Pedro Juan Rodriguez was a volunteer some 20-plus years ago at STOP AIDS Chicago, and one of the young, up-and-coming workers there at the time was none other than David Ernesto Munar.
Flash forward to today; they are again working side by side in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
Rodriguez, in May, accepted a position at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), anchored on his 11 years of experience in the field, including seven at Howard Brown Health Center.
Munar is AFC's president/CEO, and Rodriguez's desk is about 10 steps from his office.
"It's amazing, really amazing" that we're working together again, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez's direct boss at AFC is Anthony Galloway, and those two also previously worked together at Howard Brown Health Center.
"AFC really is an awesome place to work, with all of the things that the organization does for, and in, the community," Rodriguez said. "One of the best parts of the job for me personally is just working downtown, which is the first time I've done that; I've always in the past worked on the North or West side. So this is new and exciting."
On his first day on the job at AFC, he was doing HIV testing at IML.
"It's interesting how everyone at AFC is willing and eager to work and assist other departments; it's really amazing and something I've never seen in other organizations where I've worked," Rodriguez said.
THE STATS
Age: 48
Neighborhood: Uptown
Homeland: Puerto Rico
Job title: Prevention HIV Counselor/MTI Project; AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)
Hobbies: Bicycling, hiking, swimming, snow skiing, roller blading and kayaking
Relationship status: Single
Favorite Chicago bar: Charlie's
Little-known fact: Loves to cook