Jorge was born and raised in Downtown Los Angeles, CA. He is the son of immigrant parents from Michoacán, Mexico. After high school, he worked as a production intern and actor in theater companies Will Power to Youth, Shakespeare Festival Los Angeles, and Plaza de la Raza. Jorge credits his experience in youth arts for his exposure to human relation and facilitation work which ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in social services and counseling. He then went on to major in Psychology at Pasadena City College and UC Berkeley. While in college, he discovered a talent and passion for poetry, which lead him into spoken word poetry. He won a spot on the Berkeley Cal Slam Team, competed at the national collegiate level, and has performed at many social justice events. After graduating in 2008, he had the privilege of working for non-profit organizations Homeboy Industries and Guardian Scholars before transplanting to Providence, RI to work for the National College Advising Corps at Brown. Last year he served as one of NUA’s poetry mentors, and this past summer facilitated a men’s group for the Untitlement Project.

This year he returns to NUA as the “Senior-Life-Coach”, helping students define their post-high school plans, guide students through the application process, and help them apply to financial aid. He hopes to continue the tradition of passing on an appreciation for art in all of its manifestations just like his many wonderful mentors have done for him.