Tomás Ramírez, is the Executive director of Semillas y Raices (seeds and roots), a non for profit organization focused on cultural preservation, community healing, and youth development. He is also the President of Infinite Conversations,
a privately owned provider of consulting and training services that engages in gang outreach and intervention, as well as in the training of high schools administrators and staff. He is a Youth Counselor, Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation facilitator,
as well as a Cultural Sensitivity Trainer. To this end, Mr. Ramírez develops goal oriented plans in conjunction with therapists, educators, parents and youth, and instructs on Conflict Transformation, Reconciliation, and healing techniques. Mr. Ramírez’
methodology emphasizes the utilization of indigenous, traditional, and contemporary intervention models. In undertaking his work, Mr. Ramírez regularly develops programs to address youths contemporary issues. He also conducts facilitated train-the-trainer
workshops for: capacity-building NGOs; crisis intervention specialists; youth-oriented emotional development programs; cross-cultural communication facilitators; and outreach programmers and development staff. Mr. Ramirez facilitates restorative processes
for the North Lawndale Restorative Justice Court, the first RJ court of its kind in the nation. He is a gifted speaker and regularly lectures internationally on critical pedagogy, popular education, gang culture and gang mediation. He is of Chichimeca ancestry
and is a member of various indigenous organizations in the Chicago area. He serves as a minister for the Native American Church of the four directions lodge. Mr. Ramírez’ previously served as the Crime Prevention and Street Outreach Coordinator for the city
of Evanston, Illinois, and as a Popular Education Facilitator for the Universidad Popular.