New Pathways for Youth
Alejandra Ruiz, MPH, ACC, currently serves as the Bilingual Director of Program at New Pathways for Youth, overseeing a team of eight Program Coordinators and managing programs for youth, mentors, and their families. With previous roles including Bilingual Match Program Manager and Bilingual Sr. Program Coordinator, Alejandra has extensive experience in training and developing mentorship programs. Additionally, Alejandra works as a Leadership Development Coach at Courage to Soften Coaching LLC, focusing on personal empowerment and relationship building. An administrative consultant for Local First Arizona, responsibilities included conducting assessments for small businesses, while serving as an adjunct professor at Maricopa Community Colleges for public health courses. Alejandra has also held positions as Health & Wellness Youth Program Manager at Esperança and Project Director at IChange Peru. Academic credentials include a Master of Public Health from San Jose State University and a Bachelor's degree in Public Health from the University of Arizona.
New Pathways for Youth
At New Pathways for Youth, we’re transforming the lives of youth by providing the support, stability, and skills they need to flourish in the community and in their families. In the communities we serve, youth experience poverty and three times the adversity of their peers. Beyond material insecurities, these challenges interrupt a youth’s sense of their potential, disconnecting them from what's true: that each of us has immeasurable, inherent value - and the future holds unlimited possibilities. Through a holistic development program and 1:1 mentoring within community groups, we want to ensure that every young person can live their life with joy and purpose, confident in their ability to decide their own path. Our research-based program is proven to generate remarkable outcomes for the youth we serve; from greater high school graduation rates, to increased personal wellness and prevention of harmful behaviors. Nobody does it alone. Every youth takes root in and is supported by the entire New Pathways community, discovering healthier, more conscious ways of thinking and taking transformative steps together. When our youth experience the support and personal development that our program offers, they feel unstoppable - and that spirit extends beyond the self to impact their family, community, and the world around them.