Jonathan Alvarez is the President and Chief Executive Officer of 914 United Inc From Cell to CEO Philanthropist Entreprenuer Community Activist https://914united.org/ How are you? What makes someone a credible messenger 914 United A program-based mentoring nonprofit committed to exposing, educating, and empowering justice-impacted and gang-involved youth in Westchester County. He founded and incorporated the organization in 2020, inspired by his transformative experience within the criminal-legal system in which he served 13 years from the age of 17 to 30. How was jail? Did you feel comfortable? Were you prepared for prison What changes did you make before you came home? What made you feel like you were done going back and forth to prison? Did you choose the streets or did the streets choose you? Upon his release, he started his career as a youth advocate and staff committee member for the Yonkers My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. He then transitioned into working at the Yonkers Family YMCA, specifically with the SNUG Project: a New York state funded initiative that combats gun violence and addresses community trauma. He joined the organization as an Outreach Worker and shortly after was promoted to Case Management. In 2022, he was elevated to Leadership Development, tasked to implement programmatic structure for the entire outreach team. Jonathan also has been appointed by NYS Majority Leader Andrea Stewart -Cousins to serve as one of nine board members of the New York State Commission on Prison Education, where he will study and develop an effective reentry plan for improving programming and education in the state prison system. Reducing recidivism. Leadership development initiative focused on strengthening and building social justice movements in the Hudson Valley. His direct service work is equally preventative and transformative. It aims to address the negative effects of incarceration and heal those who suffer from them in underserved communities. He has a BA in Social Studies from Bard College and is currently pursuing an Executive Master of Public Administration degree at CUNY – Baruch College. What’s your dream Message to your younger self Message to the youth https://914united.org/ #justice #transformation #newyork #positivity #mindset