Hi, my name is Alex Navarro, and I've been a gun violence prevention advocate since 2017. I'm raising funds to help complete a community project focused on ending gun violence in San Francisco's SOMA district in collaboration with my friends at United Playaz. For 28 years, United Playaz has been at the forefront of creating positive change by helping to break the cycle of violence in the community. With the recent purchase of a new building to expand their after-school program, the timing of this project couldn't have been more perfect.

A few months ago, what started as an idea to honor the life and memory of Camilo Senchyna-Beltran with a mural of his image, turned into an impactful project for the entire SOMA neighborhood. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is a proven concept to reduce crime in highly impacted areas by changing the surrounding landscape.

As a sign of unity and respect for the life-saving work being done in San Francisco, we're acknowledging people that have made violence prevention their life's mission with their own portraits on the mural. Whether it's recognizing a formerly incarcerated person doing violence intervention work, who said that after spending 30 years in prison, he cried at seeing his image on the wall because he felt like he was finally somebody doing something good.

A physician on the medical board advocating for gun safety, a Survivor honoring her son's life with action, or an 8-year-old boy in the United Playaz after-school program, who after being picked up for the day, drove by the mural as the artists painted his image and yelled out with glee, "That's me up there! I'm a part of this too!"

This mural has been a true testament to community and collaboration. It's been so wonderful to see the excitement around the mural and see so many ideas come to life. BUT, I need your help to complete this project. Please donate whatever you can and be part of this collaborative effort.