Our Program at a Glance

The Jesuit Alumni Volunteer (JAV) Program connects men and women who wish to serve as educators in a low-income community with the opportunity to work in an innovative educational environment.  Cristo Rey Jesuit High School was established to provide working Latino families of Chicago’s Southwest Side with the opportunity to provide their children with a Jesuit, college preparatory education. 

Now in its eleventh year of operation, the JAV Program was founded in response to the extensive needs and limited resources of Cristo Rey. It has grown to be a vital part of delivering quality, affordable education to our students, and it has begun serving the students and families of the Austin neighborhood through Christ the King, a Cristo Rey Network school opened in 2008.

Our volunteers are alumni/ae of Jesuit and Catholic universities from throughout the US.  They demonstrate a commitment to social justice, spiritual and personal growth, and intentional community living – all tenets of our program.  Our volunteers give of their gifts and talents to serve the students and families of Cristo Rey and Christ the King in many ways.  They live in intentional community across the street from Cristo Rey and benefit from lives committed to reflection and action.