JLL Employee Story: Jose Bahena ’18 takes pride in giving back to his community

March 4, 2021



For the last two years, Jose Bahena ’18 has been an Assistant General Manager for JLL, a property management firm in Chicago. He said JLL's culture helps him succeed in the workplace and in his community.



“Being at JLL really makes you feel part of a family,” Jose said. “Having the resources, the leadership and the team that I do has been so important. No one is in it alone.”



Jose joined JLL through a connection he had made at a previous job as a cleaner at Chicago’s Millennium Park. It was one of his first jobs while he was still a student, and several years later, his former manager flagged an opening at JLL and encouraged him to apply.



Outside of the workplace, Jose believes it is important to serve his community. In addition to dedicating time at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, he helps support New Life Centers, a non-profit organization that provides mentoring, education, sports and street outreach for at-risk youths and young adults living on the west side of Chicago.



“As a young person growing up in a low-income minority neighborhood, you go through a lot of struggles and sometimes you just need someone to talk to and a safe place to play," Jose said. "I’ve had the privilege to meet some great young people through this organization. They are resilient and I am so inspired by their stories, as well as the amazing program leaders who invest their life to this work. This cause and organization are near and dear to my heart. I often feel like I gain so much more from serving than the youth receive, they teach me so much about myself.”



Read full story by JLL: Chicago native takes teamwork mentality from the workplace to the community