Jake Kelley, a graduate from the Ignatius class, is our Grad of the Month for August! While having a family of his own, he also has become a place where many of our grads can feel at home. Our younger grads have remarked that they know Jake truly cares, and they feel they can come to him for anything. Read a little about what Jake is up to below!
How does it feel to be a NSW Grad?
Being a graduate of NSW feels like belonging. You are a member of a large and special family. You can meet with grads as “old” as I and recent grads who are freshmen in high school and have a lot of the same experiences and things to talk about.
Where are you working now? And what is the best thing about working there so far? Are you doing anything outside of work?
I am the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Seven Hills Foundation and Affiliates. The best thing about working in my role and for Seven Hills, is the scale of the community. The organization is in three states, and employs more than 4,000 individuals.
So I get to meet so many unique and talented folks who do really good work. Outside of work I am a father of two (6 and 4). I recently moved back to Worcester, so I am loving being outside and the city has so much to offer. I hike (yes in Worcester), and love to eat places I know the owners are BIPOC and are from the city (Shout out to Woo Juice!). I also write, and I make art; paint and mixed collage.
What does NSW mean to you?
Nativity Worcester, like for so many others, impacted my life trajectory. I entered as a 6th grade student who was asked to leave the public school system. I could not imagine school feeling safe to learn or be a typical 11 year old. Nativity provided a place where I was pushed to see how education was a path to success. As a grad, it has been a place that mentored me through culture shock in high school, navigating first generation college attendance, and was my first professional experience in education. I drive by frequently and see it as a symbol of growth for Worcester youth.
What is your favorite NSW memory?
My mother being honored as one of the 20 most important people at the 20th Anniversary last year.
What are your goals and dreams?
I want to build a collective that is sustained by creatives and artists, but not driven by capitalist logic. The goal would be to have the freedom to be individuals and a community without worries about scarcity or providing what feels like humane needs, food, water, and a safe place to live.
Advice you want to give the younger Nativity students:
At some point you will notice that imagination stops being rewarded and in fact feels like people want you to stop imagining. Don’t stop using your imagination.