Paul is the vice president of GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention and is both a survivor of violence and justice-impacted. Raised in Southeast Los Angeles, he grew up in communities affected by gangs, drugs, poverty, and gun violence. He began his career in 2001 as a volunteer with a hospital-based violence intervention program. In 2005, he co-founded Southern California Crossroads, a nonprofit providing community violence intervention services across the greater Los Angeles region. Serving as executive director for 15 years, he led programs focused on school-based intervention, hospital-based intervention, and gang intervention, reaching individuals at the highest risk for gun violence.

Paul also co-founded the Community Violence Intervention Conference, which convenes more than 900 practitioners annually. He has trained practitioners nationwide and partnered with the State Department, including three years of work in El Salvador. Today, he leads a national team advancing violence intervention advocacy and policy at the local, state, and federal levels.