2021 Fellow Focus: Jonathan Santos Silva + The Liber Institute
Founder, podcast host, dedicated father…2021 Fellow Jonathan Santos Silva of The Liber Institute shares more about his #RuthlessForGood journey.
What propelled you into the entrepreneurial space? And what do you enjoy most about being a founder?
Growing up, my mother always told me, "To whom much is given, much is required." At the time, I did not know it came from Luke 12:48 ("For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."). I just took it as her way of challenging me to do more with all of the blessings I had in life. So it has become a sort of mantra for me, providing that little extra push when I felt like I had reached the ends of my abilities or power. When I look back on my life, I was given the blessings of great first teachers (my family) as well as mentors and role models along the way who encouraged me to pursue my hearts desires. There are tons of young people who are smarter than I was, more creative than I was, and more talented than I was, but, for many different reasons, they were knocked off of or deterred from the paths they set for themselves. Having been given so many blessings in life, entrepreneurship is my calling, what is required of me, and it is another blessing in and of itself. What I enjoy most about being the founder of The Liber Institute is being able to craft and communicate a vision that is compelling enough to attract other people to help make it a reality. I also enjoy creating jobs that allow people to pursue work that is fulfilling without sacrificing taking care of their families. Finally, I love that I am able to create a life of harmony for me and my family, one where my children can see their father doing good in the world while being active and engaged in their lives.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
Earlier this year, I was waiting on news about an award that I thought could be the first domino in helping The Liber Institute grow and develop real sustainability. As the deadlines came and went, I grew concerned that I might not receive the news I hoped for and applied for roles with a larger, well-known organization. As I advanced in the process, the internal dialogues I was having grew louder and more resolute: "Where is your faith? Isn't this supposed to be a faith walk? If you get off the path now, you will always wonder what could have been. If you fail, you can always apply again." At first, failure was having to tell my family I had to go get a job because I couldn't run The Liber Institute anymore. In the end, I realized that the only failure would have been giving up. (Unafraid of Failure)
As a BIPOC founder, Camelback understands that the struggle is constant, what motivates you to get up every day and keep on fighting?
My children wake up each day insulated from challenges I had to overcome and from many of the difficulties and obstacles other children encounter. They have options that were not available to me or the young people I taught. They have the freedom to explore topics, create things, ask questions, to just be... freedoms that are not afforded to all BIPOC young people. I am motivated to ensure that more young have access to those freedoms each day.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
The podcast I most draw entrepreneurial inspiration from is The Bored of Ed. Not because it is my show, but because each episode spotlights an amazing BIPOC educational leader or entrepreneur, boldly taking on the inequity and injustice baked into our school system and communities. Their willingness to stand in the gap against these intractable problems and a system that can at times feel like it is hell-bent on harming our children inspires me to stand beside them, to stay on the path, to do what is required.
Why did you choose to embark on the Camelback Fellowship? And what do you hope to gain from this experience?
I chose to embark on the Camelback Fellowship because I recognize that the work that we do as BIPOC educators and entrepreneurs is hard and that it is especially hard alone. Looking across this cohort, I see brothers and sisters with whom my struggles will resonate, and who may have a word of encouragement and some hearty advice when I need it most, and I hope to do the same for them.
You can learn more about ➡ Jonathan Santos Silva of The Liber Institute.
Get to know more of the 2021 Camelback Fellows👇🏽