Robby Poblete Foundation

THE ROBBY POBLETE FOUNDATION IS A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO GET UNWANTED GUNS OUT OF CIRCULATION THROUGH ANNUAL BUYBACK PROGRAMS AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO WEAPONS OF HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ART AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS PROGRAMS.

VOCATIONAL SKILLS: CRIME IS MOST OFTEN THE RESULT OF LACK OF OPPORTUNITY. THE FOUNDATION IS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL UNIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT VOCATIONAL SKILLS IN SCHOOLS SO THAT THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO GO TO COLLEGE HAVE OPTIONS. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE UNIONS AND SCHOOL BOARDS TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL AND ADULT SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPRENTICESHIP, CERTIFICATION AND JOB PLACEMENT IN THE TRADES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES AN INMATE PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERGONE TRAINING IN TRADES WHILE IN PRISON. WE WILL PARTNER WITH THE SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND BUSINESSES TO HELP INMATES USE THE SKILLS THEY ACQUIRED IN TRADES, ASSIST THEM THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, AND SUPPORT THEM WITH JOB PLACEMENT BY HELPING WITH THEIR RESUMES, LINKING THEM TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FEES, ETC., IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THEIR CHANCES OF GOING BACK TO A LIFE OF CRIME.

GUN BUYBACK: GUN VIOLENCE HAS HAD A TRAGIC IMPACT IN THE BAY AREAS SOLANO COUNTY PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY OF VALLEJO. IN FACT, ONE OUT EVERY FIVE VALLEJO HOMICIDES OCCURS WITHIN A MILE OF A SCHOOL. BY PROVIDING A STRAIGHTFORWARD, EFFICIENT AND EASY WAY TO DISPOSE OF UNWANTED GUNS, WE CAN HELP ELIMINATE THE CHANCES OF THEM FALLING IN THE WRONG HANDS. OUR GOAL IS TO GET AT LEAST 400 FIREARMS OUT OF CIRCULATION EVERY YEAR.

THE ART OF PEACE: THE FOUNDATION IS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ARTISTS TO USE THE METAL FROM THE DISMANTLED GUNS AS MATERIAL FOR ART. THE ART WILL BE DISPLAYED IN AN ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT CALLED THE ART OF PEACE, WITH PIECES THAT CAN BE USED FOR A TRAVELING ART EXHIBIT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.