Con Manos Unidas We Change – 2025 YGPC Team Spotlight
Meet the Team! | Con Manos Unidas We Change
- Team Goal: Unify the Latino community through a series of events in East Boston
- Affiliation: EASTIE Coalition
- Community: East Boston, MA
Meet Con Manos Unidas We Change, a 2025 Youth Grant Pitch Contest Youth Team, from the EASTIE Coalition (East Boston) and their two volunteer coaches, Miguel Carrillo and Jeniffer Lopez.
The Con Manos Unidas We Change team plans to host events at Central Square Park in East Boston with the aim of bringing the community together, supporting local businesses, and connecting people with local organizations. Their goal is to unify the Latino community in East Boston by connecting community members, combating misinformation, and increasing access to essential services.
Con Manos Unidas We Change is a first-time team.
Their coach Miguel Carrillo is a business lawyer with over 25 years of experience as in-house counsel for multinational corporations across various industries. He has extensive expertise in international markets, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, Northeastern Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Miguel is the founder of Carrillo International Associates, a firm dedicated to providing legal support and strategic business guidance to companies expanding into global markets.
Miguel noted the rewarding nature of making an impact on young peoples’ lives. “I look forward to the opportunity to support and mentor young leaders as they bring their ideas to life,” he shared.
Another coach for the team is Jeniffer Lopez, a peer leader at a recovery center and a substitute teacher. She was previously a teacher’s aide for 10 years and has certifications in first aid and recovery coaching.
Jeniffer shared that her passion for supporting youth is what motivated her to participate in the Youth Grant Pitch Contest. “I like helping young teenagers and to open their horizons into their new future and guide them to participate in their community.”
The goal of SCI’s Pitch Contest is to provide youth with the opportunity to decide how to strengthen their community while practicing valuable professional skills such as public speaking, project management, and community organizing. With the guidance and support of 2 volunteer Pitch Coaches, each youth team will develop their project ideas and be in the driver’s seat of positive change.
The Pitch program will culminate on April 5th, when SCI will host the in-person Pitch Event at the La Colaborativa where each team has the chance to receive up to $2,000 in grant funding. Media are invited to attend the Pitch Event. Funded youth teams will have until January 2026 to complete their respective projects and submit a project impact report.
This program is made possible by SCI’s sponsors, individual donors, and a Massachusetts state budget line item, thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Cindy Friedman. The 2025 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is sponsored by Boston Bridges Initiative; The Boston Foundation; Winning Home, Inc.; M&T Bank; Berkshire Bank; Benefact4; and Kick It for a Cause. Major support for SCI youth programming is provided by Cummings Properties.
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