Director  |  2019 – Present

Dedicated to promoting healing, increasing racial equity, and fueling transformation in neighborhoods and communities across Cook County, TRHT Greater Chicago is part of a comprehensive, national and community-based process supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to “unearth and jettison the deeply held, and often unconscious, beliefs created by racism.”

Creating and implementing a community impact strategy through the investment of $23M in annual program funding, advancing a statewide advocacy agenda for human services, and cultivating strategic partnerships with civic organizations to improve the lives of individuals and entire neighborhoods. He also stewards United Way of Metropolitan Chicago’s Neighborhood Network model of delivering highly coordinated and concentrated services in underserved communities.

Appointed by President Obama to represent the White House and implement policies, strategic initiatives, and communications to advance the Administration’s education agenda in the Latino Community nationwide. Term highlights include reduced high school dropout rates and increased Latino college graduation rates through implementation of new initiatives, regulatory policies, and national public awareness campaigns; serving as the Administration’s spokesperson on educational issues for Latinos at national stakeholder meetings and on national & local television, radio & print; drafting an Executive Order signed by President Obama in October 2010 resulting in new public­ & private partnerships in Early Learning, K­12, and Higher Education.

Founding Principal and lead designer responsible for overseeing a community planning and development process that resulted in the construction of a $70M Chicago Public High School serving 1,400 Latino and African American students from Little Village and North Lawndale.

Created new, small, and innovative learning communities in large public schools through trainings and technical assistance to teachers, administrators, and district staff in Chicago and across the country. Provided leadership to a growing local and national network of education reform organizations including the Gates Foundation, New Leaders for New Schools, and KnowledgeWorks.

Organized a regional network of over 100 organizations to coordinate federal advocacy, direct actions, and political participation of immigrant communities. Protected the rights of immigrant students and families against unlawful practices from school districts and police departments resulting in federal consent decrees protecting their rights.

Redesigned and implemented a leadership training curriculum and workforce readiness program for individuals preparing for careers in community service and advocacy.