While still a student at St. John’s University, Jaime Ramirez decided to do something about the low high school graduation rate among fellow Latinos. With no funding, no students, and no volunteers, he created an outreach program for Latino junior high school students called the Fast Forward Youth Program.
Teaming with an admission representative, Ramirez developed a format for the program, secured a $1 million endowment from St. John’s, and went to work mentoring students. Fast forward to today and the program currently enrolls 100 youth and has more than 100 volunteers each year, operating in the Monticello, St. Cloud, and Willmar school districts. Starting the program and getting it on solid ground is still one of Ramirez’s greatest accomplishments.
And he has already accomplished a lot. Ramirez earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of St. Thomas, and he has spent time as an advocate for children’s mental health services and as a clinical social worker for youth, families, and domestic violence victims. Today, Ramirez is a social worker at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, where he conducts therapy with veterans. He finds it fulfilling to serve as one of a few Spanish bilingual and bicultural social workers in the St. Cloud area. And recently, Ramirez was named to the board of directors at Anna Marie’s Alliance, a domestic violence shelter based in St. Cloud.
In everything he does, Ramirez seeks to live by Ghandi’s admonition to “be the change you wish to see in the world” and inspire others to take action when they notice problems in their community. He uses this philosophy at work, too, empowering clients to make changes in their lives and serving as a resource for them.
Recently Ramirez fulfilled his dream of living in San Diego, where he worked for a year and a half as a clinical social worker. But he missed his family and rural Minnesota (where he grew up) and recently moved home. Ramirez’s hobbies include traveling, watching movies, and spending time with his many nieces and nephews.
