Tyrone Anderson

Roots has been a godsend for Oakland. We’ve made life easier for individuals who might have barriers—not just legal or health barriers, but something as simple as giving food away from our food pantry or putting out a ballot box to make it easier for people in the community to vote. Roots is growing exponentially, and we do a lot of work—[with people] from toddlers to elders.

I work as a health navigator in two programs: HealthyMeasures and Nia Care. In HealthyMeasures we connect formerly incarcerated individuals to health care, benefits, and resources for reentry. Participants receive support and coaching from navigators like myself. Nia Care is similar to HealthyMeasures, but there’s a heavier emphasis on mental health services and coping with trauma.

Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, said something that stuck with me: Most people who are incarcerated are not there because they’re bad people; they’re there because they don’t know how to manage their lives. I see that to be the case with our population. They just need a little help managing things.

We give folks a chance. You have to meet people where they are. Some are ready to get it together, and others aren’t quite ready. We don’t get frustrated. We just try to get them what they need and let them know that we’ll be there for them.

I’ve always gotten satisfaction from helping other people. My mom was the same way. She looked out for others. My grandmother worked at a health center in San Francisco, and I’ve kind of followed her path. I don’t really care about personal accolades. I’ve always gotten satisfaction from seeing somebody else do well.