TA98 was launched in 2018 to fight unemployment rates for young adults 16-24 with funding from the Safe and Peaceful Fund driven by a collective of Chicago philanthropists and foundations. Yet our story began a few years earlier on Chicago’s West Side.
Before launching TA98, David Rojas Jr., our Founder & CEO, was selected as a 2013 Davis 100 Projects for Peace Fellow recipient. He received funding to design a paid summer internship program for first-generation college students in the South Lawndale neighborhood (Little Village/La Villita).
The summer program gained support after all intern participants completed their undergraduate degrees and obtained competitive employment. David received support from program participants, the Little Village community, the GoodLife Alliance, the Posse Foundation, the Connecticut College network, the Tom James Company, and the Chicago Community Trust to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise in 2018.
Under David's leadership, TA98 has served more than 500 young adults throughout the West and Southside of Chicago and invested more than $250,000 in workforce resources and community-led initiatives to mobilize young adults for the positive development of communities locally and globally.
TA98 continues to create opportunities to equip historically marginalized communities and invest resources needed for young adults to have the support systems required to be global productive citizens.
Suited for a Cause Program
Chicago, IL. 2017
OUR MISSION
Tackle the unemployment rates for young adults 16-24 by providing meaningful career opportunities.
OUR VISION
Create a global alliance of young adults, brands, and organizations working together to create a better tomorrow by providing:
Culturally relevant education and resources
Programs to grow academically + professionally + personally (authentically)
Resources to give back to their communities
A global alliance of mentors and peers to support and collaborate with
Access to meaningful jobs and experiences
OUR VALUES
AUTHENTICITY
As we help young adults develop professionally, we ensure they do so while cultivating their authentic self-expression. We believe that everyone should feel like they can be authentically professional.
INTEGRITY
As we celebrate self-expression we equally value the integrity we put behind it. We measure integrity by the words equality, kindness, curiosity, compassion, and deliberation.
COLLABORATION
We believe the solutions to creating a better tomorrow happen by listening to and working with others.
CHANGE
It is what motivates us to work every single day. To create positive change around us by changing institutions and systems.
STAFF & LEADERSHIP
David Rojas Jr.
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Sandy Tran
Head of Development Consultant
Edwin Eng
Finance
Ryland Hormel
Strategy and Partnerships
Amy Roman
Community Engagement Coordinator
Emmanuel Gomez
Creative Director | Grounded Studio Curator
Yahaira L. Carrillo
Development Coordinator
Pedro Ramirez
Visuals Lead
Irvin Ibarra
Multi-media Lead
Javier Martinez
Multi-Media Designer + Coordinator
Kaiya Brooks
Activation Coordinator
Abraham Morales
Software Engineer + ESports Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Roberto Rivera, Co-Founder of The Alliance for the 7th Generation
Ayanna Banks, Associate Partner at The Opportunity Trust
William Bernard, Community Engagement Manager at Sky Cares Foundation
Pat Maher, Director of Civic Engagement at SPR
Roberto Arista, Vice President, Branch Manager at Wintrust Financial
