Dr. Christy Perez

Founder and Managing Executive Director, Dreaming Justice Project

Presenter of "Youth Justice Champion Award"

Dr. Christy Perez is a renowned public theologian, historian, journalist, abolitionist organizer, and policy strategist. As the founder and executive visionary of the Dreaming Justice Project, Dr. Perez leads a transformative organization focused on justice, equity, and community empowerment. Through her work, she engages in abolitionist organizing, narrative strategy, and cultural stewardship, with a special focus on marginalized communities, particularly Black and trans individuals.

Dr. Perez is an influential voice in public discourse, blending intellectual rigor, spiritual clarity, and deep community roots to advocate for liberation and societal change. Her impactful work spans multiple disciplines, including theology, political philosophy, and media, and she has been featured in outlets like HuffPost, Business Insider, and The Appeal. A leader in both education and activism, Dr. Perez has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the PJP Stillwater Award and the Grand Humanitarian Award from the TDOR organization.

Through the Dreaming Justice Project, Dr. Perez advances initiatives like the Next Chapter Reentry Support Program, the Dream Builders Career Lab, and the DreamWell Health Initiative. Her work is driven by the mantra “Imagine. Build. Liberate.”, and she is dedicated to shaping a world rooted in dignity, justice, and collective liberation.

Dr. Christy Perez founded Dreaming Justice Project from a belief that people most affected by punishment, exclusion, and systemic violence are also the people best equipped to lead us toward something better. Her work brings political education, organizational strategy, reentry support, narrative change, wellness, and community partnership into one practice. She leads with the conviction that freedom must be material, shared, and built alongside the people systems have tried to silence.