As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) with a nearly 50 percent Latinx student population, John Jay College knows how important it is for our students to see themselves reflected in our programming. Through our HSI Leadership Conversation series, all of our students have the chance to meet and hear from inspiring Latinx leaders who are providing valuable insight into their own life experiences. On February 18, U.S. Congressman Adriano Espaillat came to John Jay to share with students his journey from undocumented immigrant to Congressman. During the conversation—facilitated by the Office of External Affairs, the Department of Latin American and Latinx Studies (LLS), and the ¡Adelante! Latinx Leadership Program, and moderated by LLS Assistant Professor John Gutiérrez, Ph.D.—Espaillat told students about coming to New York, how he entered public service, his connections to John Jay, and offered valuable advice.

Telling His Story
Espaillat told the audience that he came to the United States in 1964 from the Dominican Republic. He moved to the neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City, where his grandparents lived. It was there where, as a teenager, Espaillat saw the Civil Rights Movement in action. “In many ways the Civil Rights Movement shaped who I am today and led to my work in public service. I remember seeing neighbors get on buses to go support Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in Washington D.C., and wanting to get on the bus with them. I also remember the day Malcolm X was shot in the Audubon Theater in Washington Heights,” said Espaillat, who recently called for the reopening and reinvestigation of Malcolm X’s murder.

Espaillat’s connection to the African-American community was a result of not only his proximity to Harlem while growing up, but the acknowledgement of his own African ancestry. “I think folks wrestle with this idea that race and ethnicity are different. But the truth is, race is not an ethnicity. You have Black Dominicans, Black Brazilians, Black Cubans, Black Puerto Ricans, and Black Panamanians,” said Espaillat, who identifies as Afro-Latino. “The slave trade was built around the Caribbean, with slaves sent not only to North, South, and Central America, but the islands of the Caribbean as well—such as Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, and so on. There is an African experience in the Caribbean and it should be recognized; our African roots should be recognized.”

Advocating for Immigrants
Espaillat, a vocal advocate for immigrants and supporter of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, told students how his desire to enter into public service was also reinforced by his having to advocate on behalf of family members who didn’t speak English. “When you’re an immigrant there is this fear, you don’t quite understand the systems and institutions in place and the language is foreign to you,” said Espaillat. “I remember going with my grandmother to her doctor’s appointments on Saturday mornings to translate for her. And, I’m sure many of you here are in a similar situation where you’re advocating on behalf of those in your family who don’t know the language. I think in doing that, in just showing up, translating, and advocating for others, you naturally build and instill public service within you.” 

Entering the Criminal Justice Field
Before becoming an elected official, Espaillat, a proud City University of New York alumnus, worked in the criminal justice field. “I went to Queens College where I majored in Political Science,” he explained. “The first person to give me a job, right out of college, was former John Jay President Jeremy Travis. He gave me a job working for the New York City Criminal Justice Agency, which was the agency that administered pretrial services across the five boroughs.” While at the agency, he was involved in community efforts and was elected President of the community council in Washington Heights and Inwood where he worked with community and law enforcement agencies to reduce crime, a precursor to his work as a state senator and congressman.  

Bringing a New Perspective to Washington
Representing New York’s 13th Congressional District—comprised of Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and the Northwest Bronx—Espaillat recognizes the struggle of those living in underserved and underrepresented communities. “I represent an incredibly diverse district. We have African-Americans, Albanians, Dominicans, Germans, Mexicans, Russians, Puerto Ricans, Vietnamese, West Africans and more. My goal is to make sure I’m representing every single one of those groups,” said Espaillat, adding that every email that goes to him gets a response. His role in the Hispanic Caucus and the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs enables him to use his experience as a Latinx man to inform policy. “There are many Latinx members of Congress, and they each bring a unique, personal experience to the table,” he said. “I’m the first Dominican-American elected to Congress, and the first formerly undocumented immigrant in Congress, so I bring a different perspective and understanding of Latin American history, government, and policy.”

Answering Student Questions
Following the talk, Espaillat answered several questions from our students who were eager to learn more about his experiences in office and his opinion on justice-related issues. And like his emails, he answered every single question, encouraging students to advance civic engagement by working within their own communities to create positive change. Espaillat then offered students some advice. “It’s my belief that to be a good, effective leader you have to know who you are and what you stand for,” he said. “I truly believe that for you to know where you’re going in this world, you need to know who you are at your core, and where you come from. It’s how you stay grounded. And having that solid foundation will make you a great leader wherever you go.”    

To support informed participation in our democracy, the College provides access to public officials in their official capacity and candidates without regard to political party affiliation or policy views. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the College. See http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/legal_counsel/pol_activities_memo.pdf