From the outside looking in, you might assume Jose Miguel Hernandez is a Spanish teacher.

That’s partly true, but his main role was a theater instructor at La Joven Guardia Del Teatro Latino—The Latino Theater of Youth Through Dance.

Hernandez started the troupe 21 years ago when he arrived in the United States from Cuba. And if you can believe it, he remembers his arrival, down to the minute.

“November 11, 1997, I arrived to Miami. It was 8:48 p.m. and nobody was waiting for me. The rest is history,” said Hernandez.

He wrote a play about it: “From Cuba to Cuse.”

Hernandez said when he arrived in Central New York, he noticed there was a great need for Hispanic culture to be realized. So he took on the task, working with children at La Joven Guardia.

“Our mission is to increase the self-esteem and the kids and make sure they know exactly where they come from, no matter what language they speak, no matter what color they are, they are very unique and they’re very important,” said Hernandez.

And the troupe is special: They perform entirely in Spanish. And since not all of his students speak Spanish as their first language, Hernandez is sort of a teacher. In addition to raised self-esteem, better communication, and an understanding of Hispanic culture, La Joven Guardia’s also has a pretty good track record when it comes to students' education.

“We have 100 percent graduation from high school, and 98 percent graduate from college,” said Hernandez.

With great expectations and a great love for the arts, Hernandez is bringing Cuba to Syracuse.

“We’re teaching them with love. We’re teaching them a different way to see a life of a Joven Guardia is not only a group, it’s like a family,” he said.