Linked In: José C. Feliciano Jr.’s LinkedIn profile gives you all you need to know about the 33-year-old: “Committed Servant Leader Working to Empower and Inspire Latinos in Cleveland and Beyond” replaces his job title. “You don’t get an accurate grasp of who I am or what I do if I just have Bank of America account manager there,” he says.
Junior Achiever: Feliciano’s father, a lawyer at Baker Hostetler and former Cleveland city prosecutor, is chairman and founder of the Hispanic Roundtable and served on the Cuyahoga County Transition Advisory Group for the new charter government. But Feliciano was never sure he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I followed the stuff that he did,” Feliciano says. “But I didn’t think I could do that with the shared name alone.”
Guidance Counselor: After graduating from Muskingum College in 2002, Feliciano was unemployed and had no focus. Not until he met his future wife, Kelly, did he find the passion that now drives him. He got a job as an account manager at MBNA (now Bank of America), and more importantly, she had friends involved in Cleveland’s young professionals movement. “She would drag me along [to young professional events], but it pushed me to where I am,” he says. “If you’re going to get anywhere in this town, you’ve got to network.”
IB: What does servant leadership mean to you?
JF: While I am getting some benefit from what I’m doing, it is predominantly for the betterment of my community, be it the Latino community, the young professional community or Greater Cleveland.
IB: Why is this so important to you?
JF: I want to see this place get better. I’ve made a conscious decision to stay here, and I’m not going to leave. ... We have so much great energy that we can harness. People are wiling to stay here and are ready to fight. It’s a really exciting time to be here.
IB: What are your responsibilities with the Young Latino Network?
JF: A lot of it is being a representative within the greater community so our voice is heard collectively. I go to a variety of events to make sure our presence is felt. I sit on panels to find opportunities for groups that we can partner with. We’re a member of Cleveland ConneXions, which is in the process of transitioning to
Engage! Cleveland.
IB: You worked at your college radio station. How did that prepare you for what you are up to now?
JF: When I worked at the radio station, I didn’t know what to expect. It was pretty close to the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. It was really the first leadership position I had. Like my Young Latino Network experience, I got to go to an organization and really be able to put my impression on it and shape it into the way I wanted to see it happen.
IB: So what’s your favorite new music?
JF: Right now, it’s still really [alternative hip-hop group] Das Racist. They’re just great. I saw Beirut recently and the Fleet Foxes during the summer.
IB: Who do you draw inspiration from, either in the civic or musical realms?
JF: I really like Johnny Cash. I respect that he’s a man with flaws, and yet he didn’t hide them. Also, [I respect] his ability to endure obstacles. As a Clevelander, you’ve got to be able to endure a lot and still find that beauty. Also, a favorite quote that I constantly use from Roberto Clemente is: “Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.” He died providing service to his community. It really speaks to what I’m trying to do.