVE! Executive Director Anne Marks.

“Nonprofits are often hidden in plain sight,” explains Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits). “California Nonprofits Day is an opportunity for our elected officials to celebrate the good work they see nonprofits doing in their districts, and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits in our communities.”