Community Star Of Queens Joel Rodriguez

School: Joel Rodriguez, 18, currently is a sophomore at the High School for Arts and Business in Corona and serves as the president of the student government. In this role, Rodriguez has organized spirit days, school dances, and the school’s first blood drive. He also contacted a vending machine company to replace junk with healthy snacks in the school. Rodriguez is on the school’s honor roll, the Student Leadership Team, the Principal’s Consultative Council, and the Regional Student Advisory Council. On top of having perfect attendance, he has also participated in the school’s Peer Mediation Group, the Mentor Program, and the Conflict Resolution Workshop.
Employment: He works as a lifeguard during the summer and helps out as a porter in the building that his father owns in Flushing.
Music affiliations: Rodriguez is also involved in several school clubs and organizations that combine volunteer work and performance. Last week, he helped organize the Winter Arts Festival, a charity concert featuring the school’s choir, improvisational actors, and other performers. The benefit raised about $600, which will be sent to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. In addition, Rodriguez helps to organize the “Play Caf/,” an annual concert at the High School for the Arts and Business. At last year’s concert, he coordinated a hip-hop half-time show.
Aspirations: Rodriguez plans to major in communications, more specifically music business, in college. “My music is a big part of my life.” Rodriguez, also called “Solace,” performs hip-hop music with his older brother, Aramis, otherwise known as “Oprime.” Although the pair has been rapping for the past three years, they performed their very first concert last year at an AIDS awareness benefit.
Family: Rodriguez lives with his parents, Pablo and Nereida, and his two brothers, Aramis, 21, and Geraldo, 15. “My older brother, he has been an inspiration. He has kept me on track, and I also owe a lot to my parents.”
Rewards of the Job: Rodriguez said that in addition to being able to see his actions actually bring about changes in the world, he also comes in contact with many different people. “You get to do a lot of networking. You meet a lot of people with a lot of experience. This is great because it elevates my education,” he said.