About
Josue (Swey) Pineda became a youth advocate and an abolitionist of the carceral system after he was facing 23 years to life in prison at age 19. Post-incarceration, he has mentored youth inside juvenile hall and post their release. At Resilience Orange County, he created curriculum centered around youth development for formerly incarcerated youth. He co-hosts Not in Isolation: Voices of Youth, a podcast that centers the experience of youth who have been in solitary confinement, as part of a nationwide campaign to Stop Solitary for Kids. He is currently a Youth Case Manager and Reentry Coordinator with Hoops 4 Justice. He is a fellow for the Stop the Musick Coalition, organizing to end the expansion of a facility that criminalizes serious mental illness and instead invest in community wellness through care. He is Seeking Safety certified and currently serves as a Young Adult Advisor for the ACEs Aware initiative.