Peace Warriors

Meet The Speakers

Danny Contreras

Danny works for the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency as the Health Services Manager that oversees the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program at all county clinics, which has had state and national recognition. Danny was the recipient of the 2017 County of Santa Cruz Gold award, the Barrios Unidos Ernesto Macias Barela Resilience award, and was nominated again in 2022 for an Award of Excellence for his work at the County. He has 30 plus years of lived expertise, with a B.S in psychology, A.A in social and behavioral science, multiple certificates in drug and alcohol counseling and human services with high honors. Danny regularly provides training and presentations on various issues in the community to youth and adults, on gangs, incarceration, Re-Entry, the power of choice, addiction, implementing MAT, outreach, prevention, intervention and homelessness, through his organization KEYS 2 LIFE. He is able to use his expertise to fight false narratives on gang enhancements and educate the courtroom. There is a saying that says “Hurt people, hurt people but Healed people HEAL people!” Danny today, is in a place where his past experience and education puts him in a unique position to help people on their journey to healing. He is a voice for those who cannot be heard to get the services and the tools they need to accomplish their dreams. Danny is a credible messenger and a true Opportunity Giver (OG), helping and giving people opportunities for a different lifestyle to change their lives, families’ lives, and the community.

Sam Cunningham

Sam did 30 years inside prison on a Life Sentence and never thought he would ever come home. God had different plans. Sam is free, off parole, and living his best life helping others see there is a better way of life. Sam works at Barrios Unidos in Santa Cruz as a ReEntry case manager, he runs his own mentoring program in the seaside area called “I’m my brothers keeper”, and makes a difference in the lives he touches every day. Sam is also on the board for Partners for Peace.

Tomas “Wisper” Talamantes

Tomas is a gifted artist and speaker. He has an art program called Teach Peace where teaches life transformational lessons through his art and mural projects to bring about positive change to people and the communit. Tomas provides life coaching and mentors youth in the San Jose Bay Area. To get in contact with Tomas please email him at: wisper.talamantes@gmail.com

Connect with Tomas on IG

Patrick Griffin

Patrick went to prison at 21 years old with a 5 year sentence for 2 accounts of assault with a deadly weapon. Within the first few years of incarceration Patrick got a Life sentence. Patrick had got to the point in his life where he felt hopeless and was in the process of committing suicide when he had a supernatural experience of becoming a Born Again Christian. From that day forward God changed Patricks life drastically to be the man he is today. Patrick was released after serving 40 years. Patrick is now free, married, and living a blessed life. Pat writes books and also writes books for others. If you are interested in getting a book written and published, having him speak to share his testimony, or do a bible study series reach out to Pat at: pgriffinlee1962@gmail.com Check out his ministry website: https://acts29ministry.org/

Debbie Aguilar

Rey Aguilar

Check out Rey's story and go subscribe to his H.O.P.E Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/h-o-p-e/id1548620955y

Joe Price

Joe shares his story of being a Superstar athlete in high school at Seaside and Hartnell college to losing everything because of his addiction and ending up in China Town in Salinas CA. Joe had many tragic life events and trauma like his daughter being murdered, his mom passing away and other events that drove Joe to his addiction to try and forget and cope with the hurt and pain. Joe's addiction took him to prison. Joe started his life of recovery in prison and started making plans for his comeback in a positive way. Joe now has over 20 + years of sobriety. Joe was award the Robert E. Neff award in 2015 for his outstanding service and contributions to the recovery community.

Gilbert Bao

Providing Gang intervention and Prevention by sharing his life story with students at E.A Hall middle school In Watsonvile California.