On March 21st, community members across Compton are invited to come together for an inspiring and engaging event focused on healing, accountability, and collective well-being.  Centinela Youth Services, in collaboration with CSI:STOP and partners from the greater Compton community, will host Safety Starts With Us: Transforming Community Approaches to Harm—a free, community-centered gathering designed to strengthen safety and connection through Restorative Justice practices.  This event is...

Community violence intervention is saving lives across California   Across California, communities are seeing something once thought impossible: historic reductions in violence. These aren’t coincidences—they’re the result of intentional, community-led violence intervention work.  Here’s what 2025 looked like across the state:   Modesto:  ZERO homicides  Richmond:  Five homicides—the lowest number on record  Oakland:  Lowest number of homicides since the 1960s  San Francisco:  Lowest number...

Restorative justice represents a profound shift in how justice is understood and practiced. Rather than centering on rule-breaking and punishment, it focuses on harm, relationships, and repair. Justice becomes less about retribution and more about restoring balance, dignity, and connection among harmed parties, responsible parties and the wider community.  Responsible parties are not reduced to their crimes, and harmed parties are not defined solely by the crime they endured. Instead, both...