Cleveland anti-violence leader Khalid Samad dies at 73, leaving legacy through Peace in the Hood

A decades-long presence in Cleveland’s violence-interruption work

Khalid Samad, a Cleveland-based community activist identified for decades with anti-violence outreach and youth intervention, has died at age 73. He was widely known for street-level conflict mediation, public advocacy around gun violence, and organizing initiatives intended to reduce harm among young people in neighborhoods facing persistent violence.

Samad was a co-founder and longtime leader of Coalition for a Better Life, operating publicly as Peace in the Hood, a community program focused on violence prevention, intervention, and youth education. Over time, he became a regular voice in local public-safety discussions, appearing at community meetings, vigils, and neighborhood events that addressed shootings, retaliation risks, and support for affected families.

Work spanning government, schools and grassroots programs

Public biographical records describe Samad’s work both inside and outside government. He served as an assistant to Cleveland’s public safety director for youth gang intervention during the administration of Mayor Jane Campbell. He also worked with the Cleveland Board of Education’s gang task force as a gang-prevention and investigative specialist from 1991 to 2000.

Outside formal roles, Samad helped design and implement multiple community initiatives under the Coalition for a Better Life umbrella, including mentoring, rites-of-passage programming, entrepreneurship education, and cultural engagement intended to connect youth with nonviolent identity and purpose. He also participated in cross-cultural and interfaith work in Cleveland, including efforts tied to public concerns affecting Arab-American business owners after violent incidents.

A public voice during moments of crisis

Samad was frequently called on to speak when violence spiked or when a single incident triggered broader fears of retaliation. His role in such moments often emphasized de-escalation, community presence, and mobilizing residents to be visible in public spaces during high-risk hours. He also took part in broader civic conversations on youth violence and community safety, including events that brought together local advocates, researchers, and public officials.

Samad’s public work was rooted in the idea that preventing violence requires consistent neighborhood engagement, particularly with young people facing immediate risk.

Selected verified milestones and affiliations

• Co-founder and executive leader of Coalition for a Better Life, operating as Peace in the Hood.
• Assistant to Cleveland’s public safety director for youth gang intervention during the Jane Campbell administration.
• Gang prevention and investigative specialist with the Cleveland Board of Education gang task force (1991–2000).
• Inductee in the Cleveland International Hall of Fame (2016).

Impact on Cleveland’s civic landscape

Samad’s death removes a familiar figure from Cleveland’s network of street outreach workers, faith-linked organizers, and community-based violence interrupters. His career reflected a model of public safety that blends grassroots mediation, youth development, and collaboration with institutions—approaches that continue to shape how Cleveland community groups respond to shootings and the conditions that fuel them.

Details about funeral arrangements and the circumstances of his death were not available in the verified public records reviewed for this report.