John Jones, III, Our Director of Programs

John Jones, III, Director of Programs

Meet John Jones, III, our Director of Programs.  

A third generation East Oakland resident, and a father of three, John works to transform his community by using his experiences and expertise as a Consultant, Life Coach and Subject Matter Expert.  After being un-sheltered and unemployed for eighteen months following his incarceration, John became involved in community organizing and advocacy to empower himself and others by sharing his personal story of pain, trauma, faith and transformation to inspire young people, as well as fight for policy change. 

John has committed himself to education, recovery, and personal growth.  He has been a long time peer mentor, helping others to find hope amid their own journey away from the criminal justice system and back to society.   A certified life coach, specializing in trauma recovery and youth development, John has become a regular speaker at high schools, juvenile halls, and community centers around the Bay Area, using his story not to glamorize the past, but to illuminate the road to a better future.  

John is deeply involved in grassroots community work, partnering with local nonprofits to support formerly-incarcerated individuals, advocating for policy reform and launching mentorship programs for young men of color. Whether he is helping someone to figure out their first job, or to find a safe place to sleep for the night, John has brought the same unwavering message: You are more than your past. 

In his new job at Urban Strategies, John will focus on developing programs that support young people of color as they begin to create community change, achieve secondary and post-secondary educational success, and enter/advance in the workforce. John will have the opportunity to maintain and expand relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders who also work on behalf of our young people.