Live Free USA

The journey of Live Free USA began in 2011, born from the vision and dedication of its founder, Rev. Michael McBride, affectionately known as Pastor Mike. The organization's roots are deeply embedded in the community organizing efforts in Oakland, California, where Pastor Mike and his colleagues pioneered the Oakland Ceasefire program. This violence intervention initiative proved remarkably successful, contributing to a significant reduction in the city's shootings and homicides by half. This initial success became the seed from which a national movement would grow, a movement dedicated to tackling the intertwined crises of gun violence, mass incarceration, and the criminalization of Black and Brown communities across the United States. What started as a local effort soon blossomed into a nationwide campaign, mobilizing a powerful coalition of faith leaders, directly impacted individuals, and community partners who shared a common goal: to bring peace and healing to America's cities.

Over the last decade, Live Free USA has evolved into a crucial national hub, training, coaching, and investing millions of dollars in leaders and organizations that are on the front lines of social change. The organization's strategy is threefold: education, advocacy, and investment. Through intensive 'Peacemaker Bootcamps,' they educate community, government, and law enforcement leaders on the best practices for violence intervention. In the realm of advocacy, Live Free USA empowers communities through local organizing and pushes for policy change at state and federal levels, demanding effective public safety solutions and proper funding for community violence intervention (CVI) initiatives. The organization has been instrumental in launching and supporting other key initiatives, such as Community Justice in 2016 to influence gun violence policy and co-founding the Black Brown Peace Consortium in 2018. By channeling millions in grants and support, Live Free has seen a massive return on investment, unlocking billions in public funding for CVI and driving critical criminal justice reforms, transforming its foundational work in Oakland into a nationwide force for justice and peace.