Urban Peace Movement (UPM) builds youth leadership in Oakland to transform the culture and social conditions that lead to community violence and mass incarceration in communities of color.
UPM’s model of “Healing-Centered Youth Organizing” supports young people in feeling self-confident and hopeful while empowering them to work for healing, social justice, and a brighter future for all.
UPM’s youth members work on:
- Policy and systems change: to advocate for social and economic justice and public policies that disrupt the cycles of urban violence and mass incarceration to create real opportunities and more peaceful communities.
- Healing and culture change: to improve the way that community members relate to one another and to change the cultural norms that govern our communities—to build a culture of peace.
- Movement building: to strengthen relationships between youth-serving organizations for a stronger, more united youth movement.