For the past 25 years, George Galvis has been a national leader in the movement to abolish youth prisons, create police accountability and radically transform the American mass incarceration system. George is deeply tied to his indigenous roots and grounds his work in healing practices which draw upon those traditions. Galvis is the Co-founder and current Executive Director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ, pronounced “courage”) which elevates the power of young people most affected by criminalization and violence. Galvis holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies and a Master’s in City Planning from UC Berkeley where he was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellow. He has conducted and published extensive research on alternatives to gang violence utilizing culturally and spiritually based approaches.