Circles & Ciphers is a leadership development program for disengaged young men that uses peace making circles, and hip hop ciphers to transform legacies. Circles and Ciphers builds and mobilizes a healthy, youth-led community among prisons, courts, and gangs involved young men (predominantly African-American, ages 14-22) from Chicago. We use hip-hop infused peacemaking circles and creative arts projects on a wide variety of themes, including: masculinity; violence; school; gangs and gang histories; stereotypes; policing; relationships. Participants are empowered to derail a legacy of disengagement.