Carolina is a true trailblazer in this space; determined to change the old and outdated narrative around philanthropy by making it more inclusive and diverse, while creating a movement for social good rooted in democracy and activism. She’s incredibly smart and well-spoken, making these principles so easy to understand and digest for all.
Each year, The Elevate Prize Foundation identifies and champions entrepreneurs and activists around the world, providing unrestricted grants totaling over $5M in funding and services to 10 Winners who are driving transformative change around the world. Their hashtag is #MakeGoodFamous, thus building an ecosystem that enables everyday people to find, follow and celebrate leaders who inspire them to do good. By creating the world's first fanbase for social good and “Making Good Famous,” EPF believes in motivating more people from all walks of life to do good and create positive change.
Most recently, the foundation awarded Dwyane Wade with their Catalyst Award at their annual Make Good Famous Summit in Miami last month, on behalf of his work with Translatable, a new digital platform from Wade Family Foundation inclusive of video content, guidebooks, need to know information and resources to serve as a community safe space for youth to express themselves and provides educational tools for their support systems. Previous Catalyst Award winners include Matt Damon, Michael J. Fox, Malala, George and Amal Clooney and Lizzo.
The daughter of Cuban refugees, Carolina was born in Spain and grew up in the suburbs of Orlando. As an undergrad, she spent a year traveling around India in a pre-internet era and really found herself there, having met and worked with Mother Teresa, which planted a seed of lifelong public service.
She studied to be a chef and lawyer but kept returning to her calling of being a champion for artists and changemakers, eventually founding LegalArt while in law school to provide pro bono legal support to artists. She has since gone on to become a member of Fast Company’s Social Impact Council; a founding Ambassador for Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security; and the new Co-Chair of the University of Miami School of Law’s LL.M. Program in Sports, Arts + Entertainment Law. She previously held the role of CEO & President of the National Young Arts Foundation, the President & CEO of United States Artists and the executive director of the Chicago Artists Coalition.
Not to mention, Carolina is one of the few Latinx, female executives in the non-profit space. With the Latinx community being one of the largest and fastest growing communities in the U.S., shocking only less than 1% of philanthropy leaders and CEOs, and less than 10% of program officers are Latinos. This translates to less than 2% of funding going to Latinx organizations. Carolina is very passionate about getting these numbers up and ensuring Latinos, especially females, have a seat at the table.
As a practicing yogi for over 20 years, Carolina places great emphasis on mental and physical wellness as part of her leadership style and philosophy. She has coined what she calls the “Whole Leader” perspective, in which the Foundation provides tools and resources to those working on the front lines of their communities to support their mental health, in turn preventing burn out and turnover in these positions that are so desperately needed.
YT: @elevateprize IG: @elevateprize Check out more on the website: www. elevateprize.org
Watch Video Here
