Jair Hernandez Pinedo

Managing Director of Development and Communications

Jair Hernandez Pinedo is the Managing Director of Development and Communications and has been with the team since September of 2019. As an extension of his role at Sunshine Jair is part of Elevated Chicago’s Green Line South, “E-hub” Steering Committee. Additionally he serves as a part time lecturer at The University of Chicago’s school of Social Work, Policy and Practice where he teaches Clinical Social Work, Direct Practice. Prior to Sunshine, he worked with Young Life (2007- '14) in Clackamas, Oregon. He earned his degree in Communication Studies from Portland State University (2011) and worked in a treatment facility for teens (2011- '15) as a Mental Health Counselor and Community Outreach Specialist. He moved to Chicago in 2015 to earn two Master's degrees (in Divinity and Social Work) from the University of Chicago by 2019.

Jair has spent extensive time in Latin America serving as a minister and social worker in various capacities. Raised in Portland by parents who ran a Mexican restaurant for over a dozen years, he deeply appreciates the value and impact of rising entrepreneurs in underserved communities. He is passionate about addressing social problems related to poverty and contributing to solutions toward a more integrated and dignified society for all.

In his spare time Jair enjoys coaching wrestling, board games, distance running, karaoke, writing, reading (very interested in theology, the social sciences, and graphic novels), playing soccer, learning languages, performing poetry and comedy, and adventures to new places.