=Carlos Orengo is the new guy at work and an old pro all at the same time.
Orengo, 28, was recently named manager of STI/HIV walk-in services at the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago. However, he's been working in all different areas of Howard Brown for four years.
"I started off as a patient services representative, from there I went ahead and started working in research on a project called Project Prepare, which is pre-exposure prophylaxis," said Orengo. "Then a position became available here to do outreach. I took it and became an outreach health educator. Within about a year or so, I became outreach coordinator, and then recently, as in March of this year, I became the manager."
Born and raised in Chicago, Orengo has known his entire life that he wanted to assist people in making their lives better.
"Helping people has always been a part of who I am. I started off and I was in retail, customer service, but for me, I always wanted to do a step above that," said Orengo. "I thought about becoming a teacher, a social worker, even human resources, but I think that social work was really where I wanted to be. There are so many different branches you can be in, and when HIV/STI work came along for me here at Howard Brown, I jumped on it and I've been loving it ever since."
Orengo leads a team of health educators who inform and work with members of the community about HIV and STIs. While teaching his team to be the best they can be is a big motivator for him, helping the community is what makes his job truly worth it.
"There's a lot of work that we need to get done everyday, and I have a great team that really helps me accomplish that. When it comes down to motivation, that's part of it," Orengo said. "But seeing people come in for a counseling session and seeing the light bulb pop on and just being like 'Hey, I get it now,' and having them take their health into their own hands is the most satisfying part."
Holding this position without a degree, Orengo is living proof that passion and drive can teach a person more than a college education. While he plans to finish his degree in the next two years, he has already accomplished plenty without it.
"My biggest accomplishment has been being able to be in a position as manager of such a prestigious organization without having an actual bachelor's degree. I think that I've really been able to prove to myself that I am where I'm supposed to be," Orengo said.
Outside of work and school, Orengo keeps busy going to the movies, hanging out with friends, collecting comic books and, most impressively, working on his own graphic novel.
"It is a fiction piece very similar to my own life growing up as a Latino gay man, but there's a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of X-men, and Harry Potter all involved," Orengo said.
Orengo has found his place in the Chicago LGBTQ community since coming out at 13, and commends the community, as well as Howard Brown, for embracing everyone and being diverse.
"I think that the best thing about the Chicago LGBTQ community would have to be the diversity. I think that our community strives to always try to include everyone to the best that we can, and I think that at Howard Brown we're able to do that," Orengo said. "If it is a language barrier, if it is an age issue, we want to make sure we're being inclusive of everyone."
Orengo said he has learned a lot throughout his life, from words of wisdom from his mentors growing up to his collection of different work experiences.
"Don't be afraid to be successful," Orengo said, calling it the best advice he's ever received. "Also, never give up."