Series:

Narratives of Justice:Criminal Justice Activism in Los Angeles

Topic:

Community History

Social Movements

Community Activism

Biographical Note:

Director of trauma-informed youth development at the Brotherhood Crusade.

Interviewer:

Lea, Charles

Interviewee:

Bremond, Diandra

Persons Present:

Bremond and Lea.

Place Conducted:

Bremond’s office at the Brotherhood Crusade in Inglewood, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Charles Lea, graduate student interviewer, UCLA Center for Oral History Research; Ph.D. candidate, social welfare, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Social Welfare. Lea has direct practice experience with racial/ethnic minority youth and young adults in community, educational, and correctional settings and over eight years of research and evaluation experience focused on prisoner reentry, school reform, and youth and workforce development interventions. Lea's dissertation identifies and explicates the elements of an alternative school that facilitates academic achievement among formerly incarcerated young adult Black men.

Processing of Interview:

The interviewer prepared a timed log of the audio recording of the interview. Bremond was given the opportunity to review the log in order to supply missing or misspelled names and to verify the accuracy of the content but made no changes.

Length:

2.25 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

The Narratives of Justice oral history series documents issues related to the criminal justice system in California through interviews with a variety of people who seek to reform that system. It includes interviews with individuals who provide services to at-risk youth; individuals engaged in community-based reentry services for people leaving prisons and jails; and activists in other areas related to criminal justice reform.

Born in Hayward, California – Mother divorces father and remarries – Attends school in Cleveland, Ohio – Lives in the inner city – Plays in a basketball league – Plays basketball at neighborhood court – Family Sunday dinner – Uncle is murdered – Visits biological father in Los Angeles –Founding of Brotherhood Crusade and the Black United Fund – Grandparents’ house firebombed – Learns to work hard – Employed in South Los Angeles – Attends Catholic School – Comes out as a lesbian – Biological father passes away – Not communicating with mother due to sexuality – Moves out of mother’s home – Expelled from school – Visits father in the hospital – Best friend killed – Attends college – Plays basketball in college – Visits Los Angeles for holidays – Works at the African American Unity Center – Graduates from college – Enrolls at Pepperdine University – Graduates with master’s degree.

Brotherhood Crusade develops the Weaver Continuum – Evaluating effectiveness of the Weaver Continuum is a challenge – Implements Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program (GRYD) – GRYD youth experience trauma – Challenges implementing GRYD in schools – Uses political relationships to address bureaucratic challenges – Augments services to meet needs and interest of millennial youth.

Brotherhood Crusade implements GRYD – Augments traditional programs with culturally appropriate activities – Young professionals of color as leaders – Implements Soccer for Success (SFS) and the Nutritional Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) programs – Some youth participants accepted into college but some are killed – Participates in and engages youth and staff in self-care activities – Brotherhood Crusade opens YouthSource Center – Implements Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men (BLOOM) program – Engages youth participants in political activism – Develop and implements Mentor and Me program – Identifies grants and financial resources to meet needs of youth and sustain programming – Policy changes increase services to youth of color – Black elected officials help to implement and sustain programming – Serving and mobilizing Black and Latino communities – Goal of reducing incarceration and improving college attendance.