Soy Maestro, Inmigrante y Obamista
Welcome

About
José Antonio Rico is a community leader and educator from Chicago. He is the Senior Vice President of Community Investment for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, which invests in initiatives to advance human services and improve the lives of individuals and entire neighborhoods.
He is also the former Executive Director of the Obama Administration’s White House Initiative On Educational Excellence For Hispanics and was the founding high school principal of Multicultural Arts School, a Chicago Public School serving the families in Little Village and North Lawndale with a focus on social justice and arts integration.
Rico weaves together extensive education and public policy experience with an intimate knowledge of people across class and cultural lines. He brings his experience as an immigrant, teacher and father who is deeply committed to building community, racial equity and empathy in all his endeavors.

“I am a Chicagoan by way of Mexico. Raised on the southwest side, I was blessed to receive support from family, neighbors and teachers along my journey. Those relationships fueled a deep commitment and passion that compels me still- to seek out & uplift others amongst my community I hold so dear. This is why I serve.”
Work
(Click for highlights)
Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Greater Chicago
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.”
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
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.
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
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.
Multicultural Arts School - Chicago Public Schools
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.
University of Illinois at Chicago
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.
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
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.
Public Allies
Redesigned and implemented a leadership training curriculum and workforce readiness program for individuals preparing for careers in community service and advocacy.
Essays
Searching For Home And Healing My Broken Heart
Most of my life, I’ve been searching for home. I came to Chicago with my younger brother as a young child. Both my parents had to make the journey to the US years before us, so they can put food on the table. Most of my life, I’ve been searching for home. I came to...
Who Is There For Our Children When Gun Violence Shakes Their World?
Part of being a Chicagoan and a parent of a young adult son is living with the awareness that your child could get shot. It’s a reality that you try to ensure does not happen, but a few months ago it came far too close to becoming a reality for me. This winter, on his...
A Brother’s Journey Across the Border: A Dialogue
Insights shared with Roller, a firm focused on next-gen solutions to the world’s most complex challenges.
Press
PHOTOS: Woods Fund Leadership Reception 10.2.19
Video and Photos by David McDuffie https://vimeo.com/369926527/80f46fc24b
Austin Group Wins Millions To Bring Community-Driven Projects To Life
Under a new program, the city will be directing $750 million to develop the South and West sides over the next three years, Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently announced. And now corporations are backing the plan, too.
Introducing José Rico, Director of Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago
Racial inequity is one of the most destructive remnants of an anachronistic tradition in this country, resulting from the implementation of policies and systems of oppression that have adversely impacted individuals and communities of color for generations.
Say Hello
I’m always down for a conversation. Let’s talk!
I’m also available for public opinion, commentary and analysis on trends. To arrange an interview or speaking engagement, just fill in the form with what you need.
Thanks!