Everyone who's been to YOUmedia at the Lozano Branch knows Aldo, and that's because he's been here from the beginning! His last day will be April 30. The new staff, Jaime and Theresa, have already started, and we are thrilled to have them at YOUmedia Lozano Branch. But before Aldo goes, we took the chance to ask him about his experiences and future endeavors.
Q. How long have you worked at the Lozano Branch in YOUmedia?
A. I have worked at Lozano since the summer of 2011. I was the first and only specialist and have remained at Lozano for three years.
Q. What’s your favorite part about YOUmedia?
A. My favorite part about YOUmedia is working with such talented and good kids. Seeing kids geek out about learning new skills has been an amazing experience. The kids who come to YOUmedia have a desire to learn and create. Whether they know it or not, they are gaining knowledge that will help them in the long run. It really speaks to the success of the program and the drive and passion of the community. I can leave YOUmedia knowing that the participants in the program were able to further their interests or find new ones!
Q. What will you miss about the Lozano Branch?
A. There are a lot of things I will miss about the Lozano Branch. The Pilsen neighborhood is a great diverse community that lends itself to programs such as YOUmedia. However, I will miss the students the most. I have known some of the kids for three years and a lot of them have been coming in every single day. I have seen them grow up and mature into young teens. I have seen new friendships formed and new interests explored. Seeing these kids be able to explore their artistic and technological skills made this such a rewarding job. In the end I became more than just a YOUmedia specialist, I was a friend to many of the students.
Q. Where will you be working next?
A. I am happy to say that I will still be working with the YOUmedia program. I was asked to be a mentor at the Richard M. Daley Branch in West Humboldt Park. I plan on focusing on teaching video game design and graphic design workshops to middle school students. There is always a possibility that I will return to Lozano as a mentor some time down the line.
Congratulations on the new position Aldo! You'll be missed!
