About Benjamin Swann
Assistant Education Coordinator - El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission

I was born in Boone, North Carolina and up until I moved to Austin, I had been living in Asheville, North Carolina since the age of two. While I lived in Asheville for the majority of my life, my parents always put a strong emphasis on the importance of travel and learning about different cultures. My experience traveling has helped shape both my personality and my outlook on life. It was because of these experiences that I began studying Spanish in high school. I graduated from Sewanee: University of the South with a degree in Spanish and quickly moved to Texas to put it to use. After I spent some time as an assistant teacher in El Buen Samaritano's Child Learning Center, I was given a promotion and became the Assistant Education Coordinator. I have been working in this position ever since and am excited to continue my professional development.

Which of your personal traits is most important in making you a good leader?
My ability to carry on a conversation with people in all walks of life and to adapt to different and foreign situations helps me excel at any task at hand while working with a variety of personality types.
What was the "aha" moment that got you started in your current career/line of work?
I had my "aha" moment when I began working with the youth at El Buen Samaritano. It was then that I realized how hard it is for the children of immigrants who are raised within the confines of one culture and language and are forced to begin the learning process of another culture and language years after their American peers.
What is the most significant issue you would like to be able to solve?
I realize it's a difficult task, but I'd like to be able to solve the education gap in the United States between native and immigrant children that occurs because of the language barrier that immigrants must attempt to overcome.
When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a child I always dreamed of being a professional soccer player.
How long have you lived in Austin? What brought you here?
I have been living in Austin for a little over a year and a half. I chose to come to Austin because I needed to get out of my home town and I had family living here to help me out as I got my feet on the ground.