In 2023, Jose Perez and Julian Spencer launched Good Trouble, a Twin Cities initiative helping young people facing adversity turn trouble on the streets into school transformation. Good Trouble is building an intergenerational movement to meet core youth development needs for belonging, real work, purpose and service by pushing for life-saving learning experiences for youth who want and need them. Good Trouble is rooted in Jose’s own struggles with poverty, dyslexia, school failure and the justice system. Jose, 24, previously co-led Bridgemakers, where he led a two-year project to redesign schooling to support youth development and violence prevention and testified five times at the Minnesota Legislature to protect alternative pathways into teaching. Raised by a single immigrant mother, Jose is an R&B artist, has presented on youth development at several national convenings and is one of 10 recipients of the Graves Foundation Youth in Power award.