Founder and Executive Director, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice*

Alexie Torres returned to the Bronx neighborhood of her youth in 1992 after feeling something was missing from her corporate life in Manhattan. She soon became involved in neighborhood issues and organized an anti-drug march attracting 50 people. Days later, in retaliation, drug dealers torched the church where the march originated. Frightened, but undaunted, Alexie organized a second march that attracted 1,200 people and SWAT teams.

Following this event, Alexie and young people from the neighborhood began Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ) in the basement of a run-down church. YMPJ was the epitome of a grass-roots organization. For years it existed with no heat and refrigerator boxes for walls. YMPJ was the first, and remains the only, program for youth in the area. Its after-school program for elementary through high school students integrates education, leadership development and caring for the community.