Photo courtesy of Chicago Scholars.
David Rojas Jr. is the founder of TA98, a social enterprise that aims to decrease unemployment rates among 16- to 24-year-olds through entrepreneurship.
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Rojas Jr. will talk about his experience when he presents “Suited for a Cause: From College Project to Social Enterprise,” this year’s Cesar Chavez lecture at Elmhurst College.
While in college, Rojas Jr. was awarded a fellowship that enabled him to design a paid summer internship program for first-generation college students in his neighborhood of South Lawndale (Little Village). He created an experience that encouraged black and Latino youth to see themselves as global change agents and strive to obtain higher educational degrees.
Rojas Jr. transformed that program into what is now TA98. His enterprise has served more than 350 young adults throughout the West and South sides of Chicago, and has gathered more than $250,000 worth of workforce development resources.
The Cesar Chavez Intercultural Lecture will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Irion Hall, Buik Recital Hall. Admission is $10 for the general public and free for Elmhurst College students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Tickets are available by visiting elmhurst.edu/cultural. For more information, call (630) 617-5186.