For more than 30 years, an Oakland nonprofit has been working in neighborhoods to interrupt the cycle of violence that often leads to retaliation and incarceration.

This story follows the work of Eric Adams, Keith Wesley and Doral Myles, previously incarcerated violence interrupters with Youth Alive who at one time were caught up in that cycle and are now trained and committed to helping communities break it. Their efforts are spent on disrupting violence, along with fostering hope and healing, and bringing opportunities for lasting change to neighborhoods most affected by gun violence.

In addition, Youth Alive works with at-risk young people at Dewey Academy, an adult school in the Oakland Unified School District that helps people achieve a high school diploma and carve a path to work or college. “You really don’t know what these kids go through,” says Patrick Goodwin, a school-based violence interpreter who works with Dewey students. Sometimes, he says, they just need a push from someone who believes in them.

“I was in foster care all my life,” Goodwin said. “I’ve always wanted to be somebody that was able to go back and give kids hope.”