BACKGROUND INFO

HELP by AMG is A 50C3 nonprofit organization based in the metropolitan area of Boston, Massachusetts. The organization provides essential items in the form of care packages to at-risk and homeless youth. The purpose of HELP is to increase the awareness and availability of culturally appropriate resources and services while meeting the current basic needs of the youth the organization serves to ensure their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Within just one year of establishment, HELP has created and distributed over 150 inclusive care packages in the form of backpacks that included over 40 essential items.

The founder and executive director of the organization, Antonio Mateo Garcia, established HELP during his junior year at Fisher College. He continues to run operations while currently attending Northeastern University as a graduate student. His area of study is Nonprofit Management and he is expected to graduate in 2024. Antonio also identifies as a queer Latino transgender man. His extra curricular focus, in connection with his studies has been as a newly self-appointed public advocate for the LGBTQ+ & BIPOC communities, for the at-risk/homeless youth issues, as well as, contributing to mental health awareness. His desire to serve at-risk and homeless youth, especially those within the culturally and racially diverse communities came from his own personal experiences he dealt with throughout his adolescence and the willingness to share those experiences, and to provide a positive assurance that only comes from overcoming such adversities. Antonio also wants to ensure that future youth do not have to feel the effects of the struggle like he did, or at the very least give them a sense that they are not alone.

Our organization recently participated in and presented at the annual conference sponsored by the Trans Community of New England (TCNE) called First Event. Antonio presented on the current issues of the at-risk and homeless youth in the greater Boston area and how they are predominately culturally and racially diverse individuals (LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled, affected by justice/child-welfare system, etc.). The presentation also stated how many of the issues that face these youth stem from not having a safe space to express themselves in a free and non-judgmental way, along with not having access to strong support systems, positive peer/community socialization organizations and events and educational and/or developmental classes that cater to the youths’ key identities.

Some of the partnerships and/or collaborations that our organization is currently involved with is a membership with the TransHealthGUIDE Community Advisory Board by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a chair membership with the Chelsea LGBTQ Committee, as well as participating in a number of upcoming events such as organizational representation during pride month within the greater Boston area which is sponsored by Boston Pride for the People, Cambridge Savings Bank, and End Overdose Boston to name just a few. The priority for the organization is to get the youth the support and developmental programs needed by getting them established and actively accessible throughout the year.

MISSION

At HELP, our mission is to help everyone live prosperously, starting with at-risk and homeless youth by providing them with essential everyday items in the form of care packages within Suffolk County of Massachusetts while also acting as a bridge to other services and opportunities to improve their overall lives and wellbeing.

VISION

We see a future where homeless and at-risk youth won’t go without essential items that promote a healthy well being physically, mentally, and emotionally on a daily basis and that all youth, no matter their identity or status, will have access to any resources or services they may need.