Asean Malik Bey is a Peacemaking Associate working at the Near Westside Peacemaking Project in Syracuse, New York. He has been involved in Social Justice campaigns and initiatives since 2002. He is a Trained Youth Gang Advocate and has been part of peace initiatives and round tables between various street organizations, to redirect and refocus energies and begin to serve the communities in which their members live. Through this work, he has been involved in community outreach and conferences in New York City, California, Baltimore, and Puerto Rico addressing the violence within street organizations and the need to emulate past social justice movements in fighting for equality for all people. He started the SLG Prison Program in 2006, organizing around environmental justice, social justice, prisoner rights and alternative to incarceration campaigns in various cities in the United States geared toward youth. He is also the co-founder of “It takes a Village” discussion series which focuses on bringing social commentary and community awareness to the Cities of Rochester and Syracuse for the purpose of bridging the gap between our at-risk youth and the people who have dedicated themselves to uplifting humanity.