Asean is a seasoned social justice advocate, youth intervention specialist, and community leader with over two decades of experience advancing initiatives focused on violence prevention, restorative justice, and youth empowerment. Since 2002, he has been actively engaged in social justice campaigns and grassroots efforts aimed at transforming communities and creating equitable opportunities for underserved populations.

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As a trained Youth Gang Advocate and extraction specialist, Asean has led and participated in peace initiatives and facilitated roundtable discussions among various street organizations. His work focuses on redirecting harmful behaviors, de-escalating conflict, and empowering individuals to reinvest their energy into positively serving their communities. His outreach efforts span across Central New York, New York City, California, Baltimore, and Puerto Rico, where he has addressed the root causes of violence and emphasized the importance of drawing from historic social justice movements to promote conflict resolution and equality.

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In 2006, Asean founded the SLG Prison Program, an initiative centered on environmental justice, social justice, prisoner rights, and alternatives to incarceration, with a strong emphasis on youth engagement. Building on this foundation, he went on to serve as the Founder and Chief Program Director of “SLG Youth Inc.” from 2007 to 2014.

In this role, he developed and implemented comprehensive programming for at-risk youth across schools, community centers, and neighborhood-based settings. His work included designing and facilitating gang awareness and prevention workshops, as well as serving as a hands-on gang intervention and extraction specialist within the community. He is also the founder of the “It Takes a Village” discussion series, which fosters social awareness and dialogue in the cities of Rochester and Syracuse, bridging the gap between at-risk youth and community leaders dedicated to uplifting and empowering others.

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Asean has extensive experience in program development, having created and implemented training modules and transitional support services for youth reintegrating into mainstream school environments following long-term suspension, incarceration, detention, or residential placement. He currently serves as the Restorative Justice Coordinator for the Center for Justice Innovation’s Upstate office, where he continues to lead impactful initiatives focused on rehabilitation and community healing.

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In addition to his professional work, Asean serves as the Director of Youth Initiatives for the Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.), where he plays a critical role in developing youth-focused programming that promotes cultural education, leadership development, and community empowerment aligned with Indigenous heritage and values.

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Asean is a certified facilitator through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, and the National Institute of Corrections’ “Thinking for a Change 4.0,” a cognitive-behavioral intervention program designed for justice-involved adults and youth. He is also on track to receive his CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) certification in early 2026, further strengthening his ability to support individuals and families impacted by substance use and behavioral health challenges.