By Wyatt Miller
Jose Flores, a community manager at Google Code Next, was inspired by his parents to pursue a community-centered path. They immigrated to East Los Angeles and "worked tirelessly and sacrificed everything" so that Flores could have a better life.
"But as a first-generation individual, navigating the educational and professional systems left me feeling isolated and burdened with internalized shame," Flores said. "I felt completely lost and afraid of the task at hand. My path to and through college was riddled with unnecessary missteps, and my spirit was worn down by the weight of figuring it all out alone.
"When all felt lost, it was community that helped me find hope again—the adults who mentored me and the peers who reminded me I wasn't alone."
Those experiences pushed him toward a profession geared toward community engagement, because he believes that "building community is a critical form of harm reduction," Flores said. He wants to clear the path for other young people, so they can face fewer roadblocks than he did. "To me, investing in community is the most direct way to invest in a healthier, happier future for all of Los Angeles," he said.
Flores' work with Google Code Next, where he equips students with computer science skills and inspires future tech leaders, earned him the title of Rams "pLAymaker." He was surprised with the honor at a recent event, along with a $5,000 check made out to a non-profit organization of his choice.
Google Code Next is a program dedicated to equipping the next generation of tech leaders. Its mission is to provide high school students with the skills, tools and inspiration they need to pursue careers in technology, Flores said.
He teaches students about a variety of tech topics ranging from web development and AI to cybersecurity and UX design through hands-on projects, workshops and immersive programming. They also provide "a safe and supportive environment" where students can become "creative, computational thinkers" and "confident, purposeful makers," through mentorship from Google employees.
"To be named a pLAymaker is an incredible honor and acknowledgment of my identity and my purpose," Flores said. "As someone who was born and raised in Los Angeles, this city is more than just a place on a map — it is my home and my heart. It's in the energy of its communities and the unique spirit of its people that I was shaped. My very foundation is built from what this city has given me."
Helping individuals grow and reach their goals is the most rewarding part of his job. Flores recalled one student who struggled to speak at all in classes. Just a year later, he "confidently" led a tour for a visiting professor and explained his projects to them. "This transformation is the kind of impact that stays with you," Flores said.
Building authentic relationships is at the core of Flores' work. It's difficult to inspire change in others, whether an individual or group, if they don't feel seen or like they can be vulnerable, he said. The "most profound change" that they can make is to normalize both struggling and supporting one another.
"To me, 'inspiring change' means having an unwavering belief in people and their potential," Flores said. "It's about letting our youth know they are worthy of care and investment, even when they aren't confident in themselves. We live in a society that pressures young people to have their entire lives figured out, creating a false sense of urgency and often leading to shame when they don't have a clear plan. True change isn't inspired by pushing people toward a predetermined goal. Instead, it requires you to meet them exactly where they are."
Inspiring change also requires people to acknowledge that they "can't do everything," but can do their part wholeheartedly.
"I live by adrienne maree brown's quote, 'Small is all,'" Flores said. "It's the idea that massive change isn't created by one big, heroic act. Instead, it's the result of countless small, consistent actions and interactions, like drops of water slowly filling a bucket. That's what I do: I choose to care passionately, and I remind myself to do my small part."
When Flores was young, his mother would always tell him (in Spanish) to "stand tall like a tree." He took her words to mean that he needed to "develop resilience and fortitude" on his own.
It wasn't until his college years at UC Santa Cruz, in an area surrounded by redwoods trees, that he understood that message more deeply. Flores learned that redwoods are actually interconnected via their root systems. They hold each other up and nurture one another as a cohesive group.
"They rely on their community to keep them standing," Flores said. "They literally hold on to each other. My own perseverance and fortitude are rooted in the community that has held me up."
Now, he tries to help facilitate that root system for youth in the L.A. community through his work with Google Code Next.
