Max Rodas

My name is Max Rodas. I’m the executive director of Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center. We provide medical, housing, nutrition, recovery, legal, and case management services to people living with HIV.

I first came to the U.S. when I was 12. My dad wasn’t really involved in my life, and my mother was sick. My maternal uncle lived here, so he brought me to the U.S. I didn’t acclimate very well, though. I was an angry kid, so I went back to Guatemala. I came back when I was 17, and I’ve been in the United States ever since. I’m about to turn 70, so that’s over 40 years of living here, mostly in Cleveland. I’ve also lived in Louisville and Florida for six to eight years, but Cleveland has been my main home. I’m from Guatemala, in Central America.

I love everything about Cleveland. It’s the place where I grew up and where I developed my values. I really appreciate the multiculturalism, the work ethic, and the fact that it’s a blue-collar town. I also love the sports culture. I wish I could say I love the weather, but I do enjoy the spring and sailing. I’m not big on the winter or summer, though—I’m more of a 55-75 degree kind of guy.

I’m also a pastor. I pastor a church on the East Side of town, and I love how multicultural Cleveland is. My family has become very multicultural too—we’re very open, diverse, and inclusive. It’s not just something we think about or try to create; it’s the fabric of who we are. We love it.