Being first in his family to graduate college, Jesus Rodriguez knows the importance of an education and of opportunities for kids who come from low-income families, like he did. Having graduated from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Jesus made a life-changing decision to leave a professional life in the IT world to start a new path in the not-for-profit sector. In 2008, he joined Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) – an international nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for teenagers to be catalysts for change in Latin America. While serving at AMIGOS, Jesus was invited to serve with Faith In Practice, a medical missions organizations that provides surgical and medical services for the poor of Guatemala. At both organizations, Jesus worked in their Development departments helping to research and secure revenue through various fundraising methods in order to carry out their missions. With education being one of Jesus’ strongest passions, Jesus decided to attend night classes to obtain his teaching certification – a dream that he had since high school. He took a break from his current job to spend a year teaching bilingual math and science at Bastian Elementary in Houston, Texas. This opportunity reminded him of how he once was one of those kids for whom the future was not very clear. It was then that Jesus made a decision to work hard to make a difference in the lives of as many young students as possible, helping to create opportunities. Joining the team at Citizen Schools-Texas gives Jesus that opportunity. Taking on the position of Development Manager at Citizen Schools-Texas is a dream come true for Jesus because it combines his passion for serving in the non-profit sector with his passion for education. He is grateful, excited, and proud to be part of the team.