Community Hero: Uncle Damien Transforms Lives Through US4US Violence Prevention Program

Damien “Uncle Dame” Posey

Us4Us

Uncle Damien is a beacon of hope in the heart of San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Formerly known as Damien Posey, he's not just the owner of Us4Us, a non-profit organization dedicated to violence prevention; he's a symbol of redemption and community empowerment. Damien's journey has been one of remarkable transformation. After spending two decades behind bars in federal prison, he emerged with a new purpose – to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Us4Us isn't just another organization; it's a lifeline for the community. Focusing on violence prevention, it extends its reach to all nationalities across San Francisco. But what sets Us4Us apart is the man behind it all—Uncle Damien. His personal experience has given him a unique perspective on the root causes of violence, and he's determined to break the cycle.

But Uncle Damien isn't fighting this battle alone. He's surrounded by a team of mentors and allies who share his passion for change. From Jack, whose expertise in community outreach and youth engagement is invaluable, to esteemed figures like Dr. Joe Marshall and Rudy Corpus, Uncle Damien's network is as diverse as it is dedicated, instilling confidence in the organization's ability to effect change.

Where are you from?

I'm blessed to be from this beautiful place called San Francisco. You know what I'm saying. I'm originally from Double Rock but lived all over the City. My mother had me at a very young age. Unfortunately, housing was kind of scarce. In particular, I've been blessed to live in areas like Potrero Hill, Valencia Gardens, and Fillmore, but in San Francisco.

Where did you get your inspiration from?

Now, that's a tricky question because if you talk about my inspiration to help the community that came from the foundation of being raised by a single mother who battled with homelessness, drug addiction, jobs, and a little bit of everything, and being out here in the community seeing what was going on. Nevertheless, I internalized it as being one of the worst kids possible and being out of Juvenile Hall my entire life. Sadly, from age 13 to 19, I never had a birthday as a free young man. All of my birthdays were incarcerated. I was, furthermore, having gone through that and seeing young brothers going in and out of jail and things of that nature. Knowing that I could do something about it especially inspired me. Without a doubt, watching other exceptional individuals do this work is a great experience.

It should be noted that I was supported by the likes of Jack Jaquel from the Omega Boy's Club when I was a young man. Secondly, Visioned Youth by Caira Bobbett solidified the fact that I was already a negative leader and that I could turn into something positive.

One of the most inspiring aspects of Uncle Damien’s story is his role as a mentor to the youth of Bayview-Hunters Point. Despite his past struggles with [specific challenges], he’s become a trusted figure and a source of guidance for many young individuals facing similar challenges. His presence in the community serves as a reminder that no one is beyond redemption, and that with the right support, positive change is always possible.

Through Us4Us, Uncle Damien is not just addressing the symptoms of violence; he’s tackling its root causes. By providing [specific resources], [specific types of support], and [specific aspects of mentorship] to at-risk youth, he’s helping to create a brighter future for generations to come. His journey from incarceration to community leader is a testament to the power of second chances and the resilience of the human spirit.

In Bayview-Hunters Point, Uncle Damien isn’t just a name – he’s a hero, a mentor, and a catalyst for change. And as long as he continues to lead the charge, the future looks brighter than ever for this vibrant community. His work is not just about addressing the issues at hand, but about creating a lasting, positive impact that gives hope and optimism to all.

In an exclusive interview with Lxmped, Uncle Damien shared his experiences of growing up in San Francisco, CA.

How has San Francisco shaped you?

San Francisco has shaped me into the fact that I’m super accepting. Unquestionably, if you look at my organization, Us4Us, you’re going to see a little bit of everybody. Along with what Rudy Corpus says, “Black, White, Peppermint stripe, and it don’t matter. Nonetheless, Filipino, Aterian, Black, Caucasian, and Latino, and that’s why San Francisco is a beautiful melting pot. San Francisco makes you into an accepting individual. Alternatively, on all levels, we have different races, cultures, backgrounds, LGBTQ, and whatever we have in my organization, and I think that represents San Francisco, which has helped mold me.

How did you get started?

I can go back to when I was in prison when I made my change. I always have to pay homage to the Nation of Islam. I’m no longer in the nation, but it gave me the foundation for the need to organize. Particularly to push the people for peace, power, and strength. On the other hand, when I came home, finding the necessary outlets was hard. That I needed to complete the missions I wanted to accomplish at first, but it was coming into exceptional individuals like Rudy Corpus, Shawn Richards, Valentina, Joseph Silva, and the people over there at the Mission Neighborhood Center who gave me my first shot at working in the community with kids and going to work with Rudy Corpus at United Playaz, and working with Mayor London Breed on her campaign, and just understanding the need for more of what’s going on.

Contrary to what Rudy Corpus was doing, Big Rich was doing in the community. Significantly, here in 'The Point,' we have kids from all over the city. First and Foremost, we try to service and support the whole City. But that could be clarified as my start, but when I left United Playaz and worked with the Mayor, she became elected. I was working with YCD and shot out to 'YCD.' I’ve always been doing my own thing. I came home. Looking back at some of my socials, I fed people experiencing homelessness, taking clothes from one person to the next. I was in the hood mentoring out the gate, letting them dudes know that prison, that street life, it’s not what it’s cracked up to be. And that is a big lie; I was doing all that behind the scenes. I started formulating the idea six or seven years ago because the pandemic caused me to organize around my organization. Many businesses were shutting down at this time, so I couldn’t help anybody else as I would like, and I had to do my own thing. I partnered with some strong individuals, Mobilize Love and Bayview Senior Center, feeding our seniors daily, shot out to Pastor Marquis Gray, and hooking that up.

Who are some of your influences?

Shawn Richards, I always reference him. Many leaders in the community helped me once they saw I was serious. Despite feeling like nobody helped me when I started, people are tired of wasting their time. Consequently, I am helping so many young people with jobs that they don’t follow through and will be mad later. And I tell them I hooked you up with like five jobs. You don’t even do what you were supposed to do. However, individuals saw that I was serious about what I was talking about, and Shawn Richards was one of the first people to help me in depth. Finally, again, there are people like Valentina, Joseph Silva, Gloria from Mission Neighborhood Centers, Shamann Walton,  and DJ Brookter from YCD—last but not least, Rudy Corpus at United Playaz. I was a case manager over there, and you can see a lot of similarities between United Playaz and Us4Us, and that’s not by accident.