Daniel Montes
Daniel Montes was raised in both the beautifully historic Mexican American Little Village and Pilsen neighborhoods. Living in a community with such a rich history and culture has made him the man he is today. Daniel is a proud first-generation Mexican-American Latino who is a trailblazer that has opened a path for generations to come.
He is a distinguished first responder, and a community advocate for public health, safety, and prevention. He is a small business owner based in the community that raised him. Daniel's mission in living out his vocation is intertwined from his high school days and living life through the mantra of being "A man for others” through his service. He believes in getting the work done equitably and efficiently. He finds himself optimistic and reminds himself of a quote he lives by "Where there is will there is a way” and he's determined to find a way and is well equipped with the willpower and fueled by naysayers to break through those barriers in which affect the Latino community and Latinos within the first responder’s community.
Daniel is currently a fire life safety inspector. His expertise in the fire service and healthcare arena helps to enforce health and safety measures and compliance throughout the city in keeping residents safe and educated. His work is imperative as he is one of few bilingual Spanish-speaking personnel and instructors in the area who can do his line of work. Daniel's passion goes beyond the clock! He is a mentor and an inspiration to younger generations in the Latino community through his various community outreach work and partnerships. Through his work he finds himself inspiring the next generation of First Responders in exposure, mentorship to the various career paths in which Latinos are underrepresented.
He is the co-founder of not for profit, Latinos First Responder Alliance organization. A unique, one-of-a-kind organization that brings collaboration and inclusiveness to all especially to the Latino first responder communities from Chicago all the way through various Spanish-speaking countries, from Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The organization focuses on working on meaningful causes and voicing concerns that affect communities of color within the first responder community. His nonprofit focuses on workforce development to providing safety training, and community outreach where public safety departments are often limited. The organization is open to anyone who wants to join the mission's cause. Currently, this work is done bilingually throughout the Chicagoland area and soon internationally.
Daniel is immensely proud for leading the way for Latin@ first responders. He is helping them create a platform that will enable them to have representation, voice, and continue to foster the next generation of Latinos/as first responders in creating an equitable workplace environment. Daniel recognizes and accredits his success to not only his parents inherited strong work ethic and humble lifestyle, but also his experiences as a once-labeled at-risk youth who had to navigate and overcome many adversities. He is thankful for many mentors in his life. Some of these mentors can be attributed to the positive programs he feels he has been blessed to be part of which include and not are limited to: Nurse corps scholarship program, ROTC UIC, 1 Million Degrees Scholars program, Trio college program, the Chicago Scholars Program, Chicago Police and Firefighter training academy program.
