René Macias, Psychosocial Coordinator

Mr. René F. Macias is the Psychosocial Coordinator for FACES and has been dedicated to the program since October 2000. He is an Oakland native with several years experience working with “at risk youth” and with community organizations throughout the East Bay. He began his career as a student at Fremont High School in 1992, where he trained as a Peer Educator to teach his classmates about conflict resolution, contraceptives, and other health related topics. Since then, he has worked at group homes, Psychiatric facilities, and several non-profits organizations in a counseling capacity. Due to his diverse career experience in counseling, he has been able to create new components for the FACES program. He created and directs the Youth Health Leaders group, the FACES Media Project, Case Management Internships, and the psychosocial component.

Mr. Macias is no stranger to the realities of gangs, violence, poverty, drugs, and the racism that has plagued Oakland for many years. Aside from his career and educational experience, life has been the greatest teacher in understanding the adolescent mind. He has been invited to speak at neighborhoods, schools, colleges, and conferences throughout California and hopes to expand his network nationwide. Recently, he joined forces with several members in the community to begin a collaborative group that offers sensitive services such as psychosocial assessments, tattoo removal, medical examinations and treatment, career counseling, educational counseling, and drug rehabilitation to youth who have been in the justice system or are thinking of leaving the gang life.

“I want to motivate and inspire our youth to become their higher selves. Many people view gang members as lost youth with no hope for change, I view gang membership as an outcry and a rebellion towards a society who has failed and forgotten them. We as members of the same community have to make a stand and extend our hand out to the young people living in crisis. I feel it is my responsibility as a father, a spiritual person, but above all else, as a human being, to help our youth find their way through the madness of this world and teach them how to find balance in their lives through a strong show of love”.