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Our Story
Roberto Rico grew up deep in the heart of East Oakland. Always an inquisitive child, some might have considered his hyperactive character a delicate fuse within an unpredictable and disenfranchised community. However, with the encouragement of his family, teachers, and friends, Roberto was able to channel his energy into his blossoming love of science. He owes his success to many a cherished summer catching jellyfish, building robots, and (you guessed it) kayaking in the Oakland Bay.
In 2019, Roberto graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a Bachelor's of Science (BS) in Electrical Engineering and a Master's of Science (MS) in Product Development (Fall 2022). In 2020, his career would bring him back to California where he would take on the role of Senior Associate Systems Engineer for L3Harris Technologies.
While excited to be back in his home state, Roberto was startled by the nearly unrecognizable social fabric of his new environs. Particularly striking was the plethora of longstanding, high-quality community resources Orange County had to offer, which was in stark contrast to what he had seen in his hometown. He knew he would eventually have to take action in order to help bridge this gap.
In November of 2021, Roberto founded the non-profit Caring Hearts. Made up of mostly middle school friends with a shared vision, the organization aims to improve quality of life in East Oakland through sustainable solutions responding to two core pillars of community need: education and humanitarian action (see below).
Roberto is forever grateful for the care he received growing up. The support of his family, mentors, and friends--all of these were pivotal to his personal development, self-realization and, above all, the recognition of his own creative potential. Through his small but mighty team, he hopes to pay it forward for the community he will never stop cheering for. Together we can!
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Caring Hearts' current focus is on education-based projects of youth development (especially career/college prep). Going forward, our team seeks to branch its mission of social justice through humanitarian action. A quick overview of how we define these pillars can be found below.
Meet the Team
Oso
Erin Kesel
Erin Kesel
Hi my name is Oso. I promise you, I’m the most energetic in the group. I’ll never turn down a meet-and-greet. I am here to bring a smile to those around me. New friend or old, we will all get along. Woof.
Erin Kesel
Erin Kesel
Erin Kesel
I grew up in Canandaigua, NY, and I am now happy to be CA transplant. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and exploring new places. I joined Caring Hearts with the goal of spreading kindness throughout the community. I believe that any act of kindness, big or small, can having a lasting impact.
Juan Gomez
Erin Kesel
Cynthia Gallegos
I have always been interested in the ways creative content emerges from and dialogues with underrepresented communities. I hope to bring this interest to mindful and practical use through Caring Hearts, a community venture based in my home town, East Oakland.
Cynthia Gallegos
Cynthia Gallegos
Cynthia Gallegos
As a Latina from East Oakland, I understand some of the economic struggles that systematic oppression creates for families and children of under-resourced communities. My hope as Community Outreach Coordinator is for the children we serve to recognize their professional and creative potential.
Jasmine Galeana
Cynthia Gallegos
Jasmine Galeana
A child of immigrants who grew up in East Oakland, I was exposed at an early age to the socioeconomic pressures that come with living day-by-day. I am passionate about finding creative ways to bring knowledge and empowerment to the youth in our community through the art of sustainable aid.
Jesus Gallegos
Cynthia Gallegos
Jasmine Galeana
Growing up in East Oakland, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles that parents from underprivileged communities face as they prioritize needs over wants for their children. As the Treasurer of Caring Hearts, my goal is to guide the organization through its initial development and fundraising milestones.
Roberto Rico Bernal
Roberto Rico Bernal
Roberto Rico Bernal
My experience is in engineering and I believe that anyone can change the world--all you need is the right support and confidence to not give up on the mission. I want to help spread kindness onto others, because sometimes that little action is all someone needs to brighten their day.