INTERNATIONAL SERVICE TRIP BRINGS WATER TO COMMUNITY IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

When you think of a trip to the Dominican Republic, your imagination may fill with pictures of sandy beaches, palm trees, and relaxing by the ocean with a cold drink in your hand. The CRJ team of 12 students and 3 members of the faith formation team spent nine days in the Dominican Republic this August, but it had nothing to do with vacation. Instead, they helped to build an aqueduct for a rural community of 135 homes that did not have access to clean running water. Campus Ministry Director Isabel Guerrero said, “This was the first international service trip for our school, and it came to mean many things. It meant being okay with being uncomfortable and allowing ourselves to be open to growth. It meant looking at the work that lay before us each day and checking in with ourselves and one another as a group to see how we could be supportive.”

Each morning, the group would wake to the sound of roosters in the road, head down to the “comedor” (dining room) of the main house, and eat together. After breakfast, they would load into the back of the truck or walk down the steep hill to the day's work site, where everyone would work until 5 PM, including a break for lunch. The work consisted of moving PVC tubes across a small river, digging trenches on the mountain with shovels and pickaxes, laying the tubes, and preparing them to be connected to the water source. At the end of every night, the group would come together and reflect on the joy and hope that was felt throughout the day while enjoying a home cooked meal that was prepared by members of the local community.

Sebastian ‘26 was moved by the amount of happiness and positivity he personally felt and surrounded the group during their trip. “Knowing that the work you are doing will have a major impact on people’s lives is a unique feeling, and it felt amazing! For me it felt like a super power because even when I got blisters, I knew the impact this work would have, and that kept me going. The best part of the trip was the joy I felt, working with these villagers and my friends. The amount of positivity the people projected, even though they don’t have the best things in the world, they always had something to smile for and to laugh at. It was amazing to see how God connected through all these people.”

This trip was made possible thanks to Alter Metal Recycling's Go Green for the Green program in April that raised over $28,000 to support the trip. Thank you Alter Trading for your support, and thank you Trailblazers for your incredible service!

Dr. Bill Henk (right) and Dr. Jeff Snell (not pictured) were influential in bringing Andrew Stith on-board to launch a Cristo Rey school in Milwaukee.

I remember the moment it hit me: Cristo Rey Jesuit’s 10th anniversary is this school year! At first it was hard to believe, but after multiple times of literally counting out the years one-by-one, there was no doubt about it. It is humbling to me to reflect on all the important moments and people who gave so much of themselves and their resources to see a promising educational vision in Milwaukee come to fruition. In reflecting on this past, it also becomes clearer where God was and continues to be at work in our story. Our mission is considered lofty and audacious by any measure, and we are blessed with people and resources to deliver this mission to our community. When we started, however, we needed to lean on a healthy dose of optimism, a deep reservoir of hope, and a vision guided by faith, because, frankly, that was all we really had!

To truly understand the beginning of Cristo Rey Jesuit, you would have to go back to 2011. I was in my 7th year working as founding Development Director for Cristo Rey Kansas City High School. I heard through a friend at Marquette University that someone at Marquette was contemplating bringing the Cristo Rey educational model to Milwaukee. After consulting with the Cristo Rey Network, they informed me that two university leaders at the time, Dr. Bill Henk, the Dean of the College of Education, and Dr. Jeff Snell, Special Advisor to the President, were seeking a feasibility study director to potentially launch a Cristo Rey school in Milwaukee.

After an initial conversation with Bill and Jeff, I was compelled to learn more. I drove from Kansas City to Milwaukee to interview with them in Bill's dining room. I distinctly recall Bill and Jeff sharing that at least twice previously the Cristo Rey concept had been discussed by business and philanthropic leaders and that the idea really “died on the vine” on both occasions. I also recall them asking me, “What does your wife do?” After I answered, they said, “Okay, good. If this doesn’t work out, she will be able to provide some income for your family.” That comment really stuck with me for three big reasons. First, it was the first time in which I was pushed to grapple with the many risks involved in such a career move. Secondly, I had a wife and three young children, and I had to think about what this would mean for our family. Thirdly, while Jeff and Bill certainly believed in the Cristo Rey model, it became very clear that if this was going to happen in Milwaukee, I would have to own the feasibility study as if the launch of this school was up to me. Leaving that conversation with Bill and Jeff, I was still very intrigued and motivated by the opportunity to expand the mission of Cristo Rey to another city, but I had a lot to think about at the same time.

On the way home, I got a call from Jeff who offered me the feasibility study director job. He said they had secured a grant through the Bradley Foundation which would cover about half of the year’s salary for me for the feasibility study, and I would operate as an independent contractor through Marquette’s College of Education. It was clear to me that Jeff and Bill were willing to put a lot on the line to support me and the vision of Cristo Rey in Milwaukee, if I were to take this job, and I greatly respected this. As I hung up the phone on the long drive home to Kansas City, however, I thought to myself, “So, I would be moving my family to a new city and am being offered this job for half of my anticipated annual salary with no guarantees on the rest of my pay, health insurance, or a school at the end of the process. Even if I want to take this risk and trust Bill and Jeff, how am I going to sell my wife on this?!?”

This began a significant discernment process in my life and that of our family. In the next newsletter, I will share how the feasibility study began. When I say that Cristo Rey exists through the goodness of others and by the grace of God, it is by looking back at our first years that I truly appreciate this 10 year anniversary.

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL CAMP GIVES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A LOOK INTO TECH CAREERS

Maricarmen Dorantes,' 21 poses with rising seniors Jesus and Diego at the Northwestern Mutual Tech Minicamp.

Some summer jobs are a chance to make a little extra spending money during your time off of school, and then there are summer opportunities like the Northwestern Mutual Tech Minicamp. The program is a paid summer camp and internship held at Northwestern Mutual for 15 students from Milwaukee, including rising CRJ seniors Diego and Jesus. The first three weeks of the camp taught the students computer coding skills, project management, and web design. At the end of the three weeks of the Minicamp, the students then began to apply their skills to real projects. They interviewed with managers so they could be matched with internships in different departments. Diego said, "I was unsure of what area I wanted to work in regarding computer science, but with the help of the minicamp and working on Northwestern Mutual's Longevity game, I now know that I want to focus on the back-end development of an application. Furthermore, the program offered me great opportunity to develop my communication skills, ability to lead discussions, dependability, and work etiquette."

The Minicamp can also be a stepping stone for a future career with Northwestern Mutual. CRJ alumnae Maricarmen Garcia, ‘21, participated in the program two years ago and continues to work as a college intern at Northwestern Mutual during the summers. In addition, Maricarmen has been offered a position at Northwestern Mutual upon her graduation from Ripon College this spring! “Interning at Northwestern Mutual has been a wonderful experience for my education and career. Once I learned about it in high school, I knew I had to apply and take my chance. Little did I know I would be joining them every summer during my college years. I’ve had the opportunity to work on front-end coding, a bit of back-end development, and present my work at an Intern Showcase.”

Maricarmen shared her delight in seeing current CRJ students following her path. “It warms my heart to see students taking advantage of the same opportunities I had. During my time as a college intern for NM, I was fortunate enough to be asked to have brunch with the mini campers who came after me, and each summer I am excited to see new trailblazers. I did my best to answer their questions and give them advice that might help them. The minicamp is where my journey began, and I will be forever grateful.”

WELCOMING NEW CRJ BOARD MEMBERS AND NEW BOARD CHAIR

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MILWAUKEE STARS MERENGUE 2024

Milwaukee Stars Merengue

Saturday, November 9, 2024 | Baird Center - Rooftop Ballroom

Downtown Milwaukee

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Milwaukee celebrities take the stage with a professional dance partner to entertain and raise funds to benefit Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s rigorous academics, innovative Corporate Work Study Program and faith formation. Keep your eyes out for an email in the upcoming weeks to purchase tickets and cast your votes for your favorite Merengue star!

Is your business interested in partnering with our work study program?

We would like to speak with you about how your business or organization can partner with our Corporate Work Study Program! Contact Everette Fernandes at 414.436.4600 Ext. 3141 or efernandes@cristoreymilwaukee.org.

Make a difference in the lives of CRJ students!

The generous support of Cristo Rey Jesuit donors like you makes it possible for us to offer a Catholic, college-prep education combined with unique professional work experience to young women and men of all faiths and limited financial means.