Austin Ocampo

Austin Ocampo is a Life Coach at CURYJ whose combination of lived experience, academic achievement, and commitment to creating program-based solutions make him a powerful advocate for the young people he serves. Originally from San Jose, Austin’s journey with the justice system began at age 12 and continued until his mid-twenties—an experience that shaped his deep commitment to helping young people find alternatives to incarceration.

Austin’s path to CURYJ began while studying Rhetoric, Race and Law at UC Berkeley, where he first became acquainted with the organization’s work. Through a connection with one of CURYJ’s life coaches, Austin applied to the Dream Beyond Bars program while still in school. During his time in the program, Austin was heavily involved in the Proposition 6 campaign, building support for ending forced prison labor. Austin also remains connected to the Formerly Incarcerated Persons Movement (FICPM) and continues his involvement with ongoing efforts around ACA 6.

As a School-Based Violence Interrupter at CURYJ, Austin finds deep fulfillment in working with systems-impacted youth facing similar challenges to those he once experienced. He’s particularly passionate about connecting young people to educational opportunities and job training, viewing college as something that gave him a significant boost in life. Austin’s approach centers on providing encouragement and positivity while using his own story as a positive example of transformation. In his free time, Austin enjoys spending time with family and staying active outdoors through surfing, hiking, snowboarding, and other water sports.