Stories

These stories about East Palo Alto community members serve to inspire and celebrate positive change and living “Live in Peace.”

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This compilation features highlights from some of the Stories produced during this project. For the full version of each of the five stories, click the images below.

Doug Fort became a gangbanger at the tender age of 13. Today he speaks for the many friends who didn’t survive “the game” and are either dead or spending their lives in jail. He found a calling that helped him turn his life around and work for violence prevention and productive activities (including a basketball league) for youth.

 

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Paul Teu wanted the easy money and fast times that gang activities provided.  A devoted wife, beautiful children, and spiritual beliefs, gave motivated him to make the challenging transition into a hard-working, productive, exemplary life.

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Lerisa Puckett saw violence all around her, growing up, but figured out a positive, life-affirming path for herself.  She attributes that to a few key ingredients in her upbringing.

 

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Moms McKean grew up in Texas and moved to East Palo Alto in 1959.  In the 90′s they were the victims of a terrible tragedy of violence that left the family with permanent painful loss.  Still, Moms and her daughter Lois voice the necessity for folks to live in peace.

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Josh Mason spent his youth in gangs and then served over ten years in prison. There he began to turn his life around. Now he is a counselor, mentor, and manager at the organization For Youth By Youth.