Teens on Target trains multi-ethnic young people-called youth leaders-from violent neighborhoods to teach other students how to reduce violence in their homes, schools, and communities. TNT Youth Leaders present a series of interactive workshops to other young people in middle and high schools about the causes and effects of violence in their lives, as well as the identification of solutions to reduce and prevent this violence.

Program goals include educating and training young people from some of the most life-threatening neighborhoods of Oakland to enable them to participate in making their lives, their neighborhoods, and their communities safer and healthier, and educating policy makers, community members, and the media on the impact of violence on youth and violence prevention strategies.

Since 1989, over 500 Oakland students have been trained to be peer educators and advocates for how young people can prevent violence in their homes, schools and communities. Oakland TNT Youth Leaders have presented their violence prevention workshops to over 30,000 young people.

TNT awards and recognition include:
- In 2000, a TNT Youth Leader was chosen to represent the program on the National Youth Action Council. NYAC works with the National Campaign Against Youth Violence and selected students from around the country on campaigns to reduce and de-glamorize violence.
- In 2000, three TNT Youth Leaders received Oakland Youth of Valor Awards, honoring young people with courage and vision for their efforts to change their communities.
- In 2001, TNT received Co-Motion's "Ally of Justice Award" for their gun advocacy work.