Oakland has secured $1,039,000 in federal funding to expand its Operation Ceasefire violence prevention program. The funding will allow the Department of Violence Prevention to hire at least five additional life coaches to work with at-risk individuals, offering alternatives like safe housing and employment. While homicides and shootings have dropped to near 60-year lows, recent violence underscores the need for continued community-based interventions amid city budget cuts.
Oakland is receiving $1,039,000 in federal funding secured by Congresswoman Lateefah Simon to expand" Operation Ceasefire ," the city's violence prevention program. The funding will allow the Department of Violence Prevention to hire at least five additional life coaches to engage with at-risk individuals and offer alternative pathways like safe housing and employment.
While city leaders note historic double-digit reductions in homicides and shootings, recent violent incidents highlight the ongoing need for community-based interventions amid broader city budget cuts.is receiving a significant federal investment for its violence prevention program, "Operation Ceasefire.
" City leaders credit the program as a critical tool in bringing the local homicide rate down to its lowest level in nearly 60 years.. Officials state the new influx of money will help hire at least five more, with the goal of preventing crime before it happens. Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, representing the 12th District and running for reelection, secured the federal funding for the initiative.
"These men and women are on the streets every day doing things that many folks don't know or don't understand," Simon said, referring to the group consisting of Dept. of Violence Prevention employees, Faith in Action advocates, and city officials. The program identifies and engages with individuals most likely to commit a crime to prevent retaliation between groups, and instead, provides youth with access to safe housing and employment pathways.
Dr. Holly Joshi, Chief of the Department of Violence Prevention , said the cash will vitalize staffing.
"When I started at the end of 2023, we had seven or eight life coaches at that time," Joshi said. "And now we are basically in a position where in the next few months we will have doubled our staffing model. ", with homicides plunging to the lowest levels seen in decades.
"For the third year in a row, Oakland is experiencing double-digit reductions in homicides and shootings and violence overall is down—these are historic wins," Joshi added.while walking home from San Antonio Park. Earlier this month in East Oakland, another teenager was arrested for manslaughter and hit-and-run afternoted the wider financial strain on the city.
"Citywide, not specifically related to DVP, but over $24 million has just been stopped and cut from our budget, so we have to figure out how to backfill that," Lee said. Despite the budget constraints, life coaches with the Ceasefire-Lifeline program are encouraged by the new investment. Harris Bradford, one of the first life coaches to join the team, described the deep community connection required for the role.
"It's really a calling," Bradford said. "To do this work, you have to be called to do this work. It's not something you just do. You have to love your community.
You have to love what you do. And it's embodied within you.
" Bradford recalled the tangible impact of the program's outreach, sharing an instance where he brought teens from rival factions to Pismo Beach. "There was no group or gang-affiliated activity going on for at least eight months after that particular trip. So that trip was very impactful," he said. Data from the "California Partnership for Strong Families" shows that only about 300 individuals are responsible for driving gun violence in Oakland, making targeted outreach key.
"There's a life out there that's going to be saved because you sent the money," said Pastor Billy Dixon of At Thy Word Ministries Church in East Oakland. "There's a life out there that's going to be delivered because work is being done in Oakland. Let's give leadership a hand.
"The $1,039,000 allocation is part of a larger package of more than $11 million heading to 15 community projects across the East Bay for the upcoming fiscal year. Those projects are slated to support public safety, transportation, and education programs. Oakland leadership points to drop in violent crime as sign Ceasefire program is working Oakland city leaders are touting a recent decline in violent crime as evidence that their Ceasefire program is making an impact.
Federal Funding Operation Ceasefire Oakland Violence Prevention Life Coaches Congresswoman Lateefah Simon Department Of Violence Prevention Homicide Reduction Community Intervention
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