DVP Life Coaching Fellows
In partnership with Bright Research Group and Blooming Willow Coaching, we are pleased to announce the sixth cohort of the Department of Violence Prevention’s Life Coaching Certification Fellowship. We received overwhelming interest in this year’s Conductors Coach Certification Program and had the difficult task of selecting a small group of fellows. This year’s fellows will participate in a five-month learning experience designed to build coaching skills in a healing centered environment that combines coaching, wellness, leadership development, and self-care to support transformational learning.
2022 Fellows
Briana Manning
Urban Peace Movement (UPM)
Briana is the Community Healing Program Coordinator at Urban Peace Movement. She helps create and co-facilitate monthly community healing circles and provides care management to help community members achieve their goals. Briana graduated from Sacramento State University with a B.S in Criminal Justice. She is a huge advocate for mental health awareness, spiritual well-being, and disability justice for Black people. She believes that providing inclusive safe space and opportunity for Black folks to grow and heal is extremely important. Briana is also a poet and entrepreneur providing spiritual guidance through tarot and mediumship readings. She is a creative being at heart and loves to express herself through poetry and other forms of art.
Davon Moore
The Mentoring Center (TMC)
Davon is a Life Coach with The Mentoring Center, working to lower the recidivism and gun violence rates in our community. Born and raised in Oakland, Davon was first introduced to the system at the age of 10. He spent most of his youth in and out of group homes and the juvenile system until he decided to reform his life and change his decisions. He was introduced to The Mentoring Center in 2009. Over the years Davon has gone from participant to life coach at The Mentoring Center. Davon uses his lived experiences and position as a credible messenger to meet people where they are and supports his clients in gaining stability. He is committed to working in Oakland and looking forward to learning and growing through the coaching certification.
Marshaun Farris
Youth Employment Partnership (YEP)
Marshaun is the Senior Work Experience Counselor and Vocational Instructor at Youth Employment Partnership in East Oakland. He works with vulnerable young adults ages 18-24 supporting them to overcome the speed bumps and obstacles that life has placed in their path. In addition to mentoring youth, he provides job training and employment placement through warehouse vocational programs. Working with the youth has always been one of Marshaun’s passions. For years he has coached youth basketball including roles at Oakland High, McClymonds High, and the City of Oakland’s Parks and Recreation Department. Marshuan was born in Oakland and attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Oakland. Coming from a family directly affected by gun violence, he understands community challenges deeply and feels honored to be in a position to impact positive change. Additionally, Marshaun is an entrepreneur with his own clothing line townROYALTY. Creating townRoyalty allows him to showcase his deep love for Oakland and to mentor young people interested in starting their own business ventures.
Rico Pabón
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)
Rico Pabón is currently the Adult Life Coach at Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice. Additionally, he is the chef who owned and operated Sofrito—one of the first traditional Puerto Rican Restaurants in the East Bay, as well as a poet and musician, performing and releasing socially conscious music with lyrics bound by themes of struggle and resilience for over 30 years. Rico sees his artistry and activism as one and the same. He uses music as a tool for social change and a way to feed the mind and soul, and as a chef, he made sure to feed those not sitting at the table. During his time as a life coach, he’s witnessed the power of small pivots in perception and feels grateful every day for the opportunity to help people change their lives for the better. Rico is a devoted husband and father. He’s been married for 25 years and has 3 children. As a child raised in a home torn apart by drug abuse and violence, he’s been focused on not passing on his legacy of trauma to his children and believes that having healthy, joyous children is his greatest accomplishment.