Oakland's Skyline High School Shooting Raises Concerns Over Budget Cuts for Violence Interrupter Program
A recent shooting incident at Oakland's Skyline High School has sparked concerns over the future of a local violence interrupter program that has been credited with preventing further violence in school settings. The program, run by Youth ALIVE!, has seen success in mediating conflicts and preventing retaliatory attacks.
According to Dr. Joe Griffin, executive director of Youth ALIVE!, the program's work often goes unnoticed as it focuses on preventing escalation and retaliation rather than drawing attention. However, Griffin emphasized that violence prevention is a crucial component of keeping schools safe, with over 60 successful conflict mediations achieved in school settings this year alone.
The program faces significant budget cuts due to Oakland Unified School District's $100 million structural deficit. Youth ALIVE!'s funding is under threat, which could put years of progress at risk. Griffin has expressed concern about finding alternative funding sources and partners to keep the program afloat.
Doral Miles, a violence interrupter with nine years of experience, highlighted the challenges of his work, particularly in navigating conversations with families of gunshot victims who may seek revenge. Despite these challenges, Miles reported success in following up on leads and gathering information after last week's shooting incident.
The Oakland Unified School District is currently discussing budget cuts over the next few months, which could have a significant impact on the future of the violence interrupter program. If successful in finding alternative funding sources, Griffin aims to ensure that the program remains available for students in need.
As the investigation into last week's shooting continues, officials are urging caution and vigilance in addressing potential retaliation. The Oakland community is holding its breath as they await news on whether the violence interrupter program will be able to continue its crucial work in preventing further harm.
A recent shooting incident at Oakland's Skyline High School has sparked concerns over the future of a local violence interrupter program that has been credited with preventing further violence in school settings. The program, run by Youth ALIVE!, has seen success in mediating conflicts and preventing retaliatory attacks.
According to Dr. Joe Griffin, executive director of Youth ALIVE!, the program's work often goes unnoticed as it focuses on preventing escalation and retaliation rather than drawing attention. However, Griffin emphasized that violence prevention is a crucial component of keeping schools safe, with over 60 successful conflict mediations achieved in school settings this year alone.
The program faces significant budget cuts due to Oakland Unified School District's $100 million structural deficit. Youth ALIVE!'s funding is under threat, which could put years of progress at risk. Griffin has expressed concern about finding alternative funding sources and partners to keep the program afloat.
Doral Miles, a violence interrupter with nine years of experience, highlighted the challenges of his work, particularly in navigating conversations with families of gunshot victims who may seek revenge. Despite these challenges, Miles reported success in following up on leads and gathering information after last week's shooting incident.
The Oakland Unified School District is currently discussing budget cuts over the next few months, which could have a significant impact on the future of the violence interrupter program. If successful in finding alternative funding sources, Griffin aims to ensure that the program remains available for students in need.
As the investigation into last week's shooting continues, officials are urging caution and vigilance in addressing potential retaliation. The Oakland community is holding its breath as they await news on whether the violence interrupter program will be able to continue its crucial work in preventing further harm.
. Those guys are literally saving lives on a daily basis, and now they're being put at risk because of some budget cuts? It's like, what even is the point of having a school if we can't keep our kids safe? 
And I feel bad for Doral Miles and the rest of the team who have been working tirelessly to prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place. They're not just saving lives, they're also helping families cope with trauma 
. The community is coming together to support them, but it's still not enough... we need to find a way to keep that program alive 
... I mean, a bunch of young folks talking things out and stuff, but what's the real proof that it actually works? We're already cutting funding to these types of programs, so if they don't bring results, then why bother?
... every time there's a shooting incident at a school, we should be talking about how 2 prevent it from happening in the first place, not just dealing with the aftermath 
... and i feel bad for the staff who work on these programs, they're doing their best under such crazy circumstances 
Budget cuts for programs that actually help prevent harm... it's just not right 
These violence interrupter programs are like the unsung heroes of education - they don't get all the attention, but they're making a real difference 
. It's not just about throwing more money at the problem, it's about finding creative solutions to keep these programs alive 
. I hope the community comes together to support this cause... we need more people advocating for what really matters 
.
My friend's little brother is in elementary school and he's already telling me about the trauma this kind of thing can cause... it's just not right 
I'm really worried about this violence interrupter program 
. It's like, what if we're just delaying the inevitable? We keep cutting corners and hoping that somehow, someway, our schools become safer overnight 
. Meanwhile, these young people are being forced to navigate their own trauma without any support or guidance 
. I mean, have we ever stopped to think about the real cost of 'budget cuts' 
? It's not just dollars and cents; it's lives, relationships, and futures lost forever 
. Can't we find a way to fund these programs that prioritize prevention over punishment? 
It's not gonna solve anything, you know? Those kids need people to talk to, to calm down and resolve their problems peacefully. It's all about the money, man... 
, it just goes to show how much of an impact these programs have in keeping schools safe. And the fact that people like Doral Miles are doing this work without getting any recognition is just wow 
... I guess you can't put a price on saving lives, right? 
I'm really worried about this... like, schools should be a safe place for kids, you know? 
... especially young folks who need help de-escalating conflicts and staying safe at school. I mean, 60 successful conflict mediations this year is a huge deal 
.
I mean, what's the point of even having education if we're not gonna support kids who need help the most? This just shows how out of touch our politicians are 
. And to think about those violence interrupters trying to make sense of it all... nine years of experience and they still get to deal with families seeking revenge 
i mean it's not like they're just talking people down from cliffs or anything but still, prevention is key
how are they expecting this program to survive with a 100 million dollar deficit? it's just not right 
no way, let's keep the violence interrupter program alive! 
. Anyway, it's really up to the community to come together and show support for these programs so they can keep doing their life-saving work 