Check out images from the graduation ceremony of our Peace from Within Advanced Training-of-Trainers, held October 1st inside the San Bruno County Jail. These graduates received their certification as Assistant Facilitators in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation after undergoing an intensive 6-month training.

Thanks to all of the guests who made it in to celebrate with us! It was great to breaking bread, sharing stories, laughter and tears with all of you!

Check out the images below, click here to be taken to our Flickr gallery or here to see them on Facebook.

Read some recent statements from four of our leaders inside the San Bruno County Jails.

Anthony Ross Jr.
Robert Smith
Sean Yokota
Virgilio Aquino

Virgilio receiving his certificate for completing his Kingian Nonviolence Training.

My name is Virgilio M. Aquino. I am a Filipino father and divorcee. I have one son, and I was raised by a single mother after my father passed away when I was a child. I came to the United States in 1983 when I was 13 years old. Now, I am 45 with no education. [Read more…]

Sean receiving his certificate for completing his Kingian Nonviolence Training.

My name is Sean Yokota. I am a third generation Japanese American, born and raised in San Francisco. I rebelled against the “model minority” stereotype in my mid-teens by running with an older tougher crowd. I soon became enamored with the criminal lifestyle and quickly adopted many of the habits and social norms that go with it. [Read more…]

Robert receiving his certificate for completing his Kingian Nonviolence Training.

My name is Robert E. Smith. I am 21 years young. I was born in McComb, Mississippi and moved to East Oakland when I as 5 with my mother, little sister and grandmother. Growing up in Oakland you’re forced to grow up fast. You’re also forced to see things that are abnormal and you have to adapt to your surroundings. I had a great upbringing. There wasn’t much violence in my home. My childhood was very peaceful. The violence started when I would leave the house. Everyone at school was taught the same as me. Things such as don’t let anyone hit you and if they do, you hit them back. Also we were taught in school to never let anyone bully you because if it happens once then it will happen again. With these morals a lot of fights occurred. [Read more…]

Letter from Anthony Ross, Jr. September 2015

My name is Anthony Ross, Jr. I am 27 years of age. I am a San Francisco native raised in Bayview Hunter’s Point, an overwhelming part of the City. I was born to Anthony Ross, Sr and Carmen Ross. Both of my parents were considered major players of the fast life (better known as the underworld). I figure that they chose that career path because of their circumstances. They both grew up in single parent homes with multiple siblings. Growing up, both my parents were in and out of jail, with both being missing in action periodically. I was left in the care of my grandmother, left to keep up with my older brother and sister. [Read more…]

Recently, thanks to invitations from our friends at Barrios Unidos, we have held several lectures about nonviolence to hundreds of men inside the Correctional Training Facility, also known as Soledad State Prison. These lectures have been so popular that many of the men have been requesting a longer training for months.

After being in discussion with the administration, we are scheduled to conduct our first ever two-day workshop inside Soledad State Prison in early October!!!

As many of you know, [Read more…]

For the past couple of months, Don Lacy of the Love Life Foundation and KPOO 89.5 FM in San Francisco has been working with a group of inmates inside the San Bruno County Jail, training them in radio production, conducting interviews, etc.

The hour-long show that they produced, which includes interviews with East Point’s Kazu Haga, San Francisco Sheriff Mirkarimi, members of the San Francisco 49’ers and other community members, will air Saturday, August 23rd at 10:30 AM PST.

Check out the video above for the audio. Also make sure to check out at www.kpoo.com!