My name is Jennifer Rodriguez Torres, and I’m a Senior Case Manager with the Family-to-Family Program at Greater Columbus Community House. I was born in Morovis, Puerto Rico, and at the age of three, my family moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where my parents and siblings didn’t know English at the time. My mother always kept our Puerto Rican culture and traditions alive by speaking to us in Spanish and cooking our traditional dishes. There’s nothing like coming home from school and smelling the aromas of Puerto Rican cuisine filling the house.
We lived in Pennsylvania for eleven years, where I went to school from pre-K through my junior year of high school. During that time, I learned English and became an interpreter for my mother and for new students who arrived not knowing the language. I was always that little girl who wanted to step in and help those who needed it—without anyone asking.
One of my best memories growing up is spending every weekend with my grandmother, Doña Otilia, who is my hero and my everything. My grandmother shared all of her recipes with me, and let me tell you—this woman can cook! I was the only grandchild out of twenty-five who has those recipes locked in my heart. Every weekend with her meant learning a new recipe and carrying a piece of her love and culture with me forever.
When I was fifteen, my parents decided to move back to Puerto Rico. Leaving my friends and school behind to start a new life was one of my biggest challenges. We moved to Patillas, Puerto Rico, in July 2005. My Spanish wasn’t great at the time, and starting my senior year surrounded by strangers was intimidating—but it didn’t stop me from achieving my goal of graduating high school in a new country. That year reconnected me deeply with my culture, heritage, and family.
After graduating, I dreamed of attending Penn State, but my mother didn’t want me far from home. So, I attended La Universidad Interamericana, Recinto de Guayama, where I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. It’s also where I met my amazing husband—we now have two wonderful daughters who are deeply connected to our culture and roots.
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria—a Category 4 storm—made landfall, causing widespread destruction across the island, including severe flooding, power outages, and landslides. In that moment, Puerto Ricans came together as a community—sharing food, water, and hope. The entire island was without power for months, yet the people remained resilient and strong.
After being without power and water for four months, my husband decided to move to Ohio to find a job and a safe home for us. The girls and I stayed in Puerto Rico with family until February 2019, when we officially moved to Ohio—leaving behind our family and friends. There’s never a day I don’t think of Puerto Rico and everything its people have endured. I carry my flag and culture with pride every single day.
Cooking remains one of my greatest joys. I cook every day for my family using the same recipes my grandmother taught me growing up.
I’ve always felt called to help others, and when I saw that Greater Columbus Community House was hiring a Case Manager, I knew it was my time to shine. I’m proud to be the only Spanish-speaking Case Manager for the Family-to-Family Program, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the Spanish-speaking community in Columbus.
I understand how hard it can be to live in a place where you don’t speak the language and others don’t understand you. These challenges make the work even more meaningful. As my grandmother would say, “Community is everything, and nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.”
Many of my clients face struggles—especially language barriers—so I often refer them to ELA classes to learn English. Seeing them complete those classes and gain confidence makes me so proud. As a case manager, I’ll continue advocating for the Spanish community and ensuring they have every resource needed to succeed in this country.
A Closing Reflection
This Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s embrace our culture more than ever. Don’t dim your light to make others comfortable. Don’t hide your Spanish, Sazón, or Orgullo—we are here, thriving. Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on this country through our strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. I encourage everyone to celebrate and learn from the generations of Hispanic and Latino individuals who have enriched our nation in countless ways.
This was such a heartwarming story. So appreciative of Jenn sharing her story, she adored even more.
I absolutely adore everything about Jennifer! Reading this, I feel a profound connection, and although we’ve known each other for about 3-4 years now, I sense a deeper bond. Additionally, I’m very passionate about helping others in need, especially those who face language barriers. I can relate to this because I too struggled with different cultures and languages growing up. I’m grateful that the community has someone like you to support those who are similar to you. May God bless your soul!