Oscar E. Cruz officially started as Citizen Schools’ new Chief Executive Officer on November 15, 2021. Learn more about Oscar in this Q&A below or watch this brief video introduction.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I am the oldest of three kids. I was born in Guatemala and emigrated with my family to the United States in 1986. My mother is a housekeeper and my father works in a car body shop. Both of my parents did not graduate from high school, but they are firm believers that education is the gateway out of poverty and the road to a better life. They both instilled in me a strong love for learning, inquiry, problem-solving, and resiliency. Thanks to them, my extended family, friends, and community, my siblings and I graduated from college and have successful careers.

I have dedicated the majority of my professional career supporting organizations in the field of education with a strong emphasis on addressing inequities. I am passionate about increasing access to quality education for all students and families, but especially for those from low-income, immigrant and communities of color who face structural barriers. At the same time, I am also passionate about the powerful role nonprofits and community organizations can play in addressing the needs of students and families, and advocating on their behalf. In addition to my new role at Citizen Schools, I am also a board member at Community Partners, National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement, and Diversity in Leadership Institute.

I live in Los Angeles with my wife Jill and 8-year old son, Josiah. I am a huge UCLA fan and spend a lot of time during the weekends at the park watching my son play baseball. 

Q: Can you tell us about a mentor in your life?

A: Along my professional career, I have had great mentors that have empowered me and given me valuable encouragement and support. Two of them are Maria Casillas and Virgil Roberts, both who I met while at Families In Schools. In both cases, it always felt that we talked more about deeper issues of personal and professional leadership rather than work-related issues. Yet, those conversations helped me to tackle and persevere through the work-related issues. I also felt supported and given the space to fail. This last piece is important because as a young nonprofit leader I felt a lot of pressure to be perfect. With Maria’s and Virgil’s support I felt encouraged to follow my gut and lean on my own leadership style. While we did not call it “servant leadership,” in retrospect I think that was the type of leadership support I received from both Maria and Virgil. I now try to do the same and model that for my team—always looking to support the leadership development of my team members and helping them overcome their own challenges and obstacles. 

Q: What brought you to Citizen Schools? 

A: Citizen Schools has an amazing legacy over 25 years of supporting students to thrive in school and beyond through hands-on learning and career mentors. While programs have evolved over time, CS remains committed to igniting curiosity, building confidence, and expanding horizons for students. The pandemic has revealed deep cracks in the education system that adversely impact low-income, immigrant, and students of color communities. Yet at the same time, the pandemic has created an opportunity to rethink and reinvent traditional learning settings and I believe that CS is poised to contribute to this reimagination. More than ever, our students need nurturing relationships, engaging learning practices and opportunities to lead. I chose to join CS because I believe that my experience and expertise as a nonprofit leader of color can help CS in its efforts to become a stronger, mission-driven organization during this critical time. I am deeply thankful to the Citizen Schools Board and Staff for welcoming me to the team and supporting me during this important transition. 

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment/your proudest moment?  

A: I am extremely proud of graduating from Georgetown University with a Master’s degree. My family moved to the United States when I was young and took on significant risks and costs to give me and my siblings a better life. Being the first in my immediate family to graduate high school, graduate college and the first to receive a post-graduate degree was a proud moment that validated the sacrifices my family made on my behalf.  

Q: What inspires you to focus your career on community impact?

A: I know firsthand the critical role community organizations play in helping families in need. Growing-up in downtown Los Angeles in the 1980s, my family relied on many community partners to access high quality education and wrap-around services. Being an immigrant family, we also benefited tremendously from advocacy organizations that created opportunities for my family to embark on a path to US residency. I know that without these organizations, I would not be here today. I know that my success is not due to my individuality, but rather due to the multitude of people and organizations who supported my family and advocated on our behalf. I am passionate about supporting community organizations so more families are able to benefit from their work and advocacy—just like my family did. 

Q: How do you keep yourself balanced, especially during COVID and in a remote work environment? 

A: During the last 18 months it has become more difficult to draw a line between work and personal life. This new working environment can be overwhelming: Zoom meetings can be endless and draining, work begins immediately after waking up, and the anxiety and stress of dealing with family sickness and kids schooling at home. Yet, at the same time I am grateful for spending more time together with family, having family meals most every night, dropping-off my son at school and attending his baseball practices, these were all things that were very hard to do before. In order to get greater balance in this new world, I began to exercise more, including running. I have never been a runner in my life, but now I can do 4–5 miles in a single run. Exercise helps me to decompress and forces my brain to focus on something other than work. In the work setting, I am more intentional in reducing meeting times, decreasing zoom, and providing more informal time to connect with peers.

Q: What are some books you are reading (or listening to)? 

A: I am a huge fan of Audible and you will find me listening to audiobooks while I run or while I drive. Here is a list of books I am currently listening to:

• The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together

• Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs

• Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation

• Ninety Percent Mental

• Decolonizing Wealth