MassLive recently asked readers to name who they believe are Hispanic and Latino leaders working to make a difference in Massachusetts.
These leader profiles will be published during Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15. These are people who our readers have identified as inspirational and may be doing good things for their communities. They are being recognized for their achievements, leadership and efforts to inspire change.
Angelica Castro, director of outreach and teens at the YMCA of Greater Springfield. Photo by Angelica Castro. Angelica Castro
Angelica Castro
Age: 37
Community: Springfield
Her story: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Angelica Castro, a mother of two teenage daughters, decided to make a career change so she could be more actively involved in nurturing and supporting teens in Springfield.
As director of outreach and teen affairs for the YMCA of Greater Springfield at the North End Youth Center, Castro partners with Springfield Public Schools to run a program called Y-AIM, which targets kids ages 13-19.
“The program focuses on mentorship in any aspect that young people in our community need, whether that be college prep, mentorship, introducing young people to job skills, homework help or whatever,” Castro said.
Castro added that during the day, he visits Springfield schools to bridge the gap between students, faculty, teachers and counselors and provide additional support, and in the afternoon, he runs an after-school program that provides teens with activities and snacks and meals.
Castro said part of the program’s goal is to introduce young people to new interests and ways of thinking, as well as prepare them for the next stage of life after middle and high school, such as a career, college education or military service.
Castro said that in working with teenagers, there was “always a little bit of resistance” at first to the rules and demands imposed on them, but over time, as he got a deeper understanding of who they were and what their aspirations were, “those walls came down and their personalities blossomed.”
One thing Castro has noticed among the teens he works with is that many are feeling anxious after being isolated from others during the pandemic.
“We’re helping them build their social skills again so they can navigate the world as comfortably as possible,” she said.
Before the pandemic, Castro worked in retail as a makeup artist for Chanel for more than 15 years, and while she loved her job, she said her asthma had kept her from working during the virus outbreak.
The time off helped Castro reevaluate her life’s priorities, and when a job opportunity opened up with the YMCA of Greater Springfield, she decided to make a difference to give back and positively impact teens like her daughters, a job she’s now approaching her third year in.
In her words, “If you can make a positive impact on someone’s life, then you’ve done a successful job.”
We’re always listening to more inspiring people, so if you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognised, please fill in this form.
