Success Stories

Since it's inception in 2002, CLAER has helped upwards of 250 families and about 700 individuals. Here are a few success stories:

One client whose fiancé died from a gunshot wound went through the peer-to-peer empowerment program and is now a Peer Team Leader. She advocates against community violence, sharing her personal testimony at public forums.

Another client successfully completed the program and went on to run a similar violence prevention program in the Bay Area. She is now a CLAER Advisory Board Member.

Graduates

Traina Scott (CLAER former staff; 2007 CCSF graduate from the Vocational Nursing Program)

Shirley Byrd (CLAER founder, former staff; obtained her Early Childhood Education credits at CCSF; working as a preschool teacher; a few credits shy of being eligible to transfer to State)

Elisha Rochelle (Former staff, now CCSF graduate with her Associates)

Marissa Bloom (Began as a policy fellow; entering law school Fall 2007)

Partnership with Asian American Recovery Services; provide direct link to established mental health and drug treatment agency (2006-present)

Healing Circle for the Soul Support Group (CLAER spin-off organization; support group for families who've lost a loved one to homicide, meets 2x month)

Prop A (June 2006 - Stop Homicides Now campaign; Sharen was co-author and leading voice in campaign, which lost by just over 2,000 votes)

AB-2869 (Passed in September 2006, in effect Jan. 1, 2007 - sponsored by Mark Leno; see fax) Prop H (San Francisco handgun ban; Passed by voters in 2005; overturned in court after NRA challenge)

2006 - moving $10 million in the city budget (including 1.2 million in ex-offender services)

Public Housing High School Grads (CLAER has encouraged city leadership, the school district, and the housing authority to provide both acknowledgement and support to high school graduates who come out of public housing.)

To be free means the ability to deal with the realities of one's situation so as not to be overcome by them.

~ Howard Thurman