By: Ashmar Mandou
Born and raised in the Little Village neighborhood, Associate Manager of Government and Corporate Citizenship at PepsiCo Rafael Hurtado Jr. fostered the skill to galvanize a community through his work with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) at 15 years old. His years spent with LVEJO brought about policy changes that tackled environmental injustices and spearheaded the Clean Power Campaign, which was successful in the shutdown of both the Crawford & Fisk Coal power plants. Hurtado Jr., pursued a B.A. from the University of Illinois, Chicago with a major in criminology, law, and justice and we highlight his work in our Hispanic Heritage Month series in hopes his message inspires the next wave of community activists.
Your altruistic path began with volunteering with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO). How were you introduced to LVEJO and how did that experience help to shape you as a community organizer?
Rafael Hurtado Jr.: I grew up in Little Village. When I was 12, my father and I attended a rally across the street from our house organized by LVEJO to raise awareness for their fight to open a new park on the East side of our neighborhood. They had selected the empty lot across the street as their ideal location. What 12-year-old wouldn’t want a park across the street from their house? Well, it worked. I wouldn’t walk through the doors of LVEJO again until my freshman year of high school to do my CPS-mandated service-learning hours. Looking back, that first LVEJO rally and knowing that struggle led to La Villita Park coming to life catapulted me into a career in public affairs. The park is extremely significant to the residents of the Little Village neighborhood and I saw the process firsthand. The open space with athletic fields, a skate park, basketball courts, playgrounds, community gardens and lights for longer play time is a staple for the community. This was only possible because of the community organizations who rallied behind it and the process showed me how critical the work of community organizations is within a neighborhood. I knew I had to work in a field that would ensure efforts like this continue.
Lawndale Bilingual News: Currently, you are the Associate Manager of Government and Corporate Citizenship at PepsiCo. What aspect of your career do you enjoy the most?
Rafael Hurtado Jr.: I appreciate my talented and passionate team members at PepsiCo. I’m proud to work for a company with deep Chicago roots that seeks ways to give back and support its neighbors. Creating and maintaining partnerships with local and national community partners is the part of my portfolio that I enjoy the most. Part of my job is to engage with elected officials and ensure they know our partnerships in the communities where we live and work and the investments we make to support their constituents.
Lawndale Bilingual News: PepsiCo launched a paid internship program as part of the Pathways to Readiness and Empowerment Program that offered leadership training and opportunities to Black and Latino youth on the South and West side communities. Can you expound on the significance of creating a program that invests in underrepresented communities?
Rafael Hurtado Jr.: I owe my success to my exposure to community work at a young age. The Pathways to Readiness and Empowerment Program (PREP) PepsiCo launched in October 2021–after speaking with many South and West Side community organizations–is just another example of the company doubling down on its commitment to the communities it serves. PREP is a more than $5 million investment that aims to put nearly 3,000 young people from Chicago’s South and West Sides on the path to high-quality careers over the next five years. Since PREP launched, over 600 youth have been provided with career readiness resources. This investment includes dozens of career exposure events hosted by PepsiCo in partnership with local nonprofits, including Ladies of Virtue, Teamwork Englewood, Southwest Organizing Project, UCAN and others. Additionally, this past summer, we hosted a paid summer internship program across PepsiCo’s city operations and invested more than $400,000 in scholarships for Black and Hispanic community members. I am incredibly proud of nearly a dozen PREP program participants who have decided to join our company as employees, and we intend to continue to invest in their development and career growth.
Lawndale Bilingual News: What advice do you have for youth who would like to follow in your footsteps? What should they be aware of and what skillset should they begin to foster?
Rafael Hurtado Jr.: Growing up on the South and West Sides of Chicago can be tough. You learn to trust your intuition. Keep doing that, and don’t doubt or second guess yourself. Many of us come from low-income households—being resourceful and financial literacy are essential. Although intangible and easy to overlook in a corporate setting, “street smarts” will help you advance in your career. Speaking to a US senator or a CEO isn’t as scary as growing up in a neighborhood with high levels of crime and violence. Keep an open mind when it comes to a career. I wasn’t aware specific jobs existed until I was older. You might have a dream job that you don’t yet know exists. Be comfortable taking on assignments outside your comfort zone because they may lead you down a path you didn’t have exposure to.
Lawndale Bilingual News: As we highlight the achievements and contributions of the Latino community during Hispanic Heritage Month, what does this month signify to you?
Rafael Hurtado Jr.: Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Latino community. It is also a time to bring awareness to our current Latino leaders and their efforts. It is also a reminder to invest in the Latino community and our future leaders.
