Virgilio receiving his certificate for completing his Kingian Nonviolence Training.

My name is Virgilio M. Aquino. I am a Filipino father and divorcee. I have one son, and I was raised by a single mother after my father passed away when I was a child. I came to the United States in 1983 when I was 13 years old. Now, I am 45 with no education. [Read more…]

Robert receiving his certificate for completing his Kingian Nonviolence Training.

My name is Robert E. Smith. I am 21 years young. I was born in McComb, Mississippi and moved to East Oakland when I as 5 with my mother, little sister and grandmother. Growing up in Oakland you’re forced to grow up fast. You’re also forced to see things that are abnormal and you have to adapt to your surroundings. I had a great upbringing. There wasn’t much violence in my home. My childhood was very peaceful. The violence started when I would leave the house. Everyone at school was taught the same as me. Things such as don’t let anyone hit you and if they do, you hit them back. Also we were taught in school to never let anyone bully you because if it happens once then it will happen again. With these morals a lot of fights occurred. [Read more…]

Letter from Anthony Ross, Jr. September 2015

My name is Anthony Ross, Jr. I am 27 years of age. I am a San Francisco native raised in Bayview Hunter’s Point, an overwhelming part of the City. I was born to Anthony Ross, Sr and Carmen Ross. Both of my parents were considered major players of the fast life (better known as the underworld). I figure that they chose that career path because of their circumstances. They both grew up in single parent homes with multiple siblings. Growing up, both my parents were in and out of jail, with both being missing in action periodically. I was left in the care of my grandmother, left to keep up with my older brother and sister. [Read more…]