Experience

Pay Our Interns

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director, Co-Founder

  • Oct 2016 - Present

  Pay Our Interns (POI) is the nation’s leading organization fighting to ensure that all people, everywhere have equitable access to professional career paths through the implementation of paid internships nationwide. In the time span of five years, POI made history by successfully pushing Congress to pass $150 million in funding for Congressional, White House, and State Department interns. This funding has created over 30,000 paid internships. POI is supported by Lumina Foundation, Democracy Fund Voice, Schmidt Futures, New Profit, Echoing Green, Camelback Ventures, College Futures Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and many more. Carlos’s efforts on Capitol Hill led him to be named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree, Echoing Green Global Fellow, Camelback Ventures Fellow, a Top 20 Changemaker by NBC Latino, and an Aspen Ideas Fellow. Previously he organized janitors and worked at the White House and the European Parliament. His work has been highlighted by The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, NPR, Rolling Stone, NBC Latino, Fox News, Bloomberg Law and USA Today. If you’re passionate about making our institutions more reflective, want him to come speak at your school/conference or want to help support Pay Our Interns, email him at carlos@payourinterns.org Show less



Lumina Foundation

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• External Reviewer, Lumina’s Racial Justice and Equity Fund

  • Sep 2021 - Dec 2021

  I was a previous grantee of Lumina Foundation's Racial and Equity Fund. I was then invited to be part of the committee responsible for selecting grantees for 2022. My duties entailed reviewing proposals and making recommendations on who should be funded. In 2021, the committee ended up investing $3 million in nine organizations. I was a previous grantee of Lumina Foundation's Racial and Equity Fund. I was then invited to be part of the committee responsible for selecting grantees for 2022. My duties entailed reviewing proposals and making recommendations on who should be funded. In 2021, the committee ended up investing $3 million in nine organizations.



New Profit

• United States
• Philanthropic Fundraising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Democracy Entrepreneur

  • Mar 2021 - Nov 2021

  Part of the Civic Lab, an initiative at New Profit that invests in and supports entrepreneurs building civic trust and an inclusive democracy in America. The fellowship also came with $100,000 in funding. Part of the Civic Lab, an initiative at New Profit that invests in and supports entrepreneurs building civic trust and an inclusive democracy in America. The fellowship also came with $100,000 in funding.



Echoing Green

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Global Fellow

  • May 2019 - Jun 2021

  Echoing Green finds emerging leaders with the best ideas for social innovation as early as possible, and sets them on a path to lifelong impact. For the next two years, EG will provide POI with $80,000 in seed funding, training, programmatic support, and access to its network of investors, supporters, and thought leaders. Echoing Green finds emerging leaders with the best ideas for social innovation as early as possible, and sets them on a path to lifelong impact. For the next two years, EG will provide POI with $80,000 in seed funding, training, programmatic support, and access to its network of investors, supporters, and thought leaders.



United States Conference of Mayors

• United States
• Government Relations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisory Member, Youth Involvement Task Force

  • Jan 2020 - Jan 2021

  "The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ The Youth Involvement Task Force works with mayors and youth leaders across the country to create opportunities for young people to engage directly in policymaking and community action - such as building youth councils and youth commissions, holding youth-led town halls, participating in voter engagement, and additional service projects. The Youth Involvement Task Force has created a national network of youth leaders and develops opportunities for youth and mayors to share local best practices that can be implemented in other cities and scaled nationwide." Show less



Camelback Ventures

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Education Fellow

  • Feb 2019 - Oct 2019

  The Camelback Ventures Fellowship is a 6-month program for underrepresented entrepreneurs, particularly people of color. This fellowship program provides coaching, capital ($40,000 in seed funding), and connections to accelerate leadership and venture development for social impact organizations such as Pay Our Interns. The Camelback Ventures Fellowship is a 6-month program for underrepresented entrepreneurs, particularly people of color. This fellowship program provides coaching, capital ($40,000 in seed funding), and connections to accelerate leadership and venture development for social impact organizations such as Pay Our Interns.



United States Army Reserve

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Human Resource Assistant/Generator Mechanic, 48th Combat Support Hospital

  • Oct 2011 - Oct 2019

  • Co-lead the Service Readiness Process Deployment program, communicating with and processing over 200 soldiers • Secret Clearance • Assembled and filed promotion packages for the promotion board • Co-lead the Service Readiness Process Deployment program, communicating with and processing over 200 soldiers • Secret Clearance • Assembled and filed promotion packages for the promotion board



National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Faculty, National Honor Societies

  • Aug 2017 - Nov 2018

  Serve as a Program Faculty for the National Honor Society State Summits, a leadership development experience focused on student empowerment. I teach middle & high school students about the core values of social justice, then I give them the tools to effectively create and carry out their own issue campaign in their community. Serve as a Program Faculty for the National Honor Society State Summits, a leadership development experience focused on student empowerment. I teach middle & high school students about the core values of social justice, then I give them the tools to effectively create and carry out their own issue campaign in their community.



The Aspen Institute

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar

  • Jun 2018 - Jul 2018



The Tryst Trading Company

• United States
• Restaurants
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Server

  • Jan 2017 - Nov 2017

  Being a server at Open City is what paid my bills when I started Pay Our Interns. Being a server at Open City is what paid my bills when I started Pay Our Interns.



Megaphone Strategies, Van Jones

• Media Relations Associate

  • Jun 2016 - Nov 2016



Justice for AU Workers

• Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Founder

  • Nov 2015 - Sep 2016

  • Created a coalition that consisted of 50 tenured faculty, the entire student government, and 13 student organizations to collectively advocate for the custodial and food service workers at American University • Lobbied with the administration that resulted in the creation of a full-ride scholarship program for the children of contract workers ($170,000 per student); a first in the university’s history • Orchestrated policy changes ensuring increased visibility & recognition of contract workers via social media and grassroots campaign Show less



Executive Office of the President

• United States
• Government Administration
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Intern

  • Sep 2014 - Dec 2014



European Parliament

• Belgium
• Political Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legislative Assistant

  • Jan 2014 - May 2014

  • Drafted speeches and edited letters for MEP Stastny • Conducted research on the trade and economic impacts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership • Wrote reports on the meetings from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Trade and of the EPP caucus • Conducted opposition research into high-profile figures who were writing op-eds against the ratification of TTIP • Drafted speeches and edited letters for MEP Stastny • Conducted research on the trade and economic impacts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership • Wrote reports on the meetings from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Trade and of the EPP caucus • Conducted opposition research into high-profile figures who were writing op-eds against the ratification of TTIP