Director of International Justice Initiatives
Natalie Reyes has dedicated her career to improving justice systems to better serve communities and the people most impacted. In her current role as Director of International Justice Initiatives, she supports justice innovators globally through learning exchanges and technical assistance on people-centered justice approaches. Recently, she has led projects to improve court systems in Kosovo and expand therapeutic justice programs in Mexico. She plays a key role in deepening global engagement with the Center’s community justice model, which has inspired replications in countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Since joining the Center in 2014, Natalie has also led training and technical assistance for community justice initiatives in dozens of jurisdictions across the U.S.
Previously, Natalie served as Deputy Director at the Midtown Community Justice Center (previously the Midtown Community Court), one of the country’s first problem-solving courts. In this role, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the court-based alternative to incarceration programs and launched several new initiatives in collaboration with community and legal partners, including early prosecutorial diversion, harm reduction programs, and community engagement.
Natalie began her career in Chile at the Justice Studies Center of the Americas, where she provided international consulting on justice reforms across Latin America and served on two Chilean government committees focused on pretrial and civil justice reforms. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Fordham University and a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. She studied international law at Paris Nanterre University and also holds a post-graduate diploma in international human rights from University Alberto Hurtado in Chile. She is a licensed attorney in New York State.
