Bernie, who identifies as a Chicano Indigenous Hermano, is a Program and Leadership Assistant at MILPA. As a formerly incarcerated man, he now embraces a life of PALABRA and GANAS. During his time behind the walls enduring institutional oppression, Bernie became aware of the systematic application of racism and the multilayers of structural inequities that affect communities of color like his own. He now dedicates his time and energy to help cultivate change makers by using a healing-informed, relationship-centered approach that cultivates next-generation leadership, while rethinking accountability and striving for racial justice to end mass incarceration.
