Casa Margo Communications Group / About
Tony
Aguilar
Tony Aguilar - Founder, CMCG
Biography
A Voice Forged in the South Bronx
Tony Aguilar brings a perspective based on his experience and accomplishments in the public square. Born and raised in the South Bronx, he has been an advocate, organizer, public speaker, writer, and workshop leader for over 30 years.
As a community organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation, he served as the associate organizer in the building of Nehemiah Homes in the South Bronx and the efforts to improve Lincoln Hospital. He went on to become the lead organizer for economic development in Southeast Queens, before taking on environmental cleanup and passage of a prevailing wage ordinance in Jersey City, New Jersey.
As Assistant to the Lutheran Bishop of New York, Tony created the Urban Leaders Institute, which trained congregational leaders, and the Urban Empowerment Fund, which provided grants to congregations working with persons in poverty.
He is a member of the President's Club of the Chicago Council for Global Affairs and the Foreign Policy Association. He is also featured in Jim Rooney's book, Organizing the South Bronx.
Career
Four Decades of
Public Service
Lead Community Organizer
Industrial Areas Foundation
Associate organizer in the building of Nehemiah Homes in the South Bronx and the efforts to improve Lincoln Hospital. Went on to become lead organizer for economic development in Southeast Queens. Led environmental cleanup initiatives and secured passage of a prevailing wage ordinance in Jersey City.
Assistant to the Lutheran Bishop of New York
Lutheran Church of New York
Created the Urban Leaders Institute, training congregational leaders, and the Urban Empowerment Fund, which provided grants to congregations working with persons in poverty.
Board Member & Civic Leader
Multiple Institutions
Served on boards including Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn (now NYU Langone), Council of Churches for the City of New York, and the Inter-church Center. Founding member of the Commission of Religious Leaders.
Media & Public Intellectual
Radio, Television & Print
Hosted a radio talk show on WEVD interviewing figures such as Alan Dershowitz, Charles Smith, and Jim Sleeper. Hosted and produced a cable TV show. Quoted in the New York Times, Daily News, Newsday, and the Jersey Journal. Interviewed on NBC and CBS.
Host & Executive Producer
The Aguilar Conversations: A Global Perspective
Launched a podcast exploring international issues - from the war in Ukraine and the Niger conflict to Brazil, Taiwan's presidential election, and the Israel/Hamas war.
Latest Book
Is America Broken or Has It Always Been This Way?
Tony's latest work explores whether the challenges America faces today are truly new or part of a longer historical pattern - a must-read for anyone seeking deeper context on the state of American democracy.
Listen to Tony being interviewed about his new book
Photo Gallery
Gallery
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Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Now Streaming
The Aguilar Conversations:
A Global Perspective
Since June 2023, Tony has hosted in-depth conversations on the most pressing international issues - the war in Ukraine, the Niger conflict, Brazil, Taiwan's presidential election, and the Israel/Hamas war. Independent analysis you won't find anywhere else.
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