Executive Team

Arthur Soriano

Founder/ Chief Executive Officer

As Founder/CEO, Arthur oversees all programs, advocacy activities and training programs for Youth Empowerment. He is the “face” of the organization and is a sought-after motivational speaker and subject matter expert.

Arturo serves on the board of directors for the National Parents Union. He is a gang consultant and expert witness for superior and federal court systems; he provides consultation and expert witness testimony for attorneys in the San Diego County criminal court system; he presents regularly to San Diego County Office of Probation, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Attorney General’s Department, San Diego City Council and San Diego County Supervisors; he is a practitioner/trainer of Trauma Informed Care and advocates for the assumption of the Trauma Informed Care Code of Conduct by all entities that work with traumatized individuals.

He is certified in Interactive Journaling for Forward Thinking & Courage to Change; Moral Reconation Therapy; a Seeking Safety Facilitator and included in SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. He has been a trainer and facilitator for the International Institute for Restorative Practices; a Peer Support Partner with Children’s Services; served on the Family, Youth Roundtable for San Diego County; Wellness Planning & Life Goals planning; San Diego Community Mentor Collaborative training program at Alliant University; and the Alternatives to Incarceration Training Institute.

Arthur is also the co-author of Hidden Treasures, a book that takes readers on a journey through fields of poverty and fatherless homes, to stabbings on the streets and in inner city schools, to the hospital, to the courts and to prison cells; to recovery homes and back again until, one by one, gang members finally transform their lives.

Niki Martinez

Chief Operations Officer

Niki was hired by Youth Empowerment in 2019 as a Case Manager for the adult re-entry program and quickly rose to the position of COO, where she oversees and assists in the development of all programs, monitors grant compliance and directs mentor/mentee relationships. She works in the community to build resources, recruit clients, and community awareness. Niki also works with The Old Globe Theater as a Teaching Artist for Reflecting Shakespeare.

Niki has received certifications in the following fields: Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Relapse Prevention Counseling, Denial Management Counseling, Trauma-Informed Counseling, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Intelligence, Domestic Violence, Healthy Relationships, Anger Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Freedom to Choose.

Having served 25 years of a 45-to- life sentence, Niki is a lived experience Subject Matter Expert Mentor and has dedicated her freedom to making amends and helping communities heal.

Rachel Wales

Chief Administrative Officer

As the Chief Administrative Officer, Rachel manages the organization’s financial accounts, onboarding of new employees and payroll, compliance and reporting.

The effects of incarceration reach beyond prison walls. Rachel was only six months old when her brother, Arthur Soriano, was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Arthur’s cycles of incarceration caused Rachel to feel betrayed and confused. However, their sibling bond was resilient, and they eventually found their way back to one another. After seeing a true transformation through his involvement in the community and the founding of Youth Empowerment, Rachel knew Arthur had changed for the better. Today, they strive to give back to their communities and help others who are living a story similar to their own.

Alexis Crespo

Executive Assistant

Alexis is the primary point of contact for all internal and external communications. She provides personalized secretarial and administrative support to the entire team at Youth Empowerment. She manages the calendar for the CEO, handles inquiries and requests, and liaisons with the Board of Directors.

Alexis also manages social media postings and writes the bi-monthly newsletter. She performs administrative work, school outreach, and handles correspondence and schedules meetings to facilitate I.M.A.G.I.N.E. programming in schools. Alexis has led the charge to upgrade Youth Empowerment branding efforts.