Serafín Serrano has dedicated his career to empowering youth and supporting families for over twenty-seven years. His sense of purpose was given an opportunity to materialize when he began volunteering as a mentor with Orange County Probation Department in 1995. Soon after this experience, he served as a Youth Counselor for the City of Santa Ana, a Leadership Program Manager in Boyle Heights, a Training Specialist with the National Compadres Network, the objective remained the same: impact youth, transform communities and heal generations.In December 14th, 1986, Serafín’s mentor and brother, was murdered in the streets of Los Angeles. In a state of grief with a bullet piercing his soul, an enraged Serafin became consumed with the notion of street retribution.Soon after he was arrested and received a 5-year sentence in The California Youth Authority (CYA). After serving close to 5 years of his adolescence behind concrete walls warehousing countless other emotionally wounded young men, Serafin recognized an insidious cycle of violence he was perpetuating. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “We must become the change we want to see.” Serafín embodies this philosophy and is committed to change. He attained his Associate of Arts Degree in Human Services from Cypress College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior from The University of California, Irvine. He has served in numerous capacities including that of a mentor, educator, and consultant. Serafín has worked for several community-based agencies and non-profits including Taller San José, The Boys & Girls Club, The City of Santa Ana, Canyon Acres-Wraparound, Volunteers of America (VOA) of Greater Los Angeles, Pacific Educational Services (PES) evidence-based services Inc., and National Compadres Network (NCN), a Restorative Practitioner with Project Kinship. Currently a chapter coordinator with Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ), a trainer/facilitator with Sacred Purpose LLC, a program coordinator at Homies Unidos, and a Circle Keeper and Trainer for the East LA Women's Center, Serafín provides consulting services including capacity building and development, community healing circles, leadership training initiatives, and keynote presentations.