Stockton, CA UPDATE: Youth Peace and Justice Foundation Addresses Strategic Silence and Protocol Deviations; Pledges Full Financial Independence & Clarified Ultimatum
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Updated: 4 hours ago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16 December 2025
Youth Peace and Justice Foundation Addresses Strategic Silence and Protocol Deviations; Pledges Full Financial Independence & Clarified Ultimatum
18 December 2025 UPDATED STORY FROM ABC10 STOCKTON HERE Revealing City Officials "NO COMMUNICATION," CLAIMS - FALSE"
STOCKTON, CA — The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF) issued a formal statement this evening, addressing the skepticism surrounding its intervention in Stockton and clarifying the strategic rationale behind its "street-first" approach, silent truce arrangements and the January 15th ultimatum.
The Foundation explicitly concedes the validity of the current lack of trust in Stockton.
We recognize for an outside organization to enter a community during a period of intense trauma, skepticism is natural. We observed this same phenomenon following our involvement in the Uvalde, Texas tragedy, the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, and in countless other incidents where we have stood with grieving families across the nation. Many call it "parachuting," or "interference." We call it, simply, love....
We acknowledge that our decision to operate in strategic silence—intended to protect the safety of the "Peace Summit" participants—broke standard Group Violence Intervention (GVI) protocol, which typically prioritizes institutional partnerships before field work.
.We also maintain that while the details of our operations were not explicitly known by city leaders or law enforcement, this deviation from the norm was intentional: Our goal was to establish street-level relationships first.
While we welcome building relationships with the cities and residents we are active in, our presence and mission and success will not be dictated by political approval.
Yes, we are controversial at times, "inserting," ourselves at times where city boundaries say we do not belong. Perhaps our human boundaries have different borders but our organization will operate from such first. It should not matter who comes to the table for our children, only that we come.
And, following the shooting frankly, there was a huge mistrust in the city itself whose job is to protect its residents. Our initial decisions are well were further driven by direct feedback from those at our confidential meeting, who cited a long history of "broken promises" and a lack of meaningful support from the city in the past. We believe that in a crisis of this magnitude, the trust of those directly involved in the violence is the only foundation upon which a lasting truce can be built.
The Foundation wishes to clarify additionally that our ultimatum to the city is a call for structural & moral commitment, not a political threat or a request for funding for our programs.
While the City has focused on securing an $8 million grant, we believe money without a moral policy attachment is a temporary fix. Our ultimatum demands that the City match the courage of the "peace drivers" on the street and those whose lives have been shattered by gun violence recently and over the years; by committing to a policy that prioritizes intervention over bureaucracy. The city disagrees with our assessment. They have that right.
To further clarify, the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation has never, nor will it ever, ask the City of Stockton or its residents for funding. We are not here to compete for a $8 million REDIRECT grant. Trust should be earned through results, not purchased with taxpayer dollars.
Our work initially in Stockton is entirely self-funded. As a nonprofit of course we exist through our donors nationwide. However, we expect no financial support from this community or ANY COMMUNITY until—and only if—the results of our work are proven on the streets and felt by the families and communities we reach out to.
Despite the Mayor’s obvious aggression at this point, we admire her enthusiasm. This level of intensity for Stockton’s safety is exactly what the city has needed since the tragedy on November 29. We thank the Mayor for her "warm" and public welcome, as it has amplified the conversation around the urgent need for a permanent peace.
As we monitor the streets during this active 21-day truce, seek out our permanent location in the city, our plans remain unchanged and our hope for ongoing peace and the ongoing truce continues.
As we journey through the holidays, the Foundation will begin the process of establishing a permanent presence in Stockton through our Anchorpoint Hubs, planned for opening in 2026. These hubs will provide long-term trauma support and youth advocacy, independent of the political cycle.
We will continue to push the agenda of peace first, before policy, and radical love before procedure.
We remain, as always, in service to the children of Stockton and nationwide. Happy Holidays.
Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF)
Uvalde Foundation For Kids
CHARITY ID 88-3268749
