The Rev. James E. Giles has been a peacemaker and community leader in Buffalo for almost 45 years. His current work includes leading the Buffalo Peacemakers, an exciting new collaboration between six antiviolence groups – Back to Basics, Buffalo United Front, FATHERS, MAD DADS, No More Tears, and Stop The Violence Coalition. The Buffalo Peacemakers Violence and Gang Intervention Program provide proactive intervention into the cycle of violence in the lives of gang-involved or at-risk youth.  In Addition, He is the Director of the SNUG program, a more intense Violence Interruption Initiative. 

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He is President/CEO of Back To Basics Outreach Ministries, The President of VOICE Buffalo an organization that organizes for social and economic justice, and the Administrator for the Stop The Violence Coalition. He’s been a strong force in the Restorative Justice movement and Prisoner Reentry for Erie County. Giles sits on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities, Northland Workforce Training Center, City of Buffalo EMS Board and Youth Visionaries. He has received many awards for outstanding service to the community, including the Certificate of Excellent Award from Mayor Anthony Masiello and the Harriet Tubman “Change Maker” award from Mayor Bryon Brown., as well as the Community Foundation’s Centennial Award, granting him $200,000 for outstanding service to the community. He founded and developed Back To Basics Outreach Ministries, Inc.,  a leader in Restorative Justice, Prisoner Re-entry, transitional housing, youth development, and spiritual enrichment, as well as  Gang and Anti Violence Initiatives. 

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He has received countless awards and accommodations from two Mayors, two County Executives, Agencies and governmental officials for his work as a community servant and leader, Including The Civil Rights and Social Change Award from the Stop The Violence Alliance, a national organization.

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Pastor Giles, has certifications from area colleges in Psychology (Niagara County Community College 1969); Sociology/African American History (Buffalo State College 1987); and graduated from Medaille College’s  NYS Substance Abuse Counseling degree program (1988). He is the Pastor of the Greater Works Deliverance Fellowship which is part of the Dunamis Covenant Fellowship of Churches. He shares these accomplishments with his two children, Antonio (48) and Alisha (41); grandson Jalen (16); and with his beloved and supportive wife of 50 years, Delores Y. Giles.