Ms. Wanda's Full Circle Radio
Men on the Move: Reimagining Community, Healing & Hope with Khaalid Muttaqi
What does it really mean to create a safe community? This week on Full Circle Men on the Move, Ms. Wanda sits down with Khaalid Muttaqi — Chief Operating Officer of Advance Peace, community safety advocate, and the writer, director and producer of the powerful documentary The Paradox of Safety . Khaalid shares the personal journey that shaped his life's work, from growing up in a strong Black community in Seaside, California, to dropping out of high school, finding his way back through community college and eventually graduating from UC Berkeley. He talks candidly about the mentors, coaches, teachers and community members who helped keep him grounded — and why he believes today's young people need that same kind of support. The conversation takes a deeper look at youth violence, childhood trauma, the importance of building relationships with young people, and why Khaalid believes "the relationship is the intervention." We also talk about his journey into violence prevention in Sacramento, his work with Advance Peace, and what he learned from efforts to address youth gun violence. Then we get into The Paradox of Safety . Set in Sacramento, the documentary examines the complicated layers behind community safety, including youth violence, trauma, education, redlining, prevention and the systems that shape our communities. Khaalid explains why he felt it was important to tell this story and why he believes we have to create space to reimagine what safety can look like. It's a powerful conversation about young people, community, accountability, healing and hope — and a reminder that solutions require relationships, resources, honest conversations and community involvement. SEE THE FILM The Paradox of Safety has been selected for the 5th Annual Oak Park Black Film Festival on October 6. Ms. Wanda has seen the film — and calls it powerful and eye-opening. If this conversation moves you, don't stop with the podcast. Get your tickets and support the film. Support Khaalid and the local filmmakers who helped bring this Sacramento story to the screen. And stay for the conversation that follows the screening. Because some stories aren't meant to simply be watched. They're meant to start a conversation.
