The inaugural AL DÍA 40 Under Forty event will be a showcase of the most diverse and impactful young professionals in various fields of work across the Philadelphia region.

At the virtual event, taking place August 20, 2020, Francisco Cortes, 28, will be one of the 40 honorees. Currently, he is Executive Director of GALAEI.

As part of the lead-up to the event, AL DÍA asked each of the 40 honorees the same three questions and collected their responses. 

Here are Francisco Cortes’ responses:

Ensuring that my advocacy work supports and empowers all in my community, including the most marginalized is challenging in my professional journey. There is so much work that needs to get done and not enough resources, I've had to be innovative and creative to support my community.

Creating a youth program from scratch and watching it expand, thrive and support over 3,500 Philadelphia youth in areas of mental health, educational support, and leadership development, has been my proudest achievement in my career.

True inclusivity occurs when institutions intentionally change with all members involved to create a truly diverse institution. Representation is key to critical and impactful change. 

To register for the upcoming AL DÍA 40 Under Forty event, click here. 

For more information about the event, reach out to alliyahm@aldianews.com.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact martina@aldianews.com.