Kent Mendoza
Kent Mendoza was born in Mexico and came to the US at six years old. He grew up in Los Angeles where at an early age he was exposed to gangs, drugs, and violence. He joined a gang at 14 and was incarcerated at 15 and served time in a probation camp.
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About Kent
Kent Mendoza was born in Mexico and came to the US at six years old. He grew up in Los Angeles where at an early age he was exposed to gangs, drugs, and violence. He joined a gang at 14 and was incarcerated at 15 and served time in a probation camp. At 17 he was tried as an adult and faced a prison life sentence. Kent was instead sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice for seven years but served five years.
Kent is a community organizer and activist, artist, writer, speaker, and youth mentor. He is also the Policy Director at the Anti Recidivism Coalition, where he started as the member and Community Engagement Coordinator. In 2016, Kent worked at the LA Area Chamber of Commerce on Smart Justice issues where he held several positions and was appointed by Governor Brown to California's State Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (SACJJDP) in which he now Chairs in 2026. Kent is also a 2018 Aspen institute Ricardo Salinas scholar alumni. From 2019 to 2023, he served as a leading consultant with the Haywood Burns Institute to realize the Los Angeles County’s Youth Justice Reimagined report, paving the way for youth out of the probation department into a new one focused on youth development. Kent continues to lead the Youth Justice Reimagined implementation work along with youth. He is also a Represent Justice 2024 youth Ambassador alumni and filmmaker.
