Berto Aguayo

Berto Aguayo is a third-year law student at Northwestern, an incoming Associate at K&L Gates, and the Executive Director of Increase the Peace, an organization that develops young leaders and promotes peace through community organizing and advocating for solutions that tackle the root causes of violence.

Berto is a proud Back of the Yards native, where he was raised by a single mother who emigrated from Mexico. Berto’s struggles and experiences as a former gang member led him on a passionate journey toward social justice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Dominican University and he is an alumnus of the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy.

From 2013 to 2016, Berto coordinated the Hoops in the Hood program in Back of the Yards while at the same time working for State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch. In 2015, he was appointed by the Mayor’s Office to the My Brother’s Keeper Cabinet. In 2016, Berto co-founded ITP. Since then, ITP has trained hundreds of residents in community organizing, organized dozens of actions to increase the peace, and expanded its work to include violence prevention, public health, and multicultural unity. In 2018, Berto worked as a National Leadership Trainer with the Obama Foundation. In 2019, Berto ran an independent grassroots campaign for 15th Ward Alderman. In 2020, Berto joined Marie Newman’s campaign for Congress as her political director and helped her defeat then-Congressman Dan Lipinski. In addition to his current role, Berto serves on the Boards of CHANGE Illinois and Beyond Legal Aid.

Berto was recently recognized as the 2023 Red Cross Social Justice Hero and by Negocios Now in 2022 in their 40 under 40 list. He is also the past recipient of Mikva Challenge's Outstanding Alumnus Award and the Bright Promises Foundation’s Elevating Youth Voices Award. Berto is also a former scholar of the Aspen Institute, and he was a Fellow at Citizen University.