Our Story
History of 914United
Living a life of crime, Jonathan Alvarez had made some bad choices and was serving a long period of incarceration. He thought long and hard about what he needed to turn his life around. Driven to support others similarly impacted by the criminal justice system who were likewise faced with the challenges of re-entry to the community, in 2020 he and his friend John Cabrera launched the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called 914United for at risk youth in the Lower Hudson Valley. While the world grappled with the massive Covid pandemic, in 2020 the co-founders temporarily diverted their efforts to provide a different kind of service. They raised $20K to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to hospitals and first responders and organized a massive food drive. Following the death of George Floyd, they joined the groundswell of activism for racial justice. This further catalyzed the need for an organization like 914United to help give justice-impacted young men of color opportunities to achieve their fullest potential that historically they had been denied. A movement was born. To address the crucial unmet need to support the re-entry population, in 2021 the co-founders developed the Youth Leadership Development Initiative, offering seminars on leadership, financial literacy and civic empowerment. Formation of The Streets Give Back campaign followed, collecting and distributing apparel from 14 fashion brands to over 120 returning citizens looking for work. By 2022, 914United was receiving support from the Westchester County Youth Bureau, inaugurating the Leaders Build Leaders program to address gun violence in Yonkers and deter at risk youth from harmful lifestyles. They implemented a Peer Mentorship Program for young adults in the Westchester County Department of Corrections in partnership with the Petey Green Program and were recruited by the Yonkers Public School District to mentor students following dangerous paths and in danger of incarceration. In 2023, 914United expanded its reach by collaborating with the Yonkers Public School District and actively participating in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, launched in 2014 by President Obama. Yonkers-based 914United was cited as one of the four model MBK communities in the nation. To solidify 914United’s commitment to achieve community empowerment, the organization established crucial partnerships with The Children’s Village, the Westchester County Department of Correction (WCDOC), the Center for Community Alternatives, Westchester County of Probation, New York State Parole, New Rochelle courts and the Department of Social Services. Today 914United’s mission remains steadfast: help young people transcend negative environments that resulted in incarceration and give them the skills to re-write their life stories to achieve future success, embodying solidarity as Change Agents Cultivating Change Makers.
Our Founders
Jonathan Alvarez is President & Chief Executive Officer of 914United Inc., a 501 (3)(c) nonprofit organization he co-founded and incorporated in 2020, offering programs and mentoring for at-risk, justice-impacted youth in Westchester County. His mission: reduce recidivism and youth incarceration rates while supporting the reentry population one person at a time. Jonathan’s inspiration for starting a relationship-centered organization with one-on-one case management services was his thirteen-year incarceration experience. He describes it as transformative. “I didn’t just serve prison time,” he has said, “I made prison time serve me.” Upon his release, he sought to compose a new life story to repair the harm that crime and conflict had caused in his life. In 2020 he was chosen to be an Elias Foundation Community Activist Fellow to support his leadership in one of the Hudson Valley’s communities hardest hit by injustice and inequality. A year later he helped found the Youth Leadership Initiative, offering seminars on leadership, financial literacy and civic empowerment. In 2023 914United expanded its reach by participating in the Yonkers chapter of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance established by President Obama to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color preventing them from realizing their fullest potential. The Yonkers initiative was recognized as one of the nation’s top four model communities. Jonathan later joined the Yonkers Family YMCA SNUG Project to combat gun violence. Jonathan earned his BA in Social Studies from Bard College and is pursuing an Executive Master of Public Education degree at CUNY – Baruch College.
John's journey is defined by steadfast dedication, notably embodied in his enduring bond with 914United’s Co-founder and Director, Jonathan Alvarez. Their friendship spans 31 years, tracing back to kindergarten in 1993. Despite Jonathan's divergence into challenging circumstances leading to a long-term prison sentence, John remained unwavering in his support as best as he could, transforming their friendship into a steadfast brotherhood. Before his involvement in the movement, John found joy in giving back to the community. A highlight was his return to his high school for Career Day, where he shared his personal journey and career trajectory, aiming to inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators. A passion for mentoring youth became a cornerstone of his purpose. Professionally, John's expertise spans many fields -- mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and carpentry trades. His career began at twelve years old in an auto mechanic shop, progressing into manufacturing where he helped assemble commuter and subway trains. Today, he holds a pivotal management role at the Metropolitan Transit Authority, driving improvements in reliability and maintenance practices across the railroad. As a testament to his commitment to youth mentorship, John also serves alongside Jonathan as Co-Founder and Treasurer of 914UNITED Inc. Inspired by Jonathan's vision, John plays a crucial role in initiatives like the Yonkers chapter of My Brother’s Keeper, supporting high school students in their transition to adulthood. Together, theirs is a symbiotic partnership: Jonathan as the visionary and John as the executor, united in their mission to educate and uplift youth in need. Beyond his career, John balances roles as a devoted husband of ten years and a father to three daughters.
914United
