Holistic solutions to violence: part 1

So often when people think of violence in Oakland, they think of drugs, guns and murder.  It’s what’s most visible, and it is certainly what catches headlines.

But when reporters Sarah Gonzalez and Sandhya Dirks asked residents what violence means to them, they got more complex answers.  Rather than simply ridding the streets of guns and drugs, reporter Sarah Gonzalez spent time with organizations who are trying to solve violence through a more holistic approach.

Note: The organizations featured in this story are the Niroga Institute, offering yoga to at-risk youth to combat violence and to promote self-awareness and self-control, and Youth UpRising's Hip Hop Therapy, using hip-hop music to facilitate co-ed discussions for youth on issues such as domestic violence.

You can hear the other reports in our series, read blogs by our reporters, and participate in online discussions around these pressing issues at our Fault Lines Project page.