Jose Esquivel, Board Member

 

My name is Jose Manuel Esquivel, and I was born on the 11th of April 1986 in Periban Michoacán, Mexico. I am the oldest of four children born to Arturo and Esperanza Esquivel. In 1994, my father decided to bring his family to the United States and settle in East San Jose, California where he had been living for the past ten years.

 

I had a typical middle-class childhood with a stay at home mother. My father has been a landscape supervisor and has worked for the same company for over 30 years. Together, they have shown what it
means to care and love for your family.

 

Upon graduation from high school in 2004, I decided to leave home and attend UC Davis for my undergraduate degree. While attending UC Davis, I joined Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity and served as Director of Community Services. It was then where I learned the value of “giving back to the community.” As a Community Service Director, I organized events for our members to attend and promote cultural awareness. In addition, we hosted events to help the migrant community surrounding
the city. As a result of the commitment to serve the community, the university recognized our work in a special dinner with other city and campus organizations two years in a row.

Following my graduation from UC Davis, I began working with in an organization-serving adult with mental and physical disabilities. With a caseload of three clients, my primary responsibility was to ensure they had a normal day, just like any other normal person.

 

In continuing with my passion to help those who have no voice, I took a position with BCFS Health and Human Services where I have been working since 2010. In my current role, I work with a network of
providers, clinicians and social workers providing the much-needed services to youth ages 12-17.

 

Although at times my job can be very emotionally draining and stressful, it is the joy of knowing you have touched someone’s life in a positive way that makes my one hours, one-way commute well worth it.