PREVENTION Teens on Target

At Teens on Target (TNT), students from Oakland neighborhoods most affected by violence learn to honor their own stories, to use their experience to make change, and to teach their peers to avoid and prevent violence. TNT also provides work experience. Paying students for developing violence prevention expertise and presentation skills reinforces the importance of their violence prevention efforts. Every year, TNT trains approximately 100 violence prevention youth leaders at three high schools, who educate hundreds of middle school students throughout Oakland. They learn to speak to the media and to city leaders about their stories and their own ideas for change and engage in advocacy efforts in their communities.

In the 2022–23 school year, TNT engaged 95 Youth Leaders who: presented 114 violence prevention workshops to 973 students in 9 OUSD middle schools; participated in 47 community engagements; received 1,378 hours of 1:1 mentoring from our staff of professional Violence Prevention Educators.

All 2023 TNT seniors graduated; 100% of them are attending college!

I’ve noticed that I’ve become a leader since joining TNT. TNT helped me find the confidence I needed to handle myself in tough situations and it’s helped me to become more sure of myself. I’m no longer afraid to be me, speak up when I see something wrong, and bring awareness!

- Sierra Taylor, TNT leader for 4 years

After our 2023 program, among TNT youth leaders surveyed:

» 100% believe young people have the power to reduce violence in their community

» 98% would not choose violence to solve a conflict

» 85% would talk a friend out of carrying a gun

» 65% helped mediate a conflict in the last 6 months that would have led to violence