We recently connected with Jonathan Herrera and have shared our conversation below.
Jonathan, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
As a first-generation college and master’s student, high school was the first time I experienced being the sole representative of my upbringing in different environments. As a Latino and son of undocumented immigrants, I bring a unique perspective shaped by my cultural diversity and the challenges faced by underresourced communities. This viewpoint contributes to insights and creative solutions, fostering an understanding and fortitude to learn and a willingness to promote inclusive environments. My presence in rooms where I am the only one who looks like me provides me with strength, knowing that my ability to engage in dialogue and offer new ideas is a profound asset for creating actionable change and impact. Through various challenges and mentorships, I have understood that my uniqueness is essential, particularly in spaces lacking diverse representation.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Jonathan Herrera is a first-generation undergraduate and graduate student, Latino, and son of immigrants, and he is dedicated to creating social impact by driving change through public policy and civic engagement. He is passionate about education and immigration as it relates to creating more equitable opportunities for everyone.
Jonathan is a Senior Associate of Policy and Data at Waypoint Education Partners, particularly focused on learning loss and its impact on underserved communities. He works on issues and projects like Harvard’s Education Recovery Scorecard, Daniel’s Fund social media and communication strategy, a 50-state accountability assessment of ESSA plans with ExcelinEd and an education communication strategy for Parents Amplifying Voices in Education (PAVE). He has previously led qualitative research with the National PTA and high-quality instructional materials with the Collaborative for Student Success.
He began his career in the nonprofit sector at Sunday Friends Foundation, implementing two COVID-19 Rental Assistance programs. He distributed over $650,000 to over 200 families and provided educational programming to low-income and undocumented families. He continued his career leading the field for Dulce Vasquez for Los Angeles City Council, District 9, Campaign Manager for both Chelsea Byers for West Hollywood City Council and Marco Santana for Los Angeles City Council, District 6 Special, and managing other issue-based campaigns in Los Angeles County. He comes from Meta as a Business Analyst within the Vendor Engagements, Global Research Operations team, providing assistance to the Purchasing and Engagement program, counseling UX Researchers, and expanding data and reporting infrastructure to provide real-time insights on UXR Vendor Engagement quarterly, monthly, and weekly contract cycles and purchase order metrics.
He recently graduated with an M.S.Ed in Education Policy at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Professional Writing from Santa Clara University.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Mentorship: Mentorship is a valuable attribute that can add perspective and value to your personal or career development, guidance during job hunting, resume review, interview practice, or simply relating to similar experiences, especially with folks with similar upbringings.
Cold calling: I highly recommend “cold calling” on LinkedIn! I know this may sound ridiculous, but this technique has been helpful in getting job interviews, job references, mentors, and simply connecting with folks in similar or different careers. Many of my jobs have been because of LinkedIn, and I simply send a message with the connect feature to provide them with context for my connection. You would be surprised that people are generous in offering 15 minutes to a video call to learn and support each other.
Social Capital: The current state of our world is highly dependent on relationships and expanding our network. As you develop mentors and become comfortable reaching out to people, whether on LinkedIn or in person at networking events, it is critical to build your own social capital. These connections create a world and reach when you want to create impactful change.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
100,000 First Bosses: My Unlikely Path as a 22-Year-Old Lawmaker by Will Haskell, one of America’s youngest state senators, is a book that has played a critical role in my development as a young person wanting to make an impact. Post undergrad, I have faced assumptions filled with judgments about being inexperienced and perceived irresponsibility because of my age. Young people, overall, feel the need to remove college degree years from their resumes because employers attribute experience to graduation dates. Still, there is so much more to value that contributes to the experiences and success of young people. Will Haskell proves that despite his age and constant belittling from opposing political parties, organizations, unions, and more, “…young people are never to be underestimated”, a quote from Tammy Duckworth, a United States Senator from Illinois. My message to young people everywhere is that you bring fresh ideas and perspectives, the ability to adapt, tech-savvy skills, and more, which are crucial in navigating our world’s problems today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanherrera/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonherrera1997/
- Twitter: https://x.com/HerreraJonn_
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