David Rojas, Jr., is a first-generation social entrepreneur with over a decade of experience collaborating with various stakeholders focused on nonprofit management, corporate social responsibility, and youth workforce development. David is a proud Little Village - Social Justice High School graduate and a Chicago Posse Scholar. He received his undergraduate degree in Hispanic Studies from Connecticut College with a concentration in global community development. He was a 2013 Global Davis Projects for Peace Fellow recipient, where he designed and managed a career development training program for first-generation college students in his neighborhood of South Lawndale (Little Village) in Chicago.
In 2018, David founded the Alliance 98 (TA98), a 501(c)(3) social enterprise based in Chicago that provides young adults 16-24 with meaningful career opportunities. Since its inception, TA98 has served more than 600 young adults in Chicago and has gathered more than $700,000 worth of workforce development resources for local, national, and global distribution.
David holds an Executive Certificate in Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania. He obtained his MBA through One League, an innovative program collaborating with Harvard Business Publishing and Stanford Online. Additionally, he has served as a Success Coach and Manager of near-peer Mentorship for the Noble Schools' Alumni Office, managing a portfolio of hundreds of first-generation college graduates, employer partners, and community partnerships across the Midwest region.
His work has been featured on WGN, Univision, Universities, and numerous newspapers and radio shows nationwide. In 2019, Chicago Scholars named David a 35 under 35 Young Leader Making an Impact Award. That same year, he was honored to serve as the Cesar Chavez Lecturer for Elmhurst University in 2019.
On January 17, 2025, the Chicago Bulls honored David as part of the fifth class of MLK Legacy Honorees during a special halftime ceremony. This prestigious honor celebrates individuals who embody the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and actively work in their respective fields to better communities in Chicago.
Overall, David is committed to directing young adults to workforce resources and training and providing them with a safe space to further cultivate their identities and passions, ultimately leading them to secure living-wage careers in their desired fields.
