Known not only as an educator but as a rising force in youth development, Jose "Mike" Hernandez is a testament to how we can use our stories to shape the lives of others. Mike's journey is rooted in his upbringing without a father from the age of seven.
"I wish I had someone like me supporting me when I was 15-17 years old," Mike reveals. "Not having that father figure in my family took me to acquiring the role of man of the house."
The absence of a paternal figure spurred him to support his friends and community, eventually leading him to realize his innate ability to inspire and motivate others. "I realized that I was good at it," he asserts. "I was good at communicating. I was good at helping others, motivating, encouraging people."
That motivation would later shift to a desire to enrich the lives of youth facing similar struggles, first as an English teacher and later as a university language department coordinator in 2015. However, it was a 2013 exchange program that took him from El Salvador to the United States that exposed him to additional ways to support youth that could have a larger systemic impact over time. Armed with tools and resources acquired abroad, this revelation redirected his career and became the catalyst for his entry into youth development.
He felt many teens who were from marginalized groups tended to be called upon as program participants rather than co-creators of solutions. He believed youth should be integrated into meaningful roles in politics, economics, healthcare, and more, so he formed conversation clubs and projects to engage students in discussions that mattered. His endeavors gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mike, along with a colleague, founded and piloted a unique program for 60 girls affected by social and emotional issues stemming from pandemic-related lockdowns. The project, sponsored by USAID and Youth Excel, incorporated research and a comic book narrating the girls' journey.
Joining the Youth System Strengthening (YSS) Community of Practice as a co-champion/youth advisor offered him a structured framework to guide his projects. The YSS framework became a compass for steering his efforts toward a more comprehensive form of youth development. “My participation in YSS has been a blessing,” Mike says. “It has been an amazing journey especially because my co-champion, Bonnie, is the best partner I could ever have in a team. I have learned a lot from her. Sometimes learning is only vertical, but with her it is horizontal.”
The recent Youth Engagement Summit hosted by Youth Excel in Ghana from September 13 to 15 brought a personal international experience that enriched his appreciation of those working in the ecosystem. Mike says the Summit, where he was also a featured presenter and celebrated Youth Excel grantee, provided a platform for global collaboration, bringing together like-minded individuals facing similar challenges. He expresses his joy at meeting fellow advocates in person and emphasizes the sense of shared responsibility and solutions. "Since that day, their problems are our problems, and our problems are theirs, too," says Mike.
This exchange of ideas among peers from different regions provided valuable insight and enriched Mike's understanding of effective youth development strategies. He acknowledges that at this moment, he has unlearned many things, including outdated practices. He’s embracing fresh perspectives and the spirit of collaboration. He hopes spaces like YSS continues to allow his work to resonate far beyond the borders of El Salvador in the years to come.