Candelario Cervantez

I am a business development executive who opens educational opportunities to historically underrepresented and underserved communities and a champion for educational equity and excellence.  I am also a strong advocate of the promotion and advancement of diverse leaders in all industries. I do this by building, growing and deepening relationships across sectors, industries, and communities. I then connect them with one another at the right time for collective impact. I have built out a global network of over 100 community partners including legacy organizations, professional organizations and governmental members that support and grow our network of over 70,000 Teach For America community members and over 250,000 students.  

This drive to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community members in advancing, navigating, and changing dominate systems and structures comes from my own lived experience and that of my family that struggled to navigate these systems. I have made it my mission to make it easier for the next generation and to remove as many barriers as possible. From my lens it all starts with the K-12 education system. Seeing our students and community members reaching their full penitential and power brings me so much joy. Unidos (United) we are powerful!