José Gonzalez

As Director of Talent & Equity, José is responsible for leading the organization’s efforts to recruit, develop and retain top-quality talent and helping to foster a positive, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Jose is the chair of the organization’s Equity and Inclusion Advancement Team and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Council.

Prior to joining Demos, José co-founded a New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) school for overage, under-credited, middle and high school youth of the South Bronx. José was responsible for school operations, including fiscal management and purchasing, hiring and staff development, and facilities management. In four years, he helped to grow the school from a two-person founding team, to 40 plus staff working to reconnect students and their families to the transformative power of education.

Prior to joining the NYCDOE, José spent over 11 years at Safe Horizon, a New York city based non-profit that provides support to more than 250,000 children, adults and families whose lives have been impacted by crime and abuse. During his time at Safe Horizon, José held many positions including Director of the Streetwork Project, a drop-in counseling center for homeless and runaway youth. José was responsible for the management and oversight of the Harlem based drop-in center and its staff, that provided critical support services to over 1,000 of New York City’s most vulnerable youth each year.

José is a first generation American, whose parents immigrated from Mexico. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and spends his time playing volleyball, volunteers as a high school girls and boys volleyball coach in the Bronx, and is an avid theatre goer.