Miguel Villarreal is a visionary, trauma-informed educator, and community leader whose work at CSI Forge is setting a new standard for modern reentry and workforce development. As the Director of the New Leaf Participants Program (NLPP), Miguel brings together technology, lived experience, and healing-centered practice to build a comprehensive IT training ecosystem that equips justice-impacted individuals with the skills, confidence, and support needed to thrive in the tech sector and beyond.
Guided by a deep understanding of community needs and the obstacles learners encounter, Miguel integrates CompTIA-aligned instruction with mentorship, emotional-safety frameworks, nourishment and attire initiatives, and hands-on logistics experience. His leadership reflects a future-focused vision rooted in dignity, opportunity, and transformation. Through strategic partnerships with organizations across Chicago, Miguel is advancing a model of reentry defined not by barriers, but by possibility—where technology, healing, and community leadership intersect to open doors and restore pathways to long-term success.