”Pookie and the Pastor”

At age 5, Jabari Holder stood between his mother and a bullet. Not long after, he lost his mother and became an orphan.

Years of bouncing around the foster system hardened him, forcing him to do what it takes to survive in an environment where many Black men like him don’t make it past age 25.

So how did a man who’s been both a victim and perpetrator of gun violence — who’s already endured a lifetime of trauma dodging death in the streets — embrace belonging and become a peacemaker and anti-violence activist? Listen to find out.

BIO: A product of the unforgiving streets of East Oakland, Jabari Holder became a peacemaker against all odds. Through Oakland Ceasefire, he changed his life and has empowered others through his work. His journey demonstrates what’s possible when belonging is put at the center of the story.