Carlos ‘Carlitos’ Jimenez

Carlos Jiménez Flores is a storyteller, poet, author and photographer. A Puerto Rican, born in Chicago, he struggled to assimilate into North American culture. he spent his early childhood in Puerto Rico and learned he was born in Chicago when his family returned on his eighth birthday. A product of divorce, living in poverty, English as a second language, surviving the violence in gang-infested neighborhoods, a high school and college dropout, he lived day to day believing it would be his last since he thought he would not make it to the age of 21. He is a graduate of Roberto Clemente High School in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of the Windy City. He earned his associates degree from Wright Community College in 2002, where he made the Dean's List and was invited to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa which is the International Honor Society of Two-Year Colleges. He earned his bachelors in 2006 from Northeastern Illinois University, where he studied Human Resource Development and Sociology. Did you know that many students in our public schools feel like they don’t belong and they drop out for many reasons. At the turn of this century Hispanics accounted for more than 90% of all immigrant dropouts. Change is inevitable and growth is an option. Students need to be recognized by the assets they bring in order to feel at home in school and learn with ease. I have news for you listeners, some students who dropout of high school find their path. There is hope. -Welcome to our listeners in the north, south, east, and west. We are EDUCA K16 Podcast bringing guests like you and me who have found their path. Today we have a special guest who brings a message to all of those thinking of dropping out-listen with love because he offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise to cultivate curiosity, provide educational advice and best practices to move this education conversation forward. Stay in the now with EDUCA K16. -Shout outs to Jose Carlos from Vottles, post production, to DTO Music for our jingle, and to ArtereZone for our branding.