Senior Programs Manager Luis Bermudez chose a life of service with coaching and mentorship as his practice. Photo by Benjamin Cummings for Project Exploration.
Senior Programs Manager Luis Bermudez wants non-profit, especially out-of-schooltime (OST) organizations to know that passion goes hand-in-hand with practice. And this pairing can be strengthened by mentorship and coaching.
“You can have passion, and that’s great, but passion, without real practices, leads to disaster,” said Bermudez, who joined Project Exploration’s team in September. “[The OST space] is people with good hearts who have an idea who want to change the world. Change the community. And there’s that passion, but we have to have systems in place and practices.”
Growing up in the West Side of Chicago in Ukrainian Village just East of Humboldt Park, Bermudez boasts of 25 years of experience in non-profits with expertise in systems thinking, change management, and mentorship.
Bermudez graduated from Columbia College in film, specifically film noir and went on to teach at the Howard Brown Community Center in Roger’s Park.
Left to right, Director of Brand Strategy Cachetta Potts, Bermudez and Director of the STEM Ecosystem Perriyana Clay talk about the relationships and collaborations at our Giving Tuesday fundraiser event. Photo by Benjamin Cummings for Project Exploration.
“My friend walks into this cafe I was working in and said they needed help at this community center. I applied. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t prepared. Didn’t even show up with a shirt and tie at this interview but the director—I like to think that she saw something in me—she hired me.”
Next, Bermudez did direct service as a mentor and educator for the Boys and Girls club (who he said coined the term “Youth Development”) before turning to administration with Afterschool Matters.
It was in this era that he found out he wanted to commit himself to a life of service, but the work had changed.
“I was now coordinating, doing some management. Not doing direct service. So I learned the difference,” said Bermudez. “And as I think about the work that I’m doing [at Project Exploration] I’m thinking like, ‘you are no longer doing direct services, so you have to pull yourself out of there and see the bigger picture.’”
Bermudez, who went on to get a masters in non-profit management, sees the out-of-schooltime (OST) space as one that offers more avenues for creativity and student support.
“I think when you think about our work, we’re more like coaches. Because it’s not as much about being proficient in math, reading as it is about being proficient in life skills. Understanding how to maneuver through life.”
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Bermudez poses with his wife. Photo by Luis Bermudez for Project Exploration.
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Luis with his children. Photo by Luis Bermudez for Project Exploration.
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Bermudez's oldest daughter, left, and wife pose for a photo. Photo by Luis Bermudez for Project Exploration.
Bermudez sees change as built from building blocks: a vision, an action plan, resources and timelines. And coaching to address emotion as integral to the process.
“You have a tool bag that may be empty right now. But as you gain experience and learn from your mistakes you fill your tool bag with these skills, these tools,” said Bermudez, who’s served in government, OST and post-secondary spaces. “Everybody has a tool bag. Mine was empty, but I found great mentors that helped me fill the tool bag over the years.”
Bermudez’s style of coaching and life skills resembles the latter half of Project Exploration’s mission, “By exploring STEM careers, we equip [Black and Brown youth and girls] with the necessary skills, practices and mindsets for lifelong learning.”
And we’re excited to have him on our team!