In Oakland, the reality of gun violence runs deep—but so does the determination to create change. Every day, courageous organizations are rising to meet the challenge, building pathways to healing, safety, and hope. Their work shows us that solutions already live within our communities—and that together, we can create a future where all Oaklanders thrive.

Here are 10 remarkable organizations leading the way:

1. Oakland Ceasefire

Who they are: A citywide partnership uniting community members, faith leaders, service providers, and law enforcement.

What they do: Ceasefire uses a proven public health approach to reduce gun violence. Through direct outreach, relationship-building, and offering alternatives to those at highest risk, they disrupt cycles of harm before they escalate.

Who they help: Individuals at the center of gun violence—often young men at risk of being involved as either victims or perpetrators.

Achievements: Since launching in 2012, Ceasefire has been credited with significantly reducing homicides and shootings in Oakland, especially those involving firearms.

Impact: Ceasefire saves lives by replacing hopelessness with opportunity. Their work shows that when communities lead, violence can be prevented, and futures can be rewritten.

2. City of Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention (DVP)

Who they are: The first city department in the U.S. dedicated solely to community-driven violence prevention.

What they do: DVP invests in healing-centered programs, violence interruption, community leadership, and support for survivors.

Who they help: Young people, families, and communities most affected by gun violence, particularly Black and Brown communities.

Achievements: DVP has funded grassroots organizations, supported trauma recovery services, and led Oakland’s strategy for reducing gun violence with community at the center.

Impact: By embedding prevention and healing into the city’s fabric, DVP is creating pathways to safety and systemic change rooted in equity.

3. Youth ALIVE!

Who they are: An Oakland-based nonprofit preventing violence and promoting healing for over 30 years.

What they do: Youth ALIVE! offers hospital-based intervention, peer education, and violence interruption programs, including their signature “Caught in the Crossfire” and “Teens on Target” initiatives.

Who they help: Survivors of violence, young people at risk, and entire communities impacted by cycles of trauma.

Achievements: Their work has been credited with reducing retaliation shootings and providing thousands of youth with tools for leadership, healing, and resilience.

Impact: Youth ALIVE! empower young people to lead, heal, and advocate for the safer communities they deserve.

4. Brady: United Against Gun Violence (Oakland Chapter)

Who they are: A national gun violence prevention organization with deep roots in survivor advocacy and policy reform. NBA coach Steve Kerr, who lost his father to gun violence, is a vocal supporter.

What they do: Brady fights for common-sense gun laws, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local groups tackling violence on the ground.

Who they help: Survivors, families, and communities seeking solutions to gun violence, from Oakland to the national stage.

Achievements: Brady has helped pass life-saving gun safety laws and has elevated the voices of survivors and advocates, including young leaders from Oakland.

Impact: Their work builds bridges between policy and community, ensuring that lived experience shapes national action.

5. DreamCatcher Youth Services (DCAC)

Who they are: A vital resource for Oakland's homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth.

What they do: DCAC provides safe shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, and long-term support to young people experiencing homelessness—many of whom face heightened exposure to violence.

Who they help: Unhoused and at-risk youth aged 13-18, offering them safety, stability, and a pathway to healing.

Achievements: DCAC has housed thousands of youth, reconnected families, and reduced risks associated with life on the streets, including exposure to gun violence.

Impact: Every safe night of shelter and every caring adult relationship creates hope—and reduces the conditions that lead to violence.

6. Attitudinal Healing Connection (AHC)

Who they are: An Oakland-based nonprofit using art, education, and dialogue to heal communities and dismantle violence.

What they do: AHC provides arts programming, leadership development, and restorative justice initiatives to foster self-love and peace.

Who they help: Youth, families, and communities in West Oakland and beyond, particularly those most impacted by racialized violence.

Achievements: Their public murals, school programs, and healing workshops have transformed countless lives, offering young people a platform for expression and empowerment.

Impact: AHC reminds us that art is a tool for healing, resistance, and building beloved communities.

7. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (Oakland Chapter)

Who they are: A grassroots network of parents, educators, survivors, and advocates pushing for stronger gun safety laws.

What they do: In Oakland, they organize educational events, support survivors, and advocate for local and national policy change.

Who they help: Families, schools, and communities working toward safer neighborhoods.

Achievements: Moms Demand Action has successfully supported state-level reforms and helped normalize conversations around gun safety.

Impact: Their work empowers everyday people, especially mothers to stand up for change, building a culture of prevention, not fear.

8. Urban Peace Movement

Who they are: A youth-led organization building leadership and addressing the root causes of violence in Oakland.

What they do: UPM provides civic engagement programs, healing spaces, and campaigns to dismantle structural inequities fueling violence.

Who they help: Oakland youth, particularly Black and Brown young people, cultivating their leadership and amplifying their voices.

Achievements: UPM youth have led citywide advocacy efforts, including campaigns to reimagine public safety and invest in communities.

Impact: UPM shows that healing becomes possible when young people lead because the system shifts and narratives change.

9. Catholic Charities East Bay: Experience Hope Oakland

Who they are: A trauma-informed program supporting families impacted by gun violence in Oakland.

What they do: Experience Hope offers grief counseling, crisis response, and long-term healing services for homicide survivors and families.

Who they help: Families navigating the unimaginable loss and trauma caused by gun violence.

Achievements: Their culturally responsive support has helped hundreds of families in Oakland begin the long journey toward healing.

Impact: Experience Hope reminds us that justice isn't only about prevention—it's also about walking with survivors as they heal.

10. Visioning Beyond Violence

Who we are: A national nonprofit rooted in Oakland, using art, education, and inclusive dialogue to empower communities to prevent gun violence.

What we do: We provide free multidisciplinary curriculum, public exhibitions, and community conversations. Vision Quilt helps students create art panels that share messages of hope, resistance, and change.

Who we help: Youth, survivors, educators, and communities most impacted by violence, particularly in BIPOC neighborhoods.

Achievements: Visioning Beyond Violence art panels have been exhibited nationwide. Our Oakland programs, in partnership with schools like Lighthouse, have reached thousands and inspired countless students to find their voice and power.

Impact: Through art, storytelling, and shared visioning, we remind communities that change is very much possible.

These ten organizations remind us that solutions to gun violence are built every day through love, courage, creativity, and community leadership. In a city as vibrant and resilient as Oakland, the power to heal and transform is already here.

At Visioning Beyond Violence, we believe what we can imagine, we can create. We stand with these organizations, with survivors, with youth, and with all those daring to build a safer, more just future for Oakland.

To Get Involved

There are many ways you can get involved and make a difference:

• Volunteer: Join our team of volunteers to help with events and initiatives.

• Donate: Your contributions can help fund our projects and support our mission.

• Spread the Word: Share our message on social media and with your community.

• Attend Events: Participate in our workshops, seminars, and community gatherings.

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Contact us for more details on how you can contribute!