Diego - Staff Spotlight Series
We created this Staff Spotlight Series to give our HFK Family the opportunity to learn more about our team and the work they do behind the scenes. Check out Diego’s interview below!
Diego J Ríos
Executive Director
1) How did you first learn about HFK and what attracted you to HFK’s work?
I first heard about HFK at Saint Mary's College of California and was immediately drawn to its mission. The trips seemed to have all that I was interested in: Kids, Sports, Spanish, Latin America, and God!
2) What do you do in your role with HFK and what is your favorite part of it?
As HFK’s Executive Director, I wear many hats. From recruiting at schools and conferences for our teams, to traveling on most of our trips, to strengthening our relationships with our international partners, to supporting our staff, to managing our internal operations, to mobilizing our team towards our strategic goals, and more!
My favorite part is being able to connect with so many different people at various levels, which provides a beautiful perspective into the impact that HFK is having both locally and globally.
3) What have been your biggest accomplishments for you in your role?
I am proud to say that we did not only survive the COVID Pandemic, but we came out even stronger! It was a blessing in disguise to come on board in 2020 and be able to strategically implement many changes.
We successfully redesigned our brand, improved our internal and external communications, created more resources for our service experiences, explored innovative ways to support our partners, expanded our partnerships, and more!
4) Apart from your role in HFK, what else are you involved in?
I live in San Francisco, CA and volunteer with my church, Reality SF, through leading a community group and supporting a program that supports temporarily unhoused hispanic families.
I also play soccer, field hockey, and spikeball regularly in the city with my wife!
Additionally, I’ve supported schools and conferences through inspirational speaking with Diego J. Ríos Inspiration and directed leadership conferences for youth through the California Association of Student Councils.
5) How would you like to reconnect with HFK alumni?
I have a dream of hosting an alumni event or soccer tournament where all our former service trip participants come together to reminisce about their service experiences with HFK and how they have been impacted by them. This could then lead to an alumni trip to one of our partner sites!
Steps to make that dream a reality are reconnecting with alumni we’ve lost touch with in addition to maintaining a meaningful connection with our recent alumni through updates and engagement opportunities.
I would also love to hear of any ideas from alumni of how they would want to stay engaged with HFK!
6) What is something you’d like others to know about HFK that they might not know?
You can lead a trip with your friends or family! HFK is all about “Teaching the Eternal Joy of Service”, so if you want to transmit that message of service to your family, group of friends, coworkers, church community, or anyone else; we can help you make that happen! Our partners are always needing and wanting service teams, and we are always ready to serve and organize a trip, SO all we’re waiting for is you and your team!
This also applies to a local service opportunity such as a cleanup or service project at a park, beach, school, or church!
