Carlos Samaniego is a prevention counselor/health educator for Project VIDA, a community-based HIV/AIDS service organization in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. In his role, Carlos helps to empower LGBTQ men under the age of 25 by providing support, education and individual-level interventions. He also co-coordinates the agency’s Gay Pride events/activities to assure community awareness of the many different services Project VIDA offers. This year, Carlos also is co-coordinating the 5th annual LGBTQ Youth Summit’s ‘Loud & Proud’ gathering.
Carlos is also a student, pursuing his degree in education. His plans will be extended further with a masters in psychology. As a product of the Chicago Public School system, Carlos plans to be a role model for young students that undergo life regardless of the many daily environmental stressors.
DID YOU KNOW? Carlos has a hidden talent for writing poetry. He expresses the hardships of life, love and relationships through his poetry, and he plans to publish a book that will include his poetry.