Rico's commitment to his community is deeply rooted in his family's culture, belief system and passed to him through generations. Rico’s great-grandfather’s family owned a blanket factory in Southern Mexico. When he married Rico’s great-grandmother, they moved to Texas to work on the railroad. Rico’s Great Uncle worked at a hotel in Texas and heard of the opportunities to advance his family in Waukesha. With prospects of working on the fields in Wisconsin, Rico’s Great grandparents, & great uncle, moved to Waukesha in the early 1940s where 2 of his uncles ended up serving in World War II. His family worked at International Harvester on Perkins Avenue. Rico's Great Grandparents bought a house on The Strand in the mid 1940's. Rico's Grandparents, then, lived throughout the city of Waukesha on Wabash, North Street, and Main Street, prior to returning and buying a house on the Strand, in 1965.

During this time, families were being recruited to work at the manufacturing companies in Waukesha due to World War II. Predominantly Mexican families from Texas were being called to work at the manufacturing companies who had been working as migrant workers. These families brought children that necessitated the need for bilingual education. The need was created because there was a language barrier between parents, students and administrators within the Waukesha School District. At the time there were no interpreters or translators for Spanish speaking families. Rico’s family became instrumental in solving this problem, and later, assisted in the creation of the first community organization providing services to Latinos in Waukesha, La Casa De Esperanza. This organization is still alive and thriving to this day, providing education, childcare, and everyday services to thousands of families across Waukesha. After the creation of La Casa, Rico’s family also assisted in starting bilingual education in the Waukesha School District in the early 1970’s. Now, hundreds of families utilize this service that the School District of Waukesha provides to its students to enhance their English speaking skills.

Rico’s uncle, Pedro Rodriguez which you can reference in the book La Casa de Esperanza: A History by Dr. Pilar Melero (2011) was honored as the Third CEO of La Casa; as well as, serving on the police and fire commission. Rico’s father served on the La Casa Board, as well, board of the Park and Recreation services, earning volunteer of the year at the Waukesha YMCA in 1999. (Volunteer coach). Rico’s mother also worked at La Casa, and was taught by former Waukesha Mayor, Carol Lombardi in preschool. Rico's Grandmother not only was an instrumental part of the community by starting the Spanish speaking ministry with the Catholic Church but also worked for the School District of Waukesha for many years.