LET’S CELEBRATE! Featuring Community Warriors 4 Peace

LET’S CELEBRATE!

Featuring Community Warriors 4 Peace

In December, Community Partners held its annual year-end celebration and recognized several leaders for their commitment, innovation, and impact toward a more equitable, inclusive, and thriving community. Congratulations to Tina Padilla, Executive Director of Community Warriors 4 Peace, who received the Al Rodriguez Civic Legacy Award for her tireless work and leadership in gang prevention, intervention, and reintegration into society and the workforce.

Redefining Gang Intervention in Northeast LA

Tina remembers growing up in Northeast Los Angeles, a working-class neighborhood with an abundance of family homes and safe neighborhoods for kids to play and attend nearby schools. She experienced the changes that came with apartment buildings and an influx of undocumented residents who didn’t have the resources or knowledge to successfully navigate into the community. The uptick in gang violence destroyed not only lives but perpetuated cycles of violence and incarceration, trapping young people in her community.

“Being born and raised here, I knew somebody needed to be the voice of the people. I started this agency to create peace, a network, a bridge connecting young people to the resources they desperately needed, navigating the treacherous waters of institutions and challenges that can easily derail their lives,” said Padilla. “Instead of becoming another system, we became a navigator of the systems.”

Today, Tina and her team, all of whom have lived experience, work out of a home with office space helping the high-risk youth and young people of their community feel more at ease as they’re supported with resources and opportunities for gang intervention. Young people are encouraged to volunteer with Community Warriors 4 Peace’s regular food distribution instead of tagging walls, or if they’re not living at home and going to school, they’re welcome to complete online programs and have a safe space to take up their time learning, vs. being out on the streets.

From Concrete Jungle to Peace Warriors

What sets this organization apart is its staff. They grew up navigating the same streets, facing the same pressures, and bearing the same scars. Critically, many are former inmates, some even carrying the weight of life sentences, now dedicated to ensuring that no one else follows in their footsteps. This firsthand knowledge is the organization’s greatest strength. They speak the language, understand the complexities, and possess an unparalleled level of credibility that allows them to connect with young people in a way traditional programs simply cannot. They understand the nuances of street life, the pressures of belonging, and the desperation that can lead young people down a dangerous path.

Community Warriors 4 Peace has also become a beacon of support for the entire community. “The community trusts us, they can come to us with problems such as a notice from their landlord, or mothers having trouble with their kids ditching school, we’re here for them, doesn’t have to be gang-related. It’s just what we do,” stated Padilla.

Through these efforts, Tina and her team are advancing positive change “so that future generations can grow in love and healing.” Community Warriors 4 Peace is also part of the Los Angeles Violence Intervention Coalition, which is comprised of 20+ Black and Brown-led organizations and convened by the Urban Peace Institute.

Community Partners is proud to partner with organizations on the leading edge of collaborative, community-based solutions. Click here for more honorees and event highlights.

Learn more about Community Warriors 4 Peace