Jesus Rodriguez
Treasurer & Founder
Jesus Rodriguez, born and raised in Puerto Rico, has been a Garfield resident for over 28 years. He began his professional career after receiving a college degree certificate in banking and business administration in 1976 and enlisting in the US Army National Guard 130th Engineer Battalion, located in Tortuguero Base Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He later transferred to NYARNG Headquarters Company 102nd Engineer Battalion New York City.
In 1981 Jesus married his teenage sweetheart, Maribel Rodriguez, in Puerto Rico and shortly thereafter moved to Brooklyn, New York where they had their first child, Molly Rodriguez, in 1985. He continued his education with the New York Empire State Military Academy and completed the Reserve Component Noncommissioned Officers Course, Camp Smith Peekskill in 1986. Jesus reported to active duty to provide security for the NY Army National Guard Armories 1986-1989. They then had their second daughter, Marieliz Rodriguez in 1990.
In 1993, Jesus became a Certified Applicant Counselor Field Investigator for the NYSDOH Medicaid program. Throughout his career, Jesus always had one major common denominator which was helping out his community. Whether in Brooklyn, NY or when the family moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1993 then Garfield, NJ in 1994, Jesus was constantly looking for new opportunities to volunteer his time to assist those in need. His passion for charity based work continued in 1997 when Jesus became the Program Director for a nondenominational faith-based humanitarian nonprofit organization that exists to meet the physical, spiritual and relational needs of children in need, Hope Worldwide.
Jesus enrolled in a CAC Medicaid program 2001 as a Volunteer and was the Former President of the Hispanic Multi-purpose Center Paterson 2001. In 2002 Jesus founded one of the pinnacles for the Hispanic community, the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield and received recognition for it by Paterson Mayor Hon. Joey Torres. He was also a council election candidate for Team Garfield in 2004 and Founder & Chairman of the Hispanic Heritage Month Commitee in 2016 and received more recognition for the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield by Passaic/Bergen County Senator Hon Nelly Pou 2016.
Because of Jesus’s constant perseverance and advocacy for the Hispanic community, they continue to be represented and have a voice in the City of Garfield. Jesus continues to be Hispanic Alliance Founder as well as an active Board member of volunteerism in the City of Garfield for the last 18 years. He’s also currently working as a Certified Applicant Counselor Field Investigator for the New York State Department of Health Medicaid program.
All of Jesus’s achievements wouldn’t be possible without the encouragement and support of his wife of 39 years, Maribel Rodriguez who is a special education teacher at PCTI for over 20 years. His daughters Molly and Marieliz Rodriguez also admire their dad’s consistent determination for racial equality and his advocacy for those families that are less fortunate and disadvantaged. Jesus Rodriguez is proud of the progress the City of Garfield has made throughout the years but knows there is much more work to be done. He believes that we can achieve better together and that’s why, as a community leader for the People of Garfield, Jesus Rodriguez looks forward to elevate his service to the community and create more opportunities for all by connecting our cultures for a better way to communicate with all families in the City of Garfield.