Meet Luis Gaitan, the Future Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Luis Gaitan 鈥�10 CE
Who: Luis Gaitan 鈥�10 CE, inspirational youth mentor in Camden, NJ and transportation engineer for HNTB Corp.
In the News:
- November 2017, the Philadelphia Inquirer published 鈥�,鈥� which chronicles Gaitan鈥檚 mentorship program called 鈥淚 Run This City: Camden, NJ.鈥�
- May 2018 Inquirer piece, 鈥�,鈥� features interview with Gaitan and children鈥檚 fiction writer Martha Freeman about her new book Zap!, which is based on his childhood.
Post-graduation path:
- Master鈥檚 degree, Rowan University, 2011
- U.S. Navy, Afghanistan
When asked why he felt compelled to serve, Gaitan explains, 鈥淢y parents came to the United States as undocumented immigrants from Nicaragua. America was the 鈥榣and of opportunity鈥� and that鈥檚 exactly what it provided for me. I felt a responsibility to give back to the country that was so good to us.鈥�
Turning point: It was during his time overseas that Gaitan had an epiphany that prompted his return to his hometown. 鈥淚n 2013, Rolling Stone wrote a scathing piece about Camden, and I was very angry. I questioned why I was thousands of miles away trying to solve another country鈥檚 problems, when there were countless problems at home that I could contribute solutions to.鈥�
An opportunity to make change: 鈥淐oming from humble beginnings, I didn鈥檛 know much of the world outside my neighborhood,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 want these kids in Camden to be more aware of their options than I was.鈥� 鈥淚 Run This City,鈥� which he modeled after 鈥淪tudents Run Philly Style,鈥� allows him to spend time with those from a background similar to his own and to mentor them. 鈥淚t serves as a physical and social outlet for them, and I鈥檓 kind of a big brother they can talk to鈥攊n Spanish, if need be鈥攁bout school, family and social issues.鈥� 鈥�
Engineering connections: 鈥淎s a civil engineer, I鈥檓 not just building a bridge or a highway. Our work can literally connect鈥攐r disconnect鈥攊ndividuals and communities and we need to be more conscientious of the impact we can have.鈥�
Public platform: While he plans to continue his successful engineering career, Gaitan can see himself having an even greater impact on Camden by serving in public office, where he says there are not enough STEM-minded people. To that end, he鈥檚 making a run for city council in June 2019.
Words of wisdom: 鈥淣ever forget where you came from and always let it guide where you鈥檙e going.鈥�