King County, WA

Be part
of the solution.

Seattle Peace & Safety is a community-rooted organization of credible messengers, educators, and mentors working to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline — one relationship at a time.

18 mo.
Embedded at King County Juvenile
7
Program pathways offered
100%
Led by lived experience
Why we exist

Mission

To dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by preventing youth criminalization, reducing reliance on detention, and advancing community-centered approaches to safety, accountability, and opportunity.

Vision

A Seattle where young people are supported, not criminalized — where schools and communities respond to harm with care rather than punishment, and public safety means prevention, stability, and opportunity for all.

Core beliefs
  • 1 Youth are not disposable; harm is often the result of unmet needs, untreated trauma, and limited access to opportunity.
  • 2 Education is a primary pathway to freedom, stability, and lawful futures.
  • 3 Punitive responses alone don't create safety — prevention, accountability, and continuity do.
  • 4 Community safety improves when youth stay connected to school, supportive adults, and future-oriented opportunities.
  • 5 Systems must collaborate, not isolate youth, during moments of crisis and transition.

"I had to come to jail to see and use VR/AR technology. I am going to do better at school."

— Incarcerated youth, AR/VR Peace-Building Workshop
The pathway

Seven stops on the road to a safer future.

Every person who comes to SPS is on a different leg of the same journey — from crisis to stability, from surviving to leading. Here's where we meet you.

01

Mentorship & Credible Messenger Support

Mentors with lived experience and deep cultural understanding build trust through one-on-one and small-group relationships — not curricula.

  • 1:1 & group mentorship
  • Conflict resolution
  • Life planning
02

Mental Health & Emotional Wellness

Trauma-informed, culturally responsive support that helps participants build a stronger emotional foundation.

  • Trauma support
  • Coping strategies
  • Warm handoffs to partners
03

Reentry & Transition Planning

We walk alongside people transitioning from incarceration or institutional settings, removing barriers during crucial life shifts.

  • Housing & transport
  • Documentation
  • Court compliance
  • Family reintegration
04

Workforce Development & Career Pathways

Personalized career coaching and community partnerships that move participants toward meaningful employment.

  • Job readiness
  • Resume & interviews
  • AR/VR career training
  • Apprenticeships
05

Community Safety & Violence Prevention

Street-level work that centers those most impacted by harm and empowers community members to lead the solutions.

  • Street engagement
  • De-escalation
  • Crisis response
06

Youth Empowerment Workshops

Story-driven workshops grounded in lived experience — including "Incarcerated Voices" and "Dear Younger Me."

  • Power of the Mind
  • Values & Vices
  • Goal planning
07

Family & Community Support

A strong support network sustains stability — so we resource families and community partners too.

  • Caregiver coaching
  • Resource navigation
  • School & CBO partnerships
In their words

What the work sounds like.

"How to control myself, and what respect is — and what disrespect is."

Kimora — on what stuck from today's session

"Since being locked up I met three inspiring guys — Gerald, Joe, and Kimani. They show up for us youth in detention and they care that we separate right from wrong."

Jaden — participant

"Participants learn to write an effective letter to the judge about their transition plan — from jail into the community."

Transitional Planning workshop
Credible messengers

Meet the founders.

Gerald Bradford
Founder

Gerald Bradford

Two decades guiding young people toward education and vocational training — building career pathways and self-awareness for the next generation.

Henterson (Joe) Carlisle
Founder

Henterson "Joe" Carlisle

20 years in K-12 educational and administrative systems — a mentor and coach helping students recognize their potential.

Bartholomew Kimani
Founder

Bartholomew Kimani

College instructor and apprenticeship program manager, WSU grad. "I love helping people find their career pathway."

SPS programs are designed with — not just for — the community.

Upcoming

Events

JAN 06
2026

AR/VR Peace-Building Experience

8:31 AM – 10:31 AM · Seattle Innovation Hub, University Wy NE, Seattle, WA 98105

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