Richard Santana, Ed. M. was born in California and became the third generation of his family to join one of the largest gangs in California. After several years of drugs, crime, and violence on the streets; he left that life, crediting education, community programs, and teachers with paving the way.
 
Richard experienced a transformation. Eventually, in 1995, he graduated from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, Human Development and Psychology/Risk Prevention Program.