RIP JOSEPH WASHINGTON 2/9/88 - 10/11/08

When he was 18 years old Joseph Washington joined People’s Grocery as a youth intern. Joseph came to People’s Grocery through the Mayor’s Summer Job program in which the City of Oakland paid him to work with us. Upon seeing his aptitude for public speaking and engaging other youth, we hired him on after the summer as a Peer Nutrition Educator. Joseph was one of only a few young men who have shown interest in being a Peer Nutrition Educator (young women are more typically attracted to the role of educating their peers about health and nutrition). Joseph had a very gentle and even soft spoken demeanor. But when he got in front of a group of people he light up and shined with enthusiasm and passion. But when Joseph’s girlfriend became pregnant he had to leave People’s Grocery to make more money elsewhere.

On October 12, 2008 Joseph Washington was killed by gun violence, as so many other young people in Oakland. He was just 20 years old. He was only briefly a part of People’s Grocery, but will always remain a part of our community.