Who is Guillermo Cespedes?
Guillermo Cespedes is a prominent figure in global violence prevention, intervention, and family systems. His comprehensive work in gang violence reduction and youth development is well-regarded. Cespedes has held notable positions, including serving as the Deputy Mayor of Gang Reduction and Youth Development in Los Angeles, Senior Advisor to USAID and the State Department through Creative Associates International, and Chief of Violence Prevention for the City of Oakland. His extensive career has also seen him work in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Nevis, Guyana, and Tunisia.
Guillermo Cespedes was born in Havana, Cuba, and migrated to the United States as part of Operation Pedro Pan. He attended Sacred Heart University (SHU) on a basketball scholarship from 1969 to 1973, later earning a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University in 1976. Cespedes further honed his skills through family systems training at the Bristol Hospital Family Internship Program, the Center for Family Learning Institute, and the Nathan Ackerman Institute. This diverse educational background has significantly influenced his multifaceted approach to his career.
Cespedes has a rich background in direct practice, program development, training, research, evaluation, and institutional capacity building. He has worked with families facing psychiatric disorders, intra-familial violence, behavioral disorders, chronic illness, and gang-associated violence. His experience spans various institutions, including the Mid Fairfield Child Guidance Clinic, Oakland Children’s Hospital, and Vista Community College.
As Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Cespedes co-authored the Gang Reduction and Youth Development Comprehensive Strategy (2011) and led initiatives like the GRYD Summer Night Lights Strategy, reducing gang violence in the city by over 40%. He also helped export LA’s gang prevention model to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean through a partnership with USAID.
Okán Consulting Services
Led by Guillermo Cespedes, Okán Consulting Services provides specialized technical assistance for community safety, violence prevention, and intervention programs. With decades of expertise, Okán excels in direct practice, program development, training, research, evaluation, public policy, and collaboration with governmental agencies at various levels. Their tailored services address the unique contexts of violence affecting individuals, families, communities, and educational institutions.
Okán’s Approach Includes:
Okán’s approach includes developing global violence prevention strategies and fostering cross-border collaboration, assisting local governments in implementing effective violence prevention programs, supporting non-profits in designing and executing violence mitigation initiatives, and equipping frontline practitioners with tools and training for holistic engagementCombining practical experience with evidence-based methods, Okán Consulting Services provides comprehensive and sustainable solutions. Their case studies showcase successful interventions, offering valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.
In addition to his work in violence prevention, Guillermo Cespedes pursued undergraduate studies in history and taught African History across the Americas. He has taught within the Africana Studies Department at Cal State Dominguez in LA and conducted lectures and master classes at universities in the US and music schools in Spain.
Cespedes also emphasizes celebrating positive multigenerational traditions within families to build resilience. He uses asset-based genograms to highlight positive elements spanning at least three generations. Music is central to his family’s identity; in the 1980s, he co-founded the Afro-Cuban ensemble Conjunto Cespedes, recording three CDs for Green Linnet/Xenophile Records.
