What does 15 years of “playing for the same team” look like? For Cesar Hernandez, it is a journey that began as a student at Nathaniel Greene Elementary and has come full circle to his current role as a dedicated educator and coach.
In a recent chat with UI CEO Jim Dower, Cesar reflected on the values, mentors, and “vegetable sandwiches” that shaped his path from the soccer pitch to the classroom.
The Five-Finger Values
Cesar’s journey with Urban Initiatives began in the late 2000s. While a lot has changed in Chicago since then, Cesar still carries the values his first coach, Mr. E, instilled in him every day before practice using his hand as a guide.
“Mr. E would always remind us before every practice our five finger values,” Cesar says. “So pinky was safety first, ring finger commitment. The middle finger was there to remind us about respect. The index finger was pride to be proud of what you’re doing. And the thumbs up was to remember to always have fun.”
Today, Cesar uses those same values to lead his own students, helping them understand that showing up and being dependable – commitment – is what makes a team work. “I don’t think that I would have ever worked at a school if it wasn’t for UI,” Cesar adds.
The Power of the “Quiet Conversation”
One of Cesar’s most impactful takeaways from his time as a UI athlete was how his coaches handled conflict. He recalls how Coach E would never call a student out in front of the group, a practice Cesar now deploys as a Special Education Classroom Assistant (SECA).
“One thing that I might have subconsciously picked up from Coach E was how instead of addressing me in front of the whole class whenever I might have done something wrong… he would pull them aside and have a quiet conversation with them,” Cesar explains.
“I pull them aside and I have a quiet conversation with them that the conversation is about their decision and not necessarily their behavior so that the behavior doesn’t become attached to who they think they are.”
Resilience and the “UI Continuum”
Like many students, Cesar faced moments where he wanted to walk away – from programming in middle school and even from college later on. In both instances, the UI community was there to listen and provide perspective.
“Going to UI and talking and sharing my perspective allowed me to hear heard, to feel heard, and also allowed me to appreciate where everybody was coming from,” Cesar reflects. “I had a lot of people empathize with me, ‘Hey, school is hard. I didn’t want to do it either. I took a few years off, but I’m back to it because it’s important.’”
Today, Cesar is back in school, focused and wiser, proving that a break doesn’t have to mean leaving your goals forever.
Leading by Example (and by Sandwich!)
Sometimes, leadership is about the big huddles; other times, it’s about what’s for lunch. Cesar shares a story about how he uses small moments to be a role model for his students’ well-being.
“Little things like when I decide I’m going to put vegetables on my sandwich to show the kids that eating vegetables is good for you and adults do it and it’s cool,” Cesar says. “And to have the kids come up to me like, ‘Oh, coach, look, I put vegetables on my sandwich this morning.’ And they’re showing me excited to eat their veggies. I think that’s the best part of the job.”
Cesar stands as a testament to the “UI Continuum” – the idea that when we invest in a child’s growth, they eventually grow into the leaders who invest in the next generation.
