Preventing fights in Oakland schools

How violence interrupters make OUSD schools safer.Plus: Who’s to blame for the police chief leaving?, OAK refuses to screen partisan video, remembering Allen Temple’s Pastor J. Alfred Smith, Sr., Tommy Orange wins a genius award, is a new tax the best way to plug the city’s budget hole?, and why Oakland hasn’t sent more homegrown talent to the WNBA?First, thank you! We’re incredibly grateful to all our contributors — you helped us hit our $15,000 goal. That means Oaklandside 510 can continue bringing you the news for six more months!This week’s main story:The Oaklandside’s news editor, Darwin BondGraham talks with reporter Ashley McBride about a safety program that pays for violence interrupters working on OUSD campuses. They discuss:Why the city and school district partnered to try to make schools saferWhat violence prevention work looks like on the groundHow Carla Ashford, a violence prevention worker at Skyline High School, approaches her job and builds trust with studentsThe program has coincided with a drop in fights and suspensions — but funding is running outOther stories we cover in this episode:Police Commission blame gameOakland San Francisco Bay Airport says no to partisan videoRemembering Pastor J. Alfred Smith, Sr.Author Tommy Orange wins a MacArthur “genius grant”Is a new parcel tax the answer to the city’s budget woes?Why aren’t there more Oaklanders in the WNBA?Oaklandside 510 is a weekly news show from The Oaklandside. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at [email protected]  Donate to the only newsroom fully dedicated to Oakland.