John Henderson

John Henderson is a Workforce Development Life Coach at CURYJ. Born and raised in East Oakland, his journey to youth mentorship stems from his own challenging upbringing and interactions with the juvenile justice system. It wasn’t until he moved in with his aunt that John found positive role models and coaches and a stable household would transform his path.

John earned his Associates degree from College of the Sequoias and his Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in psychology and minor in coaching from the University of Southern Mississippi. His athletic talents took him to the NFL, where he played for the St. Louis Rams from 2010-2012. After returning to the Bay Area, John channeled his passion for helping others into community work, eventually becoming a case manager at BOSS where he helped formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals achieve self-sufficiency through employment and housing support.

As a Violence Interrupter at CURYJ, John believes that each young person has a unique story and inherent greatness waiting to be unlocked. John’s approach is grounded in his belief that with the right insights, resources, and role models, young people can learn to become self-sufficient and realize their full potential. In his free time, John enjoys spending quality time with his family — cooking with his three children, attending their soccer games, and going to the beach with the family dog.