Description

Personal History:
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. My upbringing shaped my understanding of justice, struggle, and community. Growing up in New York meant seeing strength and hardship side by side. It meant learning early that voice matters and that silence can cost people their future. As a young person, I was exposed to civil rights conversations and public service. I had the opportunity to meet Reverend Jesse Jackson as a child, and later Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s son at Williams College in upstate New York. Those moments stayed with me. They influenced how I view civic responsibility and the role of leadership in protecting people’s rights. New York shaped my worldview. It taught me resilience. It taught me how to navigate systems. It also showed me how easily communities can be overlooked. Those lessons carried into my adult life and professional path.

Humanitarian Work Overseas:
Years later, my commitment to service led me overseas. I served as the Lead Case Manager for the Bowen Foundation in Poland. Our work focused on supporting displaced Ukrainian families during the war. In this role, I coordinated case management services, assisted families with housing and essential needs, and helped navigate legal and social service systems in a foreign country. I worked directly with vulnerable populations who had fled conflict. Many arrived with little more than documents and trauma. The work required cultural sensitivity, organization, and direct engagement with individuals facing crisis. It also required endurance. Americans serving overseas in humanitarian roles often operate without public visibility or institutional recognition. As a minority American working internationally, I witnessed how contributions made outside the United States are rarely acknowledged at home. Yet the work reflects core New York values. Service. Diversity. Resilience. Advocacy.

Why This Matters for 250 Years:
As New York marks 250 years, history should include everyday citizens who stepped into difficult spaces, both at home and abroad. My story reflects a New Yorker shaped by civil rights history who later carried those values into international humanitarian work. Documenting this history ensures that future generations understand that service does not stop at borders. New Yorkers have always influenced the world. I am one example of that legacy.

Type of Resource

Photograph

Personal story shared by Jabes Prado

Date Created

2026-02-17

Submitted By

Jabes Prado

Rights and Use