Born and raised in the South Bronx, Tony Aguilar is a dynamic and experienced advocate, organizer, public speaker, and writer with over 30 years of impactful work in the public square.  After several years in the banking field, he became involved in community development and social justice. As an organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation, he played a key role in the creation of Nehemiah Homes in the South Bronx. He also led economic development initiatives in Southeast Queens, pushed for environmental cleanup, and advocated for a prevailing wage ordinance in Jersey City, New Jersey. During this time he has been quoted in major newspapers like the New York Times, Daily News, and Newsday, and featured on NBC and CBS. His work was also highlighted in Jim Rooney’s book Organizing the South Bronx.  

As Assistant to the Lutheran Bishop of New York, Tony created the Urban Leaders Institute to train congregational leaders and the Urban Empowerment Fund to provide grants for congregations working with people in poverty. He has also served as a lay minister. 

Tony has produced and hosted a talk show on WEVD in New York City where he interviewed notable figures such as Alan Dershowitz, Bishop Stephen Bouman, Jim Sleeper, Niger Innis and Randi Weingarten.  He also produced and hosted a cable television talk show which focused on local and national issues. 

A published author, Tony has written four books. His latest book Is America Broken or Has It Always Been This Way? will be available in March 2025.  He also writes for his 

In 2023, he launched The Aguilar Conversations: A Global Perspective, a podcast featuring interviews with journalists, academics, and civic leaders on international issues including the war in Ukraine, the Niger conflict, the Israel/Hamas war, genocide, Afghanistan and Taiwan.  

Tony  has served on the board of directors for various non-profit boards organizations, including Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, Lutheran Medical Center (now NYU Langone), Council of Churches for the City of New York and the Board of Managers for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.

Tony is a member of the Foreign Policy Association and the President’s Club of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs .