In the News
đˇ Media Contact
For press inquires please email: mbare@curyj.org
đ° Press Coverage
The aftermath of police violence: Reimagining safety amid evolving sentiments and advocacy efforts in Alameda County (Local News Matters | September 6, 2023)
Local News Matters | September 6, 2023 | Read articleÂ
In the last year, the public furor surrounding the murder of George Floyd and other police killings has subsided, and in recent years, calls to defund the police have diminished. In contrast, support for police has grown, or at least become more vocal.Â
As a result of the pandemic, some organizations, including traditionally progressive civil rights groups, are noticing an increase in certain types of crime. In any event, advocates of police reform and police abolition both agree that we must change how our society views law enforcement and how we hold it accountable.
Police use of unwarranted force is cited as one of the main reasons for their calls for reform or abolition.  Our Organizer Associate, Amanda Majail-Blanco, and sister of Erik Salgado, who California Highway Patrol officers killed during a traffic stop in Oakland in June of 2020, says âŻâJust because the police shot them doesnât mean that itâs justified.â
Since the killing of her brother, she has been on the front lines of several community-led organizing efforts, including the Justice in July Block party held in Oakland that called for all officers responsible for killings in Alameda County to be charged with murder.
Advocates for abolishing police forces as they currently exist argue for law enforcement to be created and controlled by local communities.Â
Alameda Coalition Asserts Limiting Youth Transfers to Adult Legal System Prioritizes Youth Rehabilitation Instead of Degradation (The Davis Vanguard | September 02, 2023)
The Davis Vanguard | September 2, 2023 | Read articleÂ
According to the Alameda County DA Accountability Table (ACDAAT), a coalition of community groups, the District Attorney has prioritized youth rehabilitation by pledging to keep as many juveniles as possible within the juvenile justice system rather than transferring them to adult court. But studies have shown that juveniles in juvenile facilities are more likely to receive “age-appropriate rehabilitation opportunities” that foster their ability to contribute to society, such as biannual progress checks, educational opportunities, certification programs, and restorative justice programs.
Our Policy & Legal Services Manager, J Vasquez, said, âAll youth are sacred, and young people should be seen for more than their worst mistakes. We should instead invest finite county resources into community-driven solutions that hold youth accountable without causing them, their families, and our communities long-term harm. Our government structures and investments must provide wraparound services for everyone affected by harm.”
CA Bill Would Shift Restitution From Juveniles To State (Witness L.A. | August 31, 2023)
Witness L.A. | August 31, 2023 | Read article
In an article written by Taylor Walker from Witness L.A. titled “CA Bill Would Shift Restitution From Juveniles To State”, our Youth Justice Coordinator, Xochtil Larios, was quoted saying, “I can’t worry about who I am becoming because I still have to fix my past.” After years in foster care and juvenile justice, our Youth Justice Coordinator, Xochtil Larios, entered adulthood with $3,500 in restitution debt. Despite her determination to move forward, the restitution debt she owed from a teen crime felt overwhelming.
The article discusses Assembly Bill 1186, which proposes ending youth being charged restitution fines. Restitution fines are amounts owed to victims by those who commit crimes and are found guilty. #AB1186 suggests that the California Victim Compensation Board, rather than charging youth, pay restitution directly and immediately to crime victims. The bill is on the suspense file in the Senate Appropriations Committee and is expected to be heard in September.
New bill would shift restitution from juveniles to State (EdSource | August 23, 2023)
EdSource | August 23, 2023 | Read articleÂ
In an article by EdSource titled “New bill would shift restitution from juveniles to State.” our Youth Justice Coordinator, Xochtil Larios, was quoted extensively. The article discusses Assembly Bill 1186, which proposes ending youth restitution fines, which are amounts owed by those found guilty of crimes and paid to victims. In contrast to charging youths, AB 1186 proposes paying the restitution directly to crime victims. By September, the Senate Appropriations Committee will address the bill on the suspense file.
If the bill passes this fall, it would only end the restitution that youths have paid. Future legislative cycles will determine how to fund the bill, which is estimated to cost about $12 million annually in restitution amounts plus additional staffing costs.
âJuveniles are set off to be pioneers, leaders, start joining the workforce, education, but the justice system doesnât think about the weight, the heavy stuff that weâre carrying,â
As a result of CURYJ’s help, Xochtil has managed to stay on track after her release. In Alameda County, she learned about CURYJ while being detained and applied for a job once she was released. Sheâs now worked in CURYJ for five years, supporting research development and leading training on youth rights, among other things.
Once a 'badass Latina' and handcuffed schoolboys, they now push for juvenile justice reform (YouthToday.org | August 18, 2023)
YouthToday.org | August 18, 2023 | Read articleÂ
our Youth Justice Coordinator, Xochtil Larios, was featured in Youth Today news. During an interview with journalist Brian Rinker, she discussed how her experiences in the juvenile justice system and working with CURYJ shaped her advocacy for reforms.
“At some point in jail, I met advocates with the Oakland-based Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, CURYJ. They encouraged me to get involved in youth leadership and activism. In addition to helping me with transportation and housing, they told me they would assist me when I got out.”
Are California counties ready to handle juvenile offenders now that state youth prisons are shuttered? (YouthToday.org | August 17, 2023)
YouthToday.org | August 17, 2023 | Read articleÂ
In yesterday’s article titled “Are California counties ready to handle juvenile offenders now that state youth prisons are shuttered?” from Youth Today our Executive Director, George Galvis, was quoted saying, âThe state opened up Pandoraâs box, and now weâre trying to manage this disaster”
In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a shutdown of the state’s youth prison system, which would trim juvenile justice budgets. He and state analysts assume that the move might improve a young person’s chances of being redirected onto a more beneficial life path by giving them more access to their families.
Many agree that Newsomâs intentions are good. But, they argue, the transfer of those youth from state to county custody has not been well-timed or well-planned.Â
California AG only closed 3 deadly police shooting investigations since 2021 (KTVU FOX 2 | July 18, 2023)
KTVU FOX 2 | July 18, 2023 | Read article Â
A total of 45 unarmed people across California were shot by law enforcement officers in the last two years, and California’s Attorney General is charged with investigating whether those killings were justified.Â
But the pace of AG Rob Bonta’s inquiries has upset victims’ families, criminal justice activists and those in uniform alike.
AB 1506 went into effect in 2021, a bill that’s changed the dynamics of how police-involved shooting investigations are handled by eliminating the influence of local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys in 58 counties. At the time, progressives and police unions both opposed it. And they still do.
CURYJ’s main opposition is that the AG’s office is still too close to police to fairly determine whether an officer-involved shooting is justified.
“It’s not going to be a perfect system by any means, but we believe it will be a more meaningful and more productive system to hold officers accountable.” – J VaquezÂ
State senator says juvenile confidentiality laws shouldnât shield police
Open Vallejo | July 11, 2023 | Read article
In a statement to Open Vallejo Friday, California Senate Bill 1421’s author said withholding police records violated the bill’s intent. ÂâCaliforniaâs police transparency laws, SB 1421 and SB 16, guarantee public access to records related to a range of law enforcement misconduct, including cases involving death, excessive use of force, and sexual assault,â wrote Skinner, who authored both laws. âThose laws do not contain any exemption for records when a victim or witness is a minor.â
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, which helped write SB 1421, co-founded by George Galvis, told Open Vallejo last month that legislators would need to clarify the law by passing a trailer bill clarifying the need to disclose records of police violence against juveniles. ÂâTwisted to conceal:â How laws meant to protect children help police evade scrutiny (Open Vallejo | June 28, 2023)
Open Vallejo | June 28, 2023 | Read articleÂ
Due to state and federal laws, government agencies have long been prohibited from publicly disclosing information about juveniles’ interactions with the legal system. In addition to reducing barriers to employment, housing, and higher education, these laws aim to protect justice-impacted youth from social stigma. However, the police have exploited these laws to evade transparency when they use force against children.
“Itâs very clear to me that this is an abuse. Itâs really concerning that theyâre abusing the spirit and intent of SB 1421 in this way…I can tell you that, as one of the sponsors: that was not the intent. We would never have ever allowed that.” – George Galvis
California governor proposes rolling back access to police misconduct records
AP New | June 17, 2023 | View articleÂ
To cover an estimated $31.5 billion budget deficit, the Newsom administration has proposed ending public disclosure of investigations into abusive and corrupt police officers. An organization that spent years advocating for the disclosure rules that were part of the landmark law Newsom signed in 2021, a coalition of criminal justice and press freedom groups, have strongly criticized the proposal, part of the governor’s budget package he is still negotiating with the Legislature. âItâs a slap in the face to the family members who have had their loved ones stolen from them that … a key provision of the decertification process is not being honored,â J Vasquez, of social justice group Communities United For Restorative Justice, said at a news conference last week.Organizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation. With CURYJ.
By Out Of The Margins. Shared by Andrus Family Fund | June 16, 2023 | View article
Organizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation. Hosted by AFF Director Mishi Faruqee, each episode in this limited series will feature grantee partners, youth leaders and/or allies who share their visions for community-centered approaches that support youth and families. Â
Â
In this first episode, we hear from Brenda Gomez and Xochtil Larios of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) in Oakland, CA. They discuss their journey from being incarcerated as teenagers and being empowered by CURYJ to their continued evolution as youth leaders in the abolition movement and how CURYJ continues to support young people to #DreamBeyondBars.ÂLearn more about CURYJ:
curyj.org
Twitter
Facebook
InstagramMusic by Bre Stoves, “Untold Story” from Care, Not Control (The Album)
Learn more about AFF:
affund.org
LinkedIn
Instagram
FacebookThis podcast is produced by Sol Design.
Oakland Event Series Aimed at Gun Violence Prevention Returns for Summer 2023
KQED | June, 16 2023 | View articleÂ
It will take creative thinking to solve this problem in Oakland, according to community groups and the city’s Department of Violence Prevention (DVP). From Friday and through July, DVP will bring back Town Nights, an arts and culture series aimed at providing resources and positive social outlets. So why do some of the cityâs leading gun violence prevention groups say this programming effectively stops gun violence?A KQED associate editor of arts and culture, Nastia Voynovskaya, addresses this question in a Bay episode. ÂListen here.Â
Oaklandâs innovative anti-violence program funded through summer, but what then?
The Oakland Side | June 15, 2023 | View articleÂ
Oaklandâs Department of Violence Prevention is getting some bridge money to carry it through the summer, but the departmentâs community-based contractors, who do much of its work on the streets, fear the added funds wonât save them from the chopping block when the council finalizes the cityâs next two-year budget before the end of June.
âThatâs just throwing a Band-Aid on a broken bone,â said Alex Toris, a cultural activist for Communities United For Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), which is one of the recipients of department grants.ÂâWhat weâre asking for is not for City Council to put the money where their mouth is, but to keep it there,â Joseph Griffin, executive director of Youth ALIVE! Said during a press conference on May 30. âThatâs really what we need to keep our programs going.â Â
Oakland community rallies for violence prevention, against budget cuts ahead of council meeting
ABC 7 News | June 14, 2023 | View StoryÂ
At a rally in front of Oakland City Hall, community groups demanded no cuts to city funding for many of their programs — ahead of Wednesday’s city council budget meeting.
Oakland teens witness more violence, feel sadder than U.S. counterparts
SF Chronicle | June 9, 2023 | View articleÂ
One of the biggest differences between Oakland teens and those nationally was witnessing violence: Nearly one in three Oakland teens reported having seen someone assaulted, stabbed, or shot, compared with one in five nationally. 36% of Oakland high school students said they witnessed someone in their neighborhood get shot, stabbed or beaten, outpacing their peers in California and around the country. In the United States, 20% of students agreed. âA majority of the kids I deal with have been victims of violence, have perpetrated violence, have seen people get hurt or shot,â said Francisco Cisneros, a violence interrupter from Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice at Fremont High School in East Oakland. âTheyâre living in an environment that resorts to violence. It makes them feel like violence is almost the first thing they should resort to solve their problems.â
Salgado's Family, Supporters Seek Charges Against Officers Who Killed Him
SF Gate | June 6, 2023 | View articleÂ
Three years have passed since Erik Salgado was shot, killed, and lost his baby at the hands of California Highway Patrol officers in Oakland on June 6, 2023.
The family of Erik Salgado, CURYJ, the Anti Police-Terror, and Addie Kitchen, a grandmother of Steven Taylor, who was killed by law enforcement, gathered outside Rene C. Davidson’s Oakland courthouse yesterday morning to make their case.
As a result of the shooting and death of Erik Salgado and the loss of his baby, a new district attorney has been elected, Pamela Price, who has vowed to file charges against killer cops and reopen the case closed by her predecessor Nancy O’Malley to charge the officer involved in Erik Salgado’s murder. The family awaits justice and accountability despite ample evidence against Sgt. Richard Henderson.
“It really makes me upset that these police officers have this immunity and these bills of rights that protect them,” said Amanda Majail-Blanco, Salgado’s sister.
Historic deficit has Oaklandâs mayor ready to abandon campaign promise
SF Chronicle | June 4, 2023 | View articleÂ
Over the next two years, Mayor Thao proposes reducing funding for the Department of Violence Prevention from $48 million to $41 million. Clearly, Thao’s campaign promise to double violence prevention funding would be reversed by these cuts.
Swai Lakai says she’s benefited from violence prevention services. After serving time in prison, the 21-year-old now works for CURYJ, which organizes Town Nights for the city, an event that brings young people off the streets into spaces where they can interact with mentors and life coaches in order to prevent them from engaging in criminal activity.
Swai says, âYoung people need the services, they need the mentors, they need the things these organizations offer to keep them out of trouble”
Community organizers protest proposed cuts to Oakland violence prevention department
Fox KTVU 2 | May 30, 2023 | View articleÂ
Dozens of community leaders rallied outside Oakland City Hall on Tuesday, urging city officials not to slash the city’s Department of Violence Prevention budget.
A proposed budget released by Mayor Sheng Thao calls for a reduction in contracts between the violence-prevention department and community-based groups that reach out to those at risk.
Ricardo Garcia of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice said, “What we’re demanding the city is to equally invest in our frontline people, our folks who are putting their lives literally on the ground, to be able to make sure they’re supporting families.”
Swai Lakai told the crowd, “The police do not keep us safe, we keep us safe.” Lakai told KTVU she’s a beneficiary of community-based programs.
“I’m a formerly incarcerated student, and it helped me because I used to be in a lot of trouble, and me being able to go to these programs have helped me,” Lakai said.
Fear of police violence still looms large three years after George Floydâs murder
SF Chronicle | May 28, 2023 | View articleÂ
George Floyd’s murder sparked calls to end police brutality and racism. California has experienced a decline in overall police killings three years later, while the U.S. has increased. Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice executive director George Galvis says these problems stem from racism in policing in America.
âWhen you think about the problems with policing in this country, you think of the systemâs roots, which go back to slavery and slave patrols, police violence, police terrorism, has always been a part of policing and that wonât change overnight.â
How Oakland's budget plays role in crime prevention
ABC 7 News | May 24, 2023 | View StoryÂ
“Instead of reigning in police spending, the city is considering defunding vital services for violence prevention, jobs, shelter for the unhoused.”
The Change Needed to Stop Saddling Young Black and Brown People with Massive Debt
Ms. Magazine | May 15, 2023 | View article
Imagine how happy you would feel after being told you can finally go home to your family and friends after spending your 18th birthday and over 200 days in juvenile hall. This was the case for Xochtil, who was eager to start a new life and never return. She was ecstaticâthat is, until she was given a $3,000 bill upon her release.She was relieved to be back with her community, but was working tirelessly to make ends meet while simultaneously juggling a full-time course load at a community college. The carceral debt loomed over, leaving her too stressed on money to focus on the far more important issues of her re-integration, two jobs or education.
MARIO GONZALEZ HONORED ON HIS SECOND âANGELVERSARYâ
Alamedasun | April 24, 2023 | View article
âI donât think the city has done a lot,â Majail-Blanco said. âThey barely do anything and community members sometimes trash the site. If anything, the city has procrastinated in trying to hold cops accountable and no justice has been served.â
Fruitvale safety summit brings community together to discuss violent crime
Oaklandside | April 18, 2023 | View article
Youth members of CURYJ said they donât want policing to be the solution to the neighborhoodâs systemic problems. âWe want this police money to go back into the community,â one young person said. âWhy are you talking about public safety when police murder our brothers and sisters?â
Business owners speak out against violent crime in Oaklandâs Fruitvale district
SF Chronicle | April 18, 2023 | View article
âIf you have the power and funds to open a substation, you should use that power to keep working with organizations like (Communities) United for Restorative Youth Justice that are run by people in the community,â a speaker said, âsince those who are closer to the problem are also closer to the solution.â
A TRIBUTE TO HARRY BELAFONTE: A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Hard Knock Radio | April 27, 2023 | View article
Geroge Galvis, Executive Director shared, “Belafonteâs significant impact on his activism and the work he and others were doing to end mass incarceration, provide support for those returning home, and offer resources for marginalized individuals. His conversations and work with Mr B encouraged him to double his efforts. The jewels of wisdom he received from Harry Belafonte made him a better organizer”.
Grassroots Work to Undo The Harm of Incarcerating Young People with Jasmine Frye, Tae Thomas, and Dr Frankie Free Ramos
Dr. Frankie Ramos, Director of Campaigns and Organizing, was featured in a live radio interview in a discussion about closing youth prisons  to talk about CURYJ’s latest efforts with the grassroots Dreams Beyond Bars campaign and the legislative effort of the PROMYSE Act.ÂOrganizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation.
Andrus Family Fund | March 30, 2023 | View StoryÂ
AFF is launching a new video and podcast series that centers youth in the movement to abolish harmful systems and who are envisioning community-centered approaches to supporting youth and families. Watch now to get a sneak peek of the topics weâll address.
Youth organizers featured in this video include:
Meyiya Coleman, Communities United
Xochtil Larios, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)
Anahi Figueroa-Martinez, Juvenile Law Center
Laura Rosado, Visionary Freedom Fund
Jemima Abalogu, Visionary Freedom Fund
Bre Stoves, Care Not Control (Original song â Untold Story)Ex-Oakland, California, police chief appeals his firing
The Sacramento Bee | February 24, 2023 | View article
George Galvis, founder and executive director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, said Armstrong’s firing was a first step âin holding OPD accountable for years of abuse and scandals.â
Though Thousands of Miles Away, Tyre Nicholsâ Death Affected Oaklanders
Post News Group | February 16, 2023 | View article
âI think itâs important to think that there are many Tyre Nicholsâ and while in this particular moment there is righteous outrage, as there should be for the blatant and egregious murder of a young Black man for a fraudulent traffic stop, we have many, many cases here in the Bay Area that we perhaps have more agency over as Oaklanders.â George Galvis, CURYJ Executive Director and Co-Founder.Â
Anger and sadness over Tyre Nicholsâ death prompts students to walk out and protest at Oakland Tech
Oakland North | February 6, 2023 | View article
RayâVon Jones, a former Oakland Tech teacher who now is a program manager at Communities United for Restorative Justice or CURYJ, heard of Zamudioâs plan to organize a vigil and block party for Nichols, she gave her full support.âItâs not easy as a student to organize something like this, so weâre really just here in solidarity, supporting with whatever they need,â Jones said. âBut theyâre running the show.â
Jones said the students meant for the action to be disruptive, noting, âThe point of an act of civil disobedience is to disobey a rule which is like being in school.â
The Oakland Police Departmentâs worst enemy is the Oakland Police Department
Bay Areaâs Newest DA is a Former Foster Youth
âWe understand that she has to maintain a delicate balance as DA, but her life experience could set her up to do some amazing things, especially if she gets the support,â said Rocky Hunt, our Participatory Defense Coordinator in The Imprint | January 10, 2023 | View articleCriminal Justice Advocates Release 100-day Agenda for New Alameda County District Attorney
âDuring the first 100 days of DA Priceâs tenure, our coalition of advocates will hold her administration accountable to commitments made during the campaign, including community calls for decarceration, decriminalization, and accountability. Only then will voters and systems-impacted folks know that DA Price is the change weâve been waiting for.â in the article by Ella Baker Center | January 3, 2023 | View article
DO NOT DELETE –Â THESE POST BELOW ARE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
No More Gun Violence in Our Schools
 âWe send our children to schools so that they are cared for and protected and they receive an education and not bullets,â says Mario Juarez in Telemundo | September 30, 2022 | View article
Want to Reduce Gun Violence in Oakland? Invest in Culture
 âThe safest communities do not have the most police. They have the most resources,â says Galvis of CURYJ in KQED | September 12, 2022 | View article
They made it through foster care. Now theyâre persuading this Bay Area county to pay it backward
Article written by Shwanika Narayan. San Francisco Chronicle | July 8, 2022 | View article
INVESTING IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP TO REBUILD A BETTER BAY AREA
Article written by Eduardo Gonzales. San Francisco Foundation | April 26, 2022 | View article
It's On All of Us: Close Youth Prisons, Build Youth Leaders
Op-ed written by Katarina Sayally, CURYJ DBB fellow. The Imprint | June 21, 2021 | View article
Alameda police release video showing officer pinning Mario Gonzalez down before his death
“Marioâs life was ended, he was murdered by the police. It was unnecessary, it was result of white supremacy itâs a result of the culture of policing and once again we donât need police protection, we need protection from the police,” Galvis said.
ABC 10| April 28, 2021 | View article
âWe Need Justiceâ: Mourners Demand Alameda Police Provide Answers in Death of Mario Gonzalez
“How do you take a healthy person in custody who has no health problems and then they mysteriously die? There’s not an uncanny correlation. It’s obvious he was murdered by Alameda police,” George Galvis said.
KQED| April 22, 2021 | View article
Multiracial mutual aid efforts help Chinatown senior citizens, Asian American communities
Black, Latino, Asian Americans are raising money and helping to escort senior citizens who might not feel safe.
NBC News | February 19, 2021 | View article
Incarcerated at home: The rise of ankle monitors and house arrest during the pandemic
Evelyn Canal, Dream Beyond Bars fellow and advocate for incarcerated youth, recounts what it was like wearing a monitor and now fights for young people’s rights while in the system.
NBC News | July 25, 2021 | View articleBay Area activists say prisoners deserve COVID-19 relief in new protest Sunday
Protesters call for early release for some inmates; vaccine distribution clouds debate
East Bay Times | January 31, 2021 | View article
Finding Justice, Fairness, and Joy in Your Community
Panel discussion moderated by Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, with Xochtil Larios of CURYJ, Pastor Mike McBride of Live Free, and Zach Norris of the Ella Baker Center.
Alameda County Library | January 27,2021 | View panel discussion
Oakland Activists Lead Car Caravan, Virtual Events Inspired by Teachings of MLK
âGrowing up in elementary school and middle school, as we were taught about Dr. King, we were taught this co-opted, sanitized, whitewashed version of Dr. King that was really meant about social control, it was about behaving well, it was about assimilation,â Galvis said.
San Francisco Public Press | January 18, 2021 | View article
An Interview with Daniel Mendoza â The California Endowmentâs Harrison Visionary Award Winner
Interview with former Dream Beyond Bars Coordinator, Daniel Mendoza
Bioneers | View articleâWhat privilege looks likeâ: Oaklanders reflect on mob takeover of U.S. Capitol
Oakland activists and advocates compare todayâs treatment of pro-Trump insurrectionists with what theyâve witnessed at local protests.
The Oaklandside | January 6, 2021 | View article
BYE DJJ: California to Close Youth Prisons
Editorial by Hayden Renato
Evident Change | December 9, 2020 | View editorial
Californiaâs leaders failed on critical police reforms. Whereâs the moral courage?
Editorial by Tom Steyer and George Galvis
Sacramento Bee | September 12, 2020 | View editorial
âWeâre suffering the same abusesâ: Latinos hear their stories echoed in police brutality protests
In a three year span, Latinos in California represented 46% of deadly police shootings â second to the rates for African Americans
The Guardian | June 12, 2020 | View article
đ Blog
Read blogs written by CURYJ staff and young leaders. Swipe to see more entries or visit our Medium page.
How we expanded our youth programming during a pandemic
by Fernando Vallejo
Jun 23, 2021 / Read More
How I stopped in-person drug tests for youth during COVID in Alameda County
Chris Quiej is 18 years old, lives in Oakland, and is a 2020 Dream Beyond Bars Fellow
Jun 22, 2021 / Read More
No Evictions On Stolen Land
I am 15 years old and I am the middle sister out of two brothers. My mother is dependent on me. I help out my mother on decisions with my...
Jun 22, 2021 / Read More
OPD Revives Super Predator Language to Criminalize Oakland Youth
On December 15th the Oakland Police Department released a dangerous statement to create fear and vilify Oakland youth. Using dehumanizing...
Dec 25, 2020 / Read More
CURYJ in the face of 2020
2020 has been a difficult year physically and spiritually. It has exposed many of the injustices Black and Brown people face. It has forc...
Dec 19, 2020 / Read More
Policy wins for 2020 and work for 2021
By J. Vasquez, Participatory Defense & Policy Coordinator
Dec 13, 2020 / Read More
No Youth Deserves To Be Punished In Alameda Countyâs Juvenile Justice System
By CURYJÂ Staff
Mar 22, 2019 / Read More
My Purpose
This is a piece I did for Hayward High Schoolâs Puente program. During this time in my life I would get kicked out of school for not havi...
Nov 25, 2018 / Read More
On November 6th Vote Like Your Life Depends On It!
By Daniel Mendoza, CURYJ Community Organizer
Nov 02, 2018 / Read More
đŹ Videos








I MADE THIS AS AN EXTRA SECTION _ YOU CAN DELETE
âTwisted to conceal:â How laws meant to protect children help police evade scrutiny (Open Vallejo | June 28, 2023)
Open Vallejo | June 28, 2023 | Read articleÂ
Due to state and federal laws, government agencies have long been prohibited from publicly disclosing information about juveniles’ interactions with the legal system. In addition to reducing barriers to employment, housing, and higher education, these laws aim to protect justice-impacted youth from social stigma. However, the police have exploited these laws to evade transparency when they use force against children.
“Itâs very clear to me that this is an abuse. Itâs really concerning that theyâre abusing the spirit and intent of SB 1421 in this way…I can tell you that, as one of the sponsors: that was not the intent. We would never have ever allowed that.” – George Galvis
California governor proposes rolling back access to police misconduct records
AP New | June 17, 2023 | View articleÂ
To cover an estimated $31.5 billion budget deficit, the Newsom administration has proposed ending public disclosure of investigations into abusive and corrupt police officers. An organization that spent years advocating for the disclosure rules that were part of the landmark law Newsom signed in 2021, a coalition of criminal justice and press freedom groups, have strongly criticized the proposal, part of the governor’s budget package he is still negotiating with the Legislature. âItâs a slap in the face to the family members who have had their loved ones stolen from them that … a key provision of the decertification process is not being honored,â J Vasquez, of social justice group Communities United For Restorative Justice, said at a news conference last week.Organizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation. With CURYJ.
By Out Of The Margins. Shared by Andrus Family Fund | June 16, 2023 | View article
Organizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation. Hosted by AFF Director Mishi Faruqee, each episode in this limited series will feature grantee partners, youth leaders and/or allies who share their visions for community-centered approaches that support youth and families. Â
Â
In this first episode, we hear from Brenda Gomez and Xochtil Larios of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) in Oakland, CA. They discuss their journey from being incarcerated as teenagers and being empowered by CURYJ to their continued evolution as youth leaders in the abolition movement and how CURYJ continues to support young people to #DreamBeyondBars.ÂLearn more about CURYJ:
curyj.org
Twitter
Facebook
InstagramMusic by Bre Stoves, “Untold Story” from Care, Not Control (The Album)
Learn more about AFF:
affund.org
LinkedIn
Instagram
FacebookThis podcast is produced by Sol Design.
Oakland Event Series Aimed at Gun Violence Prevention Returns for Summer 2023
KQED | June, 16 2023 | View articleÂ
It will take creative thinking to solve this problem in Oakland, according to community groups and the city’s Department of Violence Prevention (DVP). From Friday and through July, DVP will bring back Town Nights, an arts and culture series aimed at providing resources and positive social outlets. So why do some of the cityâs leading gun violence prevention groups say this programming effectively stops gun violence?A KQED associate editor of arts and culture, Nastia Voynovskaya, addresses this question in a Bay episode. ÂListen here.Â
Oaklandâs innovative anti-violence program funded through summer, but what then?
The Oakland Side | June 15, 2023 | View articleÂ
Oaklandâs Department of Violence Prevention is getting some bridge money to carry it through the summer, but the departmentâs community-based contractors, who do much of its work on the streets, fear the added funds wonât save them from the chopping block when the council finalizes the cityâs next two-year budget before the end of June.âThatâs just throwing a Band-Aid on a broken bone,â said Alex Toris, a cultural activist for Communities United For Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), which is one of the recipients of department grants.Â
âWhat weâre asking for is not for City Council to put the money where their mouth is, but to keep it there,â Joseph Griffin, executive director of Youth ALIVE! Said during a press conference on May 30. âThatâs really what we need to keep our programs going.â Â
Oakland community rallies for violence prevention, against budget cuts ahead of council meeting
ABC 7 News | June 14, 2023 | View StoryÂ
At a rally in front of Oakland City Hall, community groups demanded no cuts to city funding for many of their programs — ahead of Wednesday’s city council budget meeting.
Oakland teens witness more violence, feel sadder than U.S. counterparts
SF Chronicle | June 9, 2023 | View articleÂ
One of the biggest differences between Oakland teens and those nationally was witnessing violence: Nearly one in three Oakland teens reported having seen someone assaulted, stabbed, or shot, compared with one in five nationally. 36% of Oakland high school students said they witnessed someone in their neighborhood get shot, stabbed or beaten, outpacing their peers in California and around the country. In the United States, 20% of students agreed. âA majority of the kids I deal with have been victims of violence, have perpetrated violence, have seen people get hurt or shot,â said Francisco Cisneros, a violence interrupter from Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice at Fremont High School in East Oakland. âTheyâre living in an environment that resorts to violence. It makes them feel like violence is almost the first thing they should resort to solve their problems.â
Salgado's Family, Supporters Seek Charges Against Officers Who Killed Him
SF Gate | June 6, 2023 | View articleÂ
Three years have passed since Erik Salgado was shot, killed, and lost his baby at the hands of California Highway Patrol officers in Oakland on June 6, 2023.
The family of Erik Salgado, CURYJ, the Anti Police-Terror, and Addie Kitchen, a grandmother of Steven Taylor, who was killed by law enforcement, gathered outside Rene C. Davidson’s Oakland courthouse yesterday morning to make their case.
As a result of the shooting and death of Erik Salgado and the loss of his baby, a new district attorney has been elected, Pamela Price, who has vowed to file charges against killer cops and reopen the case closed by her predecessor Nancy O’Malley to charge the officer involved in Erik Salgado’s murder. The family awaits justice and accountability despite ample evidence against Sgt. Richard Henderson.
“It really makes me upset that these police officers have this immunity and these bills of rights that protect them,” said Amanda Majail-Blanco, Salgado’s sister.
Historic deficit has Oaklandâs mayor ready to abandon campaign promise
SF Chronicle | June 4, 2023 | View articleÂ
Over the next two years, Mayor Thao proposes reducing funding for the Department of Violence Prevention from $48 million to $41 million. Clearly, Thao’s campaign promise to double violence prevention funding would be reversed by these cuts.
Swai Lakai says she’s benefited from violence prevention services. After serving time in prison, the 21-year-old now works for CURYJ, which organizes Town Nights for the city, an event that brings young people off the streets into spaces where they can interact with mentors and life coaches in order to prevent them from engaging in criminal activity.
Swai says, âYoung people need the services, they need the mentors, they need the things these organizations offer to keep them out of trouble”
Community organizers protest proposed cuts to Oakland violence prevention department
Fox KTVU 2 | May 30, 2023 | View articleÂ
Dozens of community leaders rallied outside Oakland City Hall on Tuesday, urging city officials not to slash the city’s Department of Violence Prevention budget.
A proposed budget released by Mayor Sheng Thao calls for a reduction in contracts between the violence-prevention department and community-based groups that reach out to those at risk.
Ricardo Garcia of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice said, “What we’re demanding the city is to equally invest in our frontline people, our folks who are putting their lives literally on the ground, to be able to make sure they’re supporting families.”
Swai Lakai told the crowd, “The police do not keep us safe, we keep us safe.” Lakai told KTVU she’s a beneficiary of community-based programs.
“I’m a formerly incarcerated student, and it helped me because I used to be in a lot of trouble, and me being able to go to these programs have helped me,” Lakai said.
Fear of police violence still looms large three years after George Floydâs murder
SF Chronicle | May 28, 2023 | View articleÂ
George Floyd’s murder sparked calls to end police brutality and racism. California has experienced a decline in overall police killings three years later, while the U.S. has increased. Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice executive director George Galvis says these problems stem from racism in policing in America.
âWhen you think about the problems with policing in this country, you think of the systemâs roots, which go back to slavery and slave patrols, police violence, police terrorism, has always been a part of policing and that wonât change overnight.â
How Oakland's budget plays role in crime prevention
ABC 7 News | May 24, 2023 | View StoryÂ
“Instead of reigning in police spending, the city is considering defunding vital services for violence prevention, jobs, shelter for the unhoused.”
The Change Needed to Stop Saddling Young Black and Brown People with Massive Debt
Ms. Magazine | May 15, 2023 | View article
Imagine how happy you would feel after being told you can finally go home to your family and friends after spending your 18th birthday and over 200 days in juvenile hall. This was the case for Xochtil, who was eager to start a new life and never return. She was ecstaticâthat is, until she was given a $3,000 bill upon her release.She was relieved to be back with her community, but was working tirelessly to make ends meet while simultaneously juggling a full-time course load at a community college. The carceral debt loomed over, leaving her too stressed on money to focus on the far more important issues of her re-integration, two jobs or education.
MARIO GONZALEZ HONORED ON HIS SECOND âANGELVERSARYâ
Alamedasun | April 24, 2023 | View article
âI donât think the city has done a lot,â Majail-Blanco said. âThey barely do anything and community members sometimes trash the site. If anything, the city has procrastinated in trying to hold cops accountable and no justice has been served.â
Fruitvale safety summit brings community together to discuss violent crime
Oaklandside | April 18, 2023 | View article
Youth members of CURYJ said they donât want policing to be the solution to the neighborhoodâs systemic problems. âWe want this police money to go back into the community,â one young person said. âWhy are you talking about public safety when police murder our brothers and sisters?â
Business owners speak out against violent crime in Oaklandâs Fruitvale district
SF Chronicle | April 18, 2023 | View article
âIf you have the power and funds to open a substation, you should use that power to keep working with organizations like (Communities) United for Restorative Youth Justice that are run by people in the community,â a speaker said, âsince those who are closer to the problem are also closer to the solution.â
A TRIBUTE TO HARRY BELAFONTE: A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Hard Knock Radio | April 27, 2023 | View article
Geroge Galvis, Executive Director shared, “Belafonteâs significant impact on his activism and the work he and others were doing to end mass incarceration, provide support for those returning home, and offer resources for marginalized individuals. His conversations and work with Mr B encouraged him to double his efforts. The jewels of wisdom he received from Harry Belafonte made him a better organizer”.
Grassroots Work to Undo The Harm of Incarcerating Young People with Jasmine Frye, Tae Thomas, and Dr Frankie Free Ramos
Dr. Frankie Ramos, Director of Campaigns and Organizing, was featured in a live radio interview in a discussion about closing youth prisons  to talk about CURYJ’s latest efforts with the grassroots Dreams Beyond Bars campaign and the legislative effort of the PROMYSE Act.ÂOrganizing for Abolition. Envisioning Liberation.
Andrus Family Fund | March 30, 2023 | View StoryÂ
AFF is launching a new video and podcast series that centers youth in the movement to abolish harmful systems and who are envisioning community-centered approaches to supporting youth and families. Watch now to get a sneak peek of the topics weâll address.
Youth organizers featured in this video include:
Meyiya Coleman, Communities United
Xochtil Larios, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)
Anahi Figueroa-Martinez, Juvenile Law Center
Laura Rosado, Visionary Freedom Fund
Jemima Abalogu, Visionary Freedom Fund
Bre Stoves, Care Not Control (Original song â Untold Story)Ex-Oakland, California, police chief appeals his firing
The Sacramento Bee | February 24, 2023 | View article
George Galvis, founder and executive director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, said Armstrong’s firing was a first step âin holding OPD accountable for years of abuse and scandals.â
Though Thousands of Miles Away, Tyre Nicholsâ Death Affected Oaklanders
Post News Group | February 16, 2023 | View article
âI think itâs important to think that there are many Tyre Nicholsâ and while in this particular moment there is righteous outrage, as there should be for the blatant and egregious murder of a young Black man for a fraudulent traffic stop, we have many, many cases here in the Bay Area that we perhaps have more agency over as Oaklanders.â George Galvis, CURYJ Executive Director and Co-Founder.Â
Anger and sadness over Tyre Nicholsâ death prompts students to walk out and protest at Oakland Tech
Oakland North | February 6, 2023 | View article
RayâVon Jones, a former Oakland Tech teacher who now is a program manager at Communities United for Restorative Justice or CURYJ, heard of Zamudioâs plan to organize a vigil and block party for Nichols, she gave her full support.âItâs not easy as a student to organize something like this, so weâre really just here in solidarity, supporting with whatever they need,â Jones said. âBut theyâre running the show.â
Jones said the students meant for the action to be disruptive, noting, âThe point of an act of civil disobedience is to disobey a rule which is like being in school.â
The Oakland Police Departmentâs worst enemy is the Oakland Police Department
Bay Areaâs Newest DA is a Former Foster Youth
âWe understand that she has to maintain a delicate balance as DA, but her life experience could set her up to do some amazing things, especially if she gets the support,â said Rocky Hunt, our Participatory Defense Coordinator in The Imprint | January 10, 2023 | View articleCriminal Justice Advocates Release 100-day Agenda for New Alameda County District Attorney
âDuring the first 100 days of DA Priceâs tenure, our coalition of advocates will hold her administration accountable to commitments made during the campaign, including community calls for decarceration, decriminalization, and accountability. Only then will voters and systems-impacted folks know that DA Price is the change weâve been waiting for.â in the article by Ella Baker Center | January 3, 2023 | View article
âWe Need Justiceâ: Mourners Demand Alameda Police Provide Answers in Death of Mario Gonzalez
“How do you take a healthy person in custody who has no health problems and then they mysteriously die? There’s not an uncanny correlation. It’s obvious he was murdered by Alameda police,” George Galvis said.
KQED| April 22, 2021 | View article
Multiracial mutual aid efforts help Chinatown senior citizens, Asian American communities
Black, Latino, Asian Americans are raising money and helping to escort senior citizens who might not feel safe.
NBC News | February 19, 2021 | View article
Incarcerated at home: The rise of ankle monitors and house arrest during the pandemic
Evelyn Canal, Dream Beyond Bars fellow and advocate for incarcerated youth, recounts what it was like wearing a monitor and now fights for young people’s rights while in the system.
NBC News | July 25, 2021 | View articleBay Area activists say prisoners deserve COVID-19 relief in new protest Sunday
Protesters call for early release for some inmates; vaccine distribution clouds debate
East Bay Times | January 31, 2021 | View article
Finding Justice, Fairness, and Joy in Your Community
Panel discussion moderated by Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, with Xochtil Larios of CURYJ, Pastor Mike McBride of Live Free, and Zach Norris of the Ella Baker Center.
Alameda County Library | January 27,2021 | View panel discussion
Oakland Activists Lead Car Caravan, Virtual Events Inspired by Teachings of MLK
âGrowing up in elementary school and middle school, as we were taught about Dr. King, we were taught this co-opted, sanitized, whitewashed version of Dr. King that was really meant about social control, it was about behaving well, it was about assimilation,â Galvis said.
San Francisco Public Press | January 18, 2021 | View article
An Interview with Daniel Mendoza â The California Endowmentâs Harrison Visionary Award Winner
Interview with former Dream Beyond Bars Coordinator, Daniel Mendoza
Bioneers | View articleâWhat privilege looks likeâ: Oaklanders reflect on mob takeover of U.S. Capitol
Oakland activists and advocates compare todayâs treatment of pro-Trump insurrectionists with what theyâve witnessed at local protests.
The Oaklandside | January 6, 2021 | View article
BYE DJJ: California to Close Youth Prisons
Editorial by Hayden Renato
Evident Change | December 9, 2020 | View editorial
Californiaâs leaders failed on critical police reforms. Whereâs the moral courage?
Editorial by Tom Steyer and George Galvis
Sacramento Bee | September 12, 2020 | View editorial
âWeâre suffering the same abusesâ: Latinos hear their stories echoed in police brutality protests
In a three year span, Latinos in California represented 46% of deadly police shootings â second to the rates for African Americans
The Guardian | June 12, 2020 | View article
đ Culture of Storytelling
Our stories are sacred. In every story there is a teaching. Stories are part of the vehicles of how we can transform our communities and make social change.
George Galvis, Executive Director

