Hernán is a passionate Mexican-American leader advancing sustainable, community-driven progress rooted in culture, community, and healing. With lived experience as a formerly incarcerated youth, Hernán brings a unique and powerful perspective to his leadership role. His personal journey through the justice system has fueled his passion for reform and commitment to creating pathways for other impacted individuals to succeed. Under his leadership, Alianza for Opportunity has flourished with innovative narrative change projects, research initiatives, and grassroots partnerships to dismantle systemic oppression and create thriving Latine/x, Afro-Latine/x, and Indigenous communities. Hernán's extensive background includes his tenure as National Youth Chair of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, his work with the Youth First Initiative strategically supporting state campaigns to close youth prisons and reinvest funds into community alternatives, and his role at the Vera Institute of Justice leading efforts to include impacted families throughout the country in policy reform. Hernán has provided expert consultancy to the U.S. Department of Justice and New York City Department of Probation, as well as to philanthropic partners, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Andrus Family Fund, and The Prospect Hill Foundation. Born and raised in the New York City area, Hernán holds a B.S. from John Jay College. He serves on the boards of Community Connections for Youth and the Alliance for Youth Organizing, and is passionate about creating access to wellness resources for BIPOC communities through his social enterprise, Healing Ninjas, Inc. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow: