The Metropolitan Peace Academy and its street outreach workers carry out direct and intense work in neighborhoods, especially with young people who are part of gangs or have committed crimes, to help both victims and perpetrators break the cycle of violence. The work of Ricardo Estrada and Jesús Salazar, among others, at this institution is based on having themselves experienced and overcome violence, and then projecting their commitment, knowledge, and empathy to help others, especially young people, and to prevent violence in Latino neighborhoods of Chicago