Miguel Ortiz

Miguel Ortiz

Miguel Ortiz
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Miguel Ortiz
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Miguel Ortiz Miguel Ortiz leads the way to the gym with 15 energetic 5 and 6 year olds in tow. When they arrive, these small children, especially the boys, clamor to buddy up with him for their next NLF Camp activity. Participants of NLF Summer Camp, middle school participants of NLF after school programs, and NLF staff alike gravitate towards Miguel's calm warmth, patient leadership, and dedication to his Tacoma community. Miguel, his parents, and his five older brothers and sisters came to the Pacific Northwest from Mexico when he was 4 years old. At school in Tacoma, his academic achievement was hindered by low confidence in ESL classes, and his family had difficulties communicating with teachers in English. These days, he says that Tacoma is the only place he calls home, and that he wants to support youth and families growing up with similar challenges. For the past two summers he has worked at NLF Camp, and he continues to volunteer and mentor youth on the Eastside through the Molé Latino Student Movement and the Mentor253 Program at McIlvaigh Middle School. Additionally, he is helping Molé director Melody Rodríguez to plan the 5th annual Latino Youth Summit for October 2008. Miguel says that working with kids has been transformative for him. He realized, "I can be a leader. Working with young children, you see that they look up to me. Before, I never thought anyone could look up to me." He also emphasizes the difference that NLF has made in his development as a community leader: "When you get involved with NLF you get to know people who really impact the city and they are your friends and neighbors."