Hispanic Heritage Month: From Lived Experience to Advocacy – Jose Javier Ramos Talks about His Journey of Service
Photo courtesy of Jose Javier Ramos
BY NATHALY SUQUINAGUA | For Front Runner New Jersey.com
CAMDEN — Jose Javier Ramos, one of the honorees of the Parada San Juan Bautista this summer, said his greatest desire is to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.
His journey from Puerto Rico as a youngster to a role model religious leader has been a long one with many paths, Ramos admitted to FRNJ.
?Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico in 1978, Ramos moved to Camden in 1989, where his journey of faith and service would later take root.?Ramos grew up in a dysfunctional household marked by addiction and neglect.
By the age of 11, he was forced to take on adult responsibilities, providing for his family and carrying much of their burden.
?By 1991, Ramos relocated to the Bronx, N.Y., and Ramos had lost himself and was not in a stable place. Experiencing homelessness at a young age, Ramos often had to conceal where he lived.
?”I was 17 years old and deeply lost, caught up in street life and negative influences in the Bronx,” Ramos said. “I lived everyday looking over my shoulder, not knowing what the next moment would bring.”
Ramos says he didn’t feel a clear conviction to share his story until he found his faith in Jesus Christ on Nov. 15, 1996, a moment he describes as bringing “clarity.”
Two years later, his return to Camden to care for his mother and younger siblings became a turning point that reshaped his outlook on life.
Ramos has spent more than 12 years serving families in Camden, including a decade in the Camden City School District, where he now works as a Specialist in Family Solutions and Community Partnerships.
Ramos hopes to inspire the youth not just Latinos around the area, but everyone, regardless of their background. He hopes it’s not just about representation but about showing up and being present.
“These hardships taught me resilience, empathy, and a deep understanding of what it means to feel unseen or unsupported. They also shaped my passion for advocacy,” Ramos said.
?He hopes to one day establish a mentoring organization that supports both men and women, while also continuing his advocacy for families.
He aims to help people grow spiritually and professionally by connecting them with resources and guidance to succeed in different areas of their lives. He currently is a father of three adult children and serves as an assistant minister with the men’s ministry at the Revival Center in Woodbury.
Ramos says his greatest goal is to share the Gospel with as many people as possible, describing it as his life’s highest calling.
Guided by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” he strives to live out his faith through service, mentorship, and being present for those in need, with the hope of reflecting Christ’s love in both word and action.
Today, Ramos is a strong voice for individuals and families facing difficult times, particularly the families of the students he serves. Having lived through similar struggles himself, his experiences continue to drive the work he does.
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading!
About Author
