Oakland secures $1M in federal funding for Ceasefire

OAKLAND, Calif. - While federal funding cuts across the board impact multiple cities, Oakland 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.

Ceasefire program successful, city says

The city secured $1,039,000 for the Ceasefire-Lifeline program.

What we know:

Currently, about a dozen "life coaches" work within Oakland's Ceasefire program. 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.

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."

City data indicates crime is down, 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.

Recent crime data shows homicides are down

Why you should care:

However, officials agree there is more work to do.

A woman was shot and injured in West Oakland near Prescott Elementary School. A few days prior, a teenager was stabbed and killed while walking home from San Antonio Park. Earlier this month in East Oakland, another teenager was arrested for manslaughter and hit-and-run after speeding a pickup truck into a crowd on the sidewalk, killing three people.

Broad federal funding cuts have made it difficult to expand community programs. 

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee noted 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.

Life coaches seeing the impact

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."

Big picture view:

The money 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.