Urban Peace Institute Launched 2025 About Equipping communities to interrupt violence and build lasting safety Urban Peace Institute (UPI) provides training and strategic support to cities and organizations advancing community-led approaches to public safety. Founded in Los Angeles in 2006, UPI strengthens the field of community violence intervention (CVI) by equipping frontline workers, including street outreach specialists, mediators, and crisis responders, with the tools to prevent violence before it starts. Through structured, trauma-informed instruction, technical assistance, and systems-level strategy, UPI builds the capacity of communities to implement effective, coordinated violence intervention strategies. In Oakland, UPI is launching a Peace Academy in partnership with the City’s Department of Violence Prevention (DVP), where the initiative will be housed. The Peace Academy will provide trauma-informed, standardized training and certification for frontline violence intervention workers, supporting their professional development and strengthening the effectiveness of Oakland’s growing CVI ecosystem. UPI will train approximately 100 community-based practitioners between 2027 and 2029 through four intensive training cohorts. GreenLight selected UPI for investment after violence prevention was identified by local residents and leaders as a top priority. While Oakland has made meaningful progress in reducing violent crime, the path forward depends on building lasting infrastructure to sustain that progress. UPI brings a nationally-proven, community-rooted approach to CVI workforce development, having trained over 5,700 practitioners in Los Angeles and contributed to a 56% decrease in gang-related homicides since 2022. Their approach offers Oakland a way to deepen impact by aligning training, strategy, and support across the CVI field. UPI’s long-term vision for Oakland is to create a sustainable, professionalized CVI workforce rooted in lived experience, care, and community leadership, building lasting safety and opportunity across local neighborhoods. Executive Director Fernando Rejón Technical Assistance Manager Melvyn Hayward III National Headquarters Los Angeles, CA Email Contact [email protected] Website www.urbanpeaceinstitute.org Urban Peace Institute’s Local Goals 100 CVI workers trained by 2029 90% of graduates remain in CVI roles 6 months after cohort completion 80% of graduates report stronger on-the-ground skills for implementing CVI strategies What Our Community is Saying “GreenLight’s investment in our violence intervention workforce strengthens [our] approach and reinforces our commitment to a safe, thriving Oakland.” Barbara Lee Mayor, City of Oakland “The Oakland Peace Academy will ensure a sustainable, well-trained ecosystem of community violence intervention staff capable of preventing and intervening in violence and serving Oakland’s most vulnerable populations.” Holly Joshi Chief, City of Oakland Department of Violence Prevention Join Our Work In San Francisco We rely on champions and supporters who believe in the power and potential of community-driven change. Follow Us GreenLight Fund Bay Area Get In Touch
