Jonathan DeJesus
8 years in New York’s Foster Care System
20 years old
He/Him/His
Jonathan is from NYC but was born and raised in Ecuador for half of his life. His dream job is to become a public speaker and advocate for youth around the world. His life experience motivates him to give back to the world by helping others who are struggling. He is passionate about motivating, guiding, and supporting foster youth to overcome their challenges, find their true self, and heal as they prepare themselves for success into adulthood.
Jonathan’s resilience shines through despite the struggles he has faced, he believes, “Everything happens for a reason and when you’re able to change the way you view situations; you learn lessons from it. This helps you become a better and stronger person; you just have to trust the process.” Inspired by a quote from an MGK song “It always rains before the rainbow,” He hopes he can inspire other youth and show them they are not alone.
