Reno Resident Helps Improve Downtown as An Ambassador
José Manzo-Rodríguez stands in front of the Partnership Plaza sign near the Downtown Reno Partnership offices.
A Reno resident born in Guadalajara is helping to keep Downtown Reno clean and safe.
José Manzo-Rodríguez, an ambassador for Downtown Reno, does what he can to help others feel supported, whether they’re visitors who need directions or homeless people who need assistance for more serious issues. His favorite part of the job is making people smile, he said.
“You never know what somebody's going through. If I can bring a smile to them, then I feel like I do my job,” Manzo-Rodríguez said.
Manzo-Rodríguez has been an ambassador for three years and he feels that his experiences have helped shape the way he interacts with people. He previously worked at a Catholic Charities, using the opportunity to help people and guide them through difficult situations in their lives.
“I came out of a similar lifestyle as these people out here,” he said. “I managed to fight through everything and to be where I'm at right now. I feel like I'm helping the community for the stuff that I used to go through, the stuff that I’ve seen, the things that I lived. It helps me relate to them a little better.” Read More