November 4, 2025 • 44 mins
We trace Antonio Aponte's path from Broadway actor to creative educator—and how finding the right match can mean more than chasing a big name when guiding first-gen families toward college and career success. This episode dives deep into what real opportunity looks like, from choosing the right school to unlocking financial aid, internships, and alternative career paths.
In this episode, we cover:
• Aligning students with schools that fit their goals and support systems
• Demystifying financial aid, scholarships, and affordability
• Trades and certifications as lucrative, fulfilling options
• Lessons from theater—presence, listening, and persistence
• Building social capital through mentors and alumni networks
• The SUNY Purchase pilot that boosted student retention
• Internship experiences that became long-term careers
• The story behind the Latino College Expo: how it started and where it’s headed
• Navigating post-pandemic education and virtual opportunities
• “Cheat codes” for early-career growth and confidence
🎧 Tune in, take notes, and get inspired.
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Make sure you follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn at Career Cheat Code and tell us people or careers you would like to see highlighted!
Disclaimer:
The views shared on Career Cheat Code are those of the guests and don’t reflect the host or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for inspiration and information, highlighting unique career journeys to help you define success and take your next step.
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to this podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and share this podcast with your friends and your networks. For more #CareerCheatCode, visit linktr.ee/careercheatcode.
Host - Radhy Miranda
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Producer - Gary Batista
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
So many artists have come out of the Lower East Side,
so many great writers, greatmusicians, great poets.
It's really rich withcreativity.
I don't know.
I think it was in the air, butit was my calling.
It was my spirit.
It still is my spirit to becreative.
And I decided to uh pursue thatand went through the whole
journey of uh wading andbartending and then finally
(00:20):
getting a big break on Broadway.
SPEAKER_00 (00:22):
Welcome to Career Cheat Code.
In this podcast, you'll hear howeveryday people impact the world
through their careers.
Learn about their journey,career hacks, and obstacles
along the way.
Whether you're already havingthe impact you want or are
searching for it, this is thepodcast for you.
All right.
Antonio, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01 (00:39):
Thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate theopportunity to share my story.
SPEAKER_00 (00:43):
Absolutely.
Um, it's great to have folkslike you over on Career Cheat
Code, especially because you doso many great things that are
beneficial to our communities.
So let's just dive right in.
Let's tell the world what it isyou do for a living.
SPEAKER_01 (00:54):
You know, I have a title, and I mean director of
educational and career services,and also for the Boys Club of
New York, but also the founderof the Latino College Expo.
But I always put all thosetitles under one umbrella, which
is changing the lives of youngpeople in the communities I
serve.
SPEAKER_00 (01:09):
That's amazing.
So tell me more about your yourrole at the Boys Club.
Um, what is it that you'retasked with doing there?
And when you walk in on Monday,what is it that you're that
you're planning for the week andresponsible for?
SPEAKER_01 (01:19):
Yeah, it's interesting.
The work I do starts even beforeI enter the office as soon as I
wake up in many ways, because Icheck, you know, emails and and
and see if anything is needed bythe parents that I work with and
the families that I work with.
But what I do, you know, underthat title, it's not limited to
educational career services, butit is opening access and
allowing families to understandhow to navigate this journey of
(01:42):
getting their child into a greathigh school and into a great
college.
And not so much a great, buttheir right match college
because it's not always aboutgetting into because it has a
name.
It's about getting to the schoolthat's the best match for your
child's personality, for theirinterests, so they can have a
better and greater chance ofsucceeding.
Uh, we get caught up with names,but it's really more important
the right match because it'stheir journey for the next four
(02:05):
years or eight years or tenyears.
So it's important to do that.
And that's quite what I do.
And I also try to connect themto other resources out there.
We don't have all the answers.
I don't have all the answers,but I have quite a set of
resources and relationships thatI've built that I can
communicate with them and alsoconnect them to what else is out
(02:26):
there that can help them.
SPEAKER_00 (02:27):
So while these young men are at the boys club for
many different reasons, right?
Because you can be there forrecreational purposes or other
things, you're looking at itfrom the perspective of how do
we now think about their futureswhile they're while they're in
in this building?
How do we prepare them and theirfamilies for high school,
college, um, and kind of usingboth the network that you've now
(02:49):
built over the last decades,right?
Um, but also just what you knowabout these the youth.
What do we know about these kidsor young young people to kind of
make those matches?
SPEAKER_01 (02:59):
Well, again, knowledge is power in many ways,
understanding how to navigate,understanding that there are
resources, I mean, especiallyaround education, people get
scared of a price tag, butunderstanding that there are
ways to overcome that price tag,and there are so many options
beyond the radius of where theylive.
There are other states that arelooking for kids that look like
them, and parents especially tounderstand that it's an
(03:21):
opportunity for your child, andif they if they've earned that
opportunity, they should nothold them back.
Not that they want to hold themback, but they're fearful.
Don't let fear hold you backfrom trying to find better
angles and better roads towardssuccess.
And if your child has earned it,why not?
So a lot of it is inspirational.
A lot of it is is is getting toknow them, getting to know what
(03:42):
their interests are, and tryingthen to connect those dots.
Because kids have interests andthey don't even know it.
But when you get to talk tothem, they kind of share and
reveal some of their talents andsome of their passions.
And then if we really click,then I would help them to really
follow that passion in a roadmapthat's really going to connect
all the dots for them and alsoinspire them.
(04:04):
And it's okay to fall, it's okaynot to have uh have made
mistakes, it's okay to not bestrong in math or English.
We'll work with you and and helpyou.
And also trades.
Um, over the years I've gottenreally much into talking to
students about trade because noteveryone wants to go to an
academic institution, and tradesare booming, and they're great
careers, very lucrative careers.
(04:26):
And if their passion is withtheir hands and doing things
around HVAC or plumbing, it'sokay.
And it's a great career.
But know how to do it right,know how to get the right
certification, know how to thinkbeyond and become the owner of a
company.
So have that entrepreneurialspirit is what I also try to
teach students.
They have it naturally, but theydon't know it sometimes.
SPEAKER_00 (04:48):
Absolutely.
And like you said, it's youknow, providing some of that
insight and knowledge andexpanding their mind to
possibilities, right?
I know I've spoken to teenagers,so I have a kid in college now.
I've spoken to teenagers thatare his peers, and they're like,
I'm not applying to college,that's too expensive.
My parents can't afford that.
I'm like, wait a minute.
How about you sit down with somefolks that do this for a living
(05:09):
and they can tell you about someoptions, right?
Because I'm a fortunate productof services like this, right?
Not the boys club directly, butservices like that of people
that took the time out to say,well, let's let's explore some
options for you.
Like, I know your parents don'thave a lot of money saved up for
college, but can we use yourfinancial situation to secure
some grants, to secure somefinancial aid, to get you to the
(05:33):
right place that'll that'llnurture your talents.
So I try to like pass that down.
But I feel like I relied so muchon people like you growing up to
help me jumpstart my career andget to the right place.
SPEAKER_01 (05:43):
No, I I agree totally.
I agree totally.
I I don't want to uh be remissnot to talk about the expo and
the Latino College Expo, becausethat's part of this journey as
well and what I offer and havingthat idea to start this event 35
plus years ago was definitelymonumental for me, but also for
the thousands and thousands ofkids uh that have attended the
(06:04):
event.
And that triggered through mywork in admissions, uh where I
was seeing parents not as versedin the process.
But again, putting it inperspective, 35 years ago,
parents have become moreknowledgeable, but with the
influx of immigration andlanguage learners, it's still a
not known entity for them, uh,the idea of affording college.
But the Expo was a bridge withparents to become better
(06:26):
partners with their child, um,bringing in different colleges
that are bilingual in terms oftheir representation so they can
deliver the message not only inEnglish to the students, but
also Spanish to the parents.
Um, we forget to feel thatwithout the parents' support,
it's not gonna happen.
And um, and I really want tofocus on bringing uh a
partnership that's really gonnabenefit them and the community
(06:48):
they live in.
SPEAKER_00 (06:49):
Absolutely.
So we'll spend we'll definitelyspend some time talking about
the college expo because I thinkthat it all ties in and it all,
as you said, it's one umbrella,right?
It's just who you are and thework that you're doing to shape
people's lives.
We'd love to hear more aboutwithin the boys club.
One, how long have you beenthere?
And two, was your starting rolethe same role where you are now?
Like, what does that look like?
And I'm thinking about it fromthe perspective of you have a
(07:11):
very mission-aligned career,right?
And that's not always the casefor us.
It's like sometimes we have tofigure out community impact
outside of our work lives, butthat's not your case.
It seems very mission-aligned.
So we'd love to hear more abouthow you started in in this path,
and then we can we can talkabout the career expo there.
SPEAKER_01 (07:29):
Sure, sure, sure.
I mean, I as far as the boysclub, I mean, I was a product of
the boys club when I was ateenager, and I had the
opportunity to go there when Iwas about 11 or 12.
A little later than most kids,but it was the time that I was
allowed to go by my parents.
But it was pivotal for me to gothere to help me to have a safe
haven.
So I know the impact of whatthat offers, just being in a
(07:51):
safe environment where you canactually learn, expand, meet
friends, and and and not haveyour parents worry about you
being in the streets.
That kind of morphed into goingaway to school, going away to
boarding school, actually, whichthat was my pivotal moment for
me.
And then years later, you know,going on to college and then and
then coming back to the boys'club to work in the position and
(08:13):
in the program that helped me togo away, it was a no-brainer for
me.
It was like full circle for me.
I said, wow, I can do whatsomebody else did for me to help
them get out of the city and goaway to these expensive schools
that you have so manyopportunities.
And now I'm in the role ofmaking that decision and
changing a student's life.
(08:34):
I just jumped on it.
It was more personal thanactually, you know, business or
just moving up the ladder andgoing into a different career,
which I've had a differentcareer before that, which
hopefully I can share.
But so I've been there, youknow, since then, and I was a
director of high school andcollege placement.
It morphed a little bit intoeducational career services.
But, you know, to me, titlesdon't mean anything.
(08:56):
I honestly, you really, reallydon't.
It's the impact of the work.
But the work and the impact ofthe work is around helping and
elevating the educationalaspirations of our young people
and bridging the gap betweenparents and young people working
together to get to the nextlevel and bringing resources and
connecting them to alumni thathave succeeded so they can see
(09:18):
and hear stories of people thatlook like them.
So I really am holistic in myapproach.
Um, there are bullet points,applications, essay prep, test
prep, bringing in schools forinterviews, taking them to a
school, visiting them, writingthem emails, talking to the
parents to navigate thefinancial aid process,
advocating if they got introuble, if they want to wait to
(09:40):
a school or are adjusting tocollege and having challenges.
All of that falls under myumbrella.
So it is practical, but it'salso holistic because we are
human beings at the end of theday and have our own stories,
and each of us are in adifferent place.
And I have I try to reallyconnect to where they are to
help them get to where they needto be or want to be.
SPEAKER_00 (09:59):
Wow.
So it sounds like not only isyour role rewarding, it's also a
full circle moment, right?
Like you were a beneficiary ofthis program to then come back
and say, you know what, how do Inow help others achieve that
path?
And to then fall in love withit, right?
Like you have to love doing thatif you're if you're there, you
know, over 20 years later.
So we'd love to hear more aboutone, where did you grow up that
(10:24):
you were going to the voiceclub?
Where'd you end up going tocollege, that you went away for
a while and came back?
So let's talk about some of yourupbringing.
SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
Well, I was born and raised in the Lower East Side of
New York, and I'm very proud tobe a New Yorkin from the Lower
East Side.
And as my partner calls me,Puerto Rican preppy from the
Lower East Side.
And I I say that because I'm,you know, I'm Puerto Rican.
I went to prep school, but Ialso am from the Lower East
Side.
So I always tell kids, neverforget where you came from.
So I grew up in the Lower EastSide.
(10:52):
It was a very um interestingneighborhood back in the 70s
when I grew up.
I loved it.
Well, it was had this dangerpoints like most urban cities
have.
That era, though, was criticallydangerous and and and really,
really affected a lot of youngpeople if they weren't strong
enough or had some place to go.
And for me, fortunately, I had aplace called the Boys Club at
(11:14):
the time.
But it was a creativeenvironment full of many artists
and many poets and many writers.
And and and I didn't reallyunderstand that until as I got
older and realized the magicthat was occurring in that
neighborhood.
You know, places that struggle,art is a way of getting out of
that struggle, it's a way ofexpressing that struggle.
And I didn't realize that untillater on.
(11:34):
But I'm very happy to have beenborn and raised in the Lower
East Side.
And then going to the boys'club, having the chance to go
away to boarding school inProvidence, Rhode Island.
Uh, who would have thought ofit?
But my parents felt that it wasimportant for me to get out.
I was a good young man, butyou've when you're around a lot
of these landmines, you you justmight step into the wrong time
(11:55):
at the wrong place, andsomething could happen, even
though you're a good person.
So, but they saw that, and Ididn't know that.
I just said, wow, I'm going awayto school.
Did I do something bad?
No, that I think they they, totheir credit, they saw the
future and didn't want thatfuture to be derailed in any way
for me.
And then from there, I, youknow, I I I had a great career
in in prep school, I adjustedvery well, uh, succeeded in a
(12:17):
lot of leadership roles there.
And then I went to college,which was inevitable.
I went to Syracuse.
I the college, the collegeguidance that I use now with our
young people, I didn't have itthen.
I mean, I enjoyed my time atSyracuse, but I also, you know,
got into Middlebury, you know,got into BU.
You know, Middlebury would havebeen a nice small liberal arts
school.
But I went to Syracuse and Ithink, you know, like most kids,
(12:39):
I went to Syracuse because theywere in the final four the year
before.
So I was like, okay, I want togo there.
Um, but I don't think now, as Italk to kids, I that's not a
reason to pick a college.
But again, made some greatfriends, a great school, would
never change.
I would never change anything inmy life's journey.
Everything was meant to bebecause that's the way it was
laid out for me.
(13:00):
So yeah.
And then I and then aftercollege, I came back to New York
and wanted to be an actor.
SPEAKER_00 (13:05):
Oh.
Um yeah.
Is it did that start within yourcollege career, or was that
something that you had while youwere in the Lower East Side and
off to boarding school?
Like, did you always have inyour mind, like, I just I just
want to be an actor?
SPEAKER_01 (13:17):
You know, when I think about it, now that you
mentioned that, you know, I wasvery involved in creativity at
high school, in high school, youknow, did West Side Story, did
some poetry and all of that,very influenced by some of the
writers, New York City writers,that that I would pick up their
books at a library and say, wow,a lot, you know, and he wrote
this book.
And then in in college, I gotinvolved in a lot of theater
projects.
I think it was a calling, but Ididn't know that a lot of it was
(13:40):
probably embredded into me fromgrowing up where I grew up and
being in, I think it was in theair.
So many artists have come out ofthe Lower East Side, so many
great writers, great musicians,great poets.
It's really rich withcreativity.
I don't know.
I think it was in the air, butit was my calling.
It was my spirit.
It still is my spirit to becreative, and I decided to uh
pursue that and went through thewhole journey of uh watering and
(14:04):
bartending, and then finallygetting a big break on Broadway
with a play about the Lower EastSide, ironically, uh called Cuba
and his teddy bear.
And it was um the person whowrote it, uh someone I knew, and
he was the second Puerto Ricanever in the history of theater
to be produced on Broadway.
And he got Robert De Niro to bein it and Bert Young, Ralph
Machia.
(14:25):
It was quite a journey.
You know, I always tell Kityesterday I was sharing some
stories, you know, when we wentto a party and danced with
Madonna.
I was like, wow, I'm dancingwith Madonna.
Uh but again, that was that wasmy journey at that time.
And then it shifted.
And ironically, it's because ofthe boys club in many ways.
I was pursuing that that career,had a little girl, needed to
(14:45):
really get a little bit moresteady in my life.
And he offered me to, or wantedto nominate me for a job to work
in admissions at a school calledSUNY Purchase, which for those
who don't know, is a stateuniversity with a conservatory
school of the arts, one of thebest schools out there for a
state university and in thecountry for performing in visual
arts.
Again, the right match for me asI was looking to transition.
(15:07):
And then I was there and I gotto be an adjunct faculty in
theater, worked in admissions,and started really creating
programs.
So still, creativity is alwaysaround you.
Just you don't have to becreative because you're an actor
or singer or musician.
You can be creative as aprofessional administrator, as a
business person, um, you know,as a doctor.
I mean, creativity is veryimportant in everything we do.
(15:29):
Yourself creating this podcastis a form of creativity to
express, you know, and share tothe people out there.
And I did that at SUNY Purchase,and that was just the right
match.
And I created many programs, andthat's when I had the idea to do
the Latino College Expo.
That's something happened duringmy journeys and admissions that
triggered the idea to I need todo something.
(15:49):
And I took the chance to do it.
I still worked, but I had thispassion to create this event,
and it just it blossomed.
It blossomed.
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (15:58):
So you're this young man from the Lower East side,
figuring life out after college,doing some watering, all the
things you need to do to pursueyour your dreams at the time,
and you actually get to act onBroadway.
Uh, which also is not somethingto overlook, right?
Like it's one thing to say, atsome point I want to be an
(16:18):
actor.
It's another thing to actuallydo the thing, right?
Like you have actually done thethings that you have put into
the universe.
You know, I think one would loveto hear about kind of your
experience on Broadway and howkind of learnings that you got
from it and how that helpedshape you.
And then two, I know youmentioned it sounds like you you
had a daughter at the time thatthen sparked some thoughts into
(16:41):
your head about getting somestable income.
But, you know, we'd love to heara little bit more about that
process because that's a veryunique path.
SPEAKER_01 (16:47):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I mean, it didn't just get
to Broadway.
I did some off-Broadway, didsome commercials, and then had
the chance to get on Broadway.
It wasn't an easy journey.
And when I first auditioned forthe play, I made the wrong
choice.
So again, making choice isimportant.
I make the wrong choice in termsof some of the uh choices I made
when I auditioned.
I if I would have twisted it alittle bit, but again, so I
didn't get the actual part, Igot, but I got on as an
(17:10):
understudy.
Then when we went to Broadway, Itook over the role.
So I, you know, you have to bean understudy before you get the
role, if you don't get the roleright away.
And that was a business becausewhen you become an understudy,
you don't that doesn'tnecessarily guarantee that
you're gonna go on to Broadwaywhen they start moving from off
Broadway to Broadway.
They want to make sure it's abusiness that you can carry your
weight for if that opportunityhappens and you have to play the
(17:30):
role that you're gonna do wellenough, you know, to keep it on
that level, especially with theactors that were leading the
show, you know, you know, Bobbyand um and and Bert and Ralphie
and many others, um Paul calledit on.
And but I was taken to Broadwayas an understudy and I took
over.
And I learned a lot.
I learned a lot that I applynow.
I learned about being committed,I learned about being truthful,
(17:53):
I learned about my manager,being creative, being
passionate, being creative,being truthful.
As an actor, you have tocommunicate.
As an actor, you have to connectto the audience, not only in
their head, but in their heart.
And you have to really listenand you have to really give and
you have to be able to takeback.
These are all things of life.
And and I studied with, youknow, with the study with De
(18:14):
Niro, but being on there withhim and watching the energy just
trans transmit from his body.
When and this is different thana movie.
Theater is real life.
Theater is happening rightthere.
You know, you're looking at it,you're feeling his heat, you're
feeling his laughter, you'reyou're you're you're you're
looking at each other.
You know, it's tremendous, atremendous feeling.
(18:36):
But but to bring that into thiscareer that I do now, it's still
relevant.
You know, you have tocommunicate with families, you
have to communicate with kids,you have to communicate with
school officials, you have toreally be honest, and you have
to really sh tell your story andadvocate.
But you really have to also bepassionate and and and be
creative to make like LatinoCollege Expo came out of
(18:58):
creativity.
I could have sat there and justuh introduced my school, go to
all these different events, butI had a different eye calling or
a different thought process inmy head that I need to do
something bigger than that.
I need to really make a bigbigger impact.
This is important, not just forthe school, but for the Latino
community at the time and justall young people.
And sometimes you have to followit, you have to take that leap
(19:21):
and you have to be creative.
And I think theater is the same,theater is the same way.
You have to take that leap, takea chance.
You know, a funny story.
I did the show one day and itwas De Niro's birthday.
So I come in on the scene, Iknock on the door, his back is
to the audience, and then helets me in, you know, and and
I'm and I'm saying, Who is he?
I said happy because the thingis is um red lights was my
(19:43):
character, but I changed it thatday.
Why?
Because that was his birthday.
So I said, happy, happy, it'shappy.
He said, Who, happy, happy?
And he opened the door, happybirthday, you know, and no one
knew what that all meant.
Only he and I and somebody, buthe looked at me because his back
is to the ones.
He just gave me a little smirk.
You got me there, because he heloves improvisation, you know.
So I improvise, but it added alittle different element.
(20:06):
But I think that's so wonderfulto try to improvise and try to
find new ways to keep thingsfresh.
And as a business person, youcan understand that.
As a creative, you definitelyhave to understand that.
And as an admissions person, youdefinitely have to understand
that as well.
I've done seminars since thenand workshops with admissions
people to bring some of thoseapproaches to the work of
(20:27):
creativity and acting into thework of admissions because you
are dealing with people.
So I really combine both.
But my foundation, I call myselfa creative educator, not just an
educator, but a creativeeducator.
SPEAKER_00 (20:39):
That's great.
And that, you know, I think thatthat term really embodies who
you are, right?
Um, from all I know about you,is like I'm gonna take all the
pieces from the different walksof my life and bring them
together for the impact that I'mtrying to have here for the
youth that you're committed to.
I I love that term.
Uh, would would like to hearmore about now that you're
working at SUNY Purchase, whatis the moment that happens that
(21:02):
lets you know, sure, I'll keepmy enroll at SUNY Purchase or
continue to work in this field.
And there's a need for thisLatino College Expo.
Tell me more about that, Pat.
SPEAKER_01 (21:12):
Well, you know, being one of the only Latino
administrators, you know, whichis still kind of like that, make
a lot a lot better now.
But at the time, you know, Ireally gravitated to the Latino
students on campus and allstudents of color on campus or
you know, black and brown kidson campus.
And I became an advisor to youknow a Latino organization.
Uh, they wanted to do a play.
When they heard my background, Iactually helped them put
(21:33):
together a great performancethat I still have a video of it
because I did the openingmonologue, and they were like,
Man, Mr.
Ponty, you really know how toact.
Oh, it was really funny.
But being creative, I also saw aneed, there's a program called
EOP, H E O P Higher EducationOpportunity Program, Education
Opportunity Program, where inorder to get into that program,
(21:53):
you have to fit a financialguideline and an academic
guideline.
So during that time when I wouldgo, I would see kids that fit
the academic guideline, but notthe financial.
So they were in this catch 22.
I can't get in academically, Ican't get in financially, how am
I going to get in?
So I approached the dean ofacademic affairs with an idea.
(22:14):
Let's start a program wherestudents who are academically
not eligible and financially noteligible, a chance.
And a handful, about 10 kids.
And let me work with them, letme guide them and advocate how
they can navigate the resourceson the campus because they don't
realize you don't have to bepart of a special program.
There are many support serviceson campus.
(22:34):
Again, you have to know how tonavigate.
And he said yes, because ithelped to build numbers.
And we did.
I had 10, 9 came back.
Eventually, by the time I left,I had 150 kids in the program.
But I gave chances to some kidsthat are excelling today, that
even and one in particular thatI always talk about.
His name is, and I'm sureAnthony Goanaga.
I always talk about him.
(22:55):
Those that know me say, oh,again, you're talking about
Anthony.
But Anthony really uh deplicsthe work and the importance.
He had a 75 average.
I took him into the program.
He wanted to be a bio major.
He wanted to be a trainer.
At the time, the New York Knickswere training at the facility.
I went and I connected him tothe trainer then to provide an
internship for him.
(23:15):
He got the internship.
He ran with that internship.
He folded towels for the first,you know, four years while being
a bio pre-med major.
But he'd also gained the trustof the Knicks staff, coming
there every day, committed towhat he had to do, went on and
got his doctorate and master'sin physical therapy.
Anyway, he is the doctor of theNew York Knicks for training.
(23:37):
He is the main doctor.
He's been with them like 25, 30years, but he's he started at 17
as an intern.
And he's so successful and so soindicative of giving someone a
chance.
And I have thousands of storieslike that.
And and and he he came back andspoke to some of my kids about
the value of internships tounderstand if this is something
(23:57):
you want to do in life.
Really don't disregard doing aninternship if you're not getting
paid.
You know, it's all about gettingexperience and all about
exploring whether this issomething you see yourself doing
down the line.
So he he's tremendous.
Luis Roseto, another greatperson, accepted through my
program, who was on the board ofHispanic Federation, doing
really well, you know, uhfinancially and career-wise.
(24:20):
And these guys always rememberthat pivotal moment that they
had um with me.
And I feel really good.
I I really get excited about allthe young people I've helped
over the years.
I can go on and on and write abook just on all these people
that that that really um displayhow important getting that
pivotal moment in your life cando for your trajectory of your
(24:41):
future.
SPEAKER_00 (24:41):
No, absolutely.
So I'm sure you have so manymore of these folks that are
like just prime examples of thegreat work.
Tell me more about how do youthen grow this from a one-time
program for 10 students to justhelp them, right?
To what it is now, right?
Like this is now 30 years later?
SPEAKER_01 (25:01):
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, I don't do the programnow.
I mean, I'm not there anymore.
And the program has evolved andmorphed into something else.
But at the time, it was theoriginal idea and concept that
really was the springboard towhat they do now.
SPEAKER_00 (25:14):
Interesting.
So so you're doing that andyou're having that impact within
within the campus, and then yougo off and say, you know what, I
also am gonna host this collegeexpo too, as you said earlier,
to then bring in also theparents, um, get them a little
bit more involved.
Like what right.
How how does that how do thosepieces come together?
(25:36):
How do you go from just doingthe work internally for a subset
to then saying, I also need todo much more?
SPEAKER_01 (25:42):
I mean, you have to have passion, first of all.
And the and the expo evolved bygoing to college fairs as a
representative for the college Iwas working at and seeing
students not asked the rightquestions, seeing parents not as
invested or unaware and reallyholding them back.
And one evening, driving backafter I spoke to a young lady
with her mom in the Bronx, SUNYpurchases in Westchester,
(26:03):
literally a half hour away.
You know, if you take theBeeline bus or the Metro North,
and mother saying, no, you can'tgo, you can't apply, it's too
far.
And I was like, wait a minute,mom, this is really this is
closer than her going to SUNYBinghamton or something like
that.
You know, and and and um I came,I was driving back with a
colleague from anotherinstitution, and we were just
talking a lot of Latino mail.
(26:24):
Um, and together we just said,you know, we got to let's try to
do something.
And we said, let's, and it'sreally funny.
We just said, let's call itLatino College Ex.
It was on a drive home.
And they say, well, let's callother colleges then.
Let's call and try to find aspace to do a college fair,
making sure that most of thecollege admissions people are
(26:44):
bilingual, offering someworkshops to explain the basic
financial aid process and how tofill out an application, and
let's see where it goes, youknow, and and do it on a
Saturday so there's less redtape with getting kids out of
school.
And first time I had maybe like30 colleges and and maybe about
350 kids, but we did it.
Kept doing it every year.
(27:05):
That, yeah, but you know, it is,it is, it is for the first time.
I mean, that's not bad.
But it grew at its peak becausethings have changed recently in
this whole landscape.
But at its peak, I would getabout 150 colleges, about 1,500
to 2,000 kids coming.
And I had some of the greatestspeakers that you can imagine
come and offer their time tospeak to the students in the
(27:27):
opening leadership summit, uh,which my partner helped me to
really evolve that even greater.
And then, you know, I got togive props to, you know, Diempo,
the talk show on Channel 7, Mr.
Joe Torres, who's had me on hisshow for over 20 years, or or
close to 20 years.
And two years ago theycelebrated their 40th, and he
even put me on and said, Andthis is Antonio, who I've known
(27:47):
him since we both didn't havehair, or I he had black hair,
now I have he has gray hair, andI have no hair.
Um, but we've known each other,become friends.
But people like that havesupported the visibility of the
audio, you know, AM New York,you know, the Makardo project.
They've they've supported.
I've gotten a lot of support.
Now it's been challenging thelast few years.
(28:08):
The landscape has changed, youknow, after COVID, you know, a
lot of virtual college fairshave popped up.
That personal touch is not thereas much.
Um, also, you know, thelandscape with immigration has
caused some fear with us, ouryoung families and and kids, you
know, to last my last expo lastyear that I, you know, it was
good, but it wasn't, you know, Ifelt, I felt the little gap.
(28:30):
And I think there was the fearof what was going on in this
world today.
And so I'm I'm reevaluating thenext one in 2026.
I don't want to stop.
I will keep doing it.
Is it gonna be a virtual event?
Is it gonna be a live event?
I still have some time to figurethat out.
I'm gonna speak to some of mycolleagues and people that have
supported me and figure thisout.
If I do it in a virtual method,I really want to get a good
(28:54):
platform, you know, get thesponsorship I need to create a
really, in, really robustplatform where it almost feels
like you're there in person.
I know in person it's alwaysbest, but I think if if my
vision comes together, I willhave a powerful virtual uh
platform that'll still educateeveryone, provide, and I can
always work with themindividually afterwards.
(29:16):
But I want to keep going withthe mission of the Latino
College Expo.
It's really taught me everythingI am today.
It's really been embedded intomy DNA and who I am.
It really set me up as a leader,much more than all the other
work I've done, because the Expowas expanded.
I've had calls from people to doit in other states, other people
have replicated it, like inCalifornia, in Miami, and in you
(29:37):
know, Florida.
Um, and that's okay.
That's that's a testament to thework.
Yeah, I feel really proud that Ithat I, again, being creative,
that I took that leap to dosomething.
And you never know unless youtry, as an old adage.
But that's kind of how Iapproach life now as I get to my
my years of going to my thirdchapter, you know, more
consulting and and eventsplanning.
SPEAKER_00 (30:00):
Yeah, no.
So you see, I think this is sopowerful, right?
Because you already had animpactful role within a
university, right?
You're a SUNY purchase, you'rehelping students like myself
that went through HEOP or EOP,right?
You're providing so much accessto things.
Somewhere in your brain, you goto so many college fairs all the
(30:20):
time, and you're like, actually,why don't we just host one for
the kids that we want tosupport, right?
And like to then go from thatkernel of an of an idea to the
first year already having 350people there, over 30 colleges,
like that's really powerful,right?
And then to build on that yearafter year, like we're talking
about thousands of students,families that have been impacted
(30:42):
by your work and that are ableto trace a direct line.
And I'm I'm sure a lot of thesestories you may not even know
how that impacted them, right?
Like even yeah, like even justthat person of oh, SUNY purchase
is so far from the Bronx, andyou're like, it's 30 minutes.
Like you can go to St.
John's and travel longer, andthat's in the city, right?
You can go to Brooklyn forcollege and that's further.
(31:03):
But just that like expanding andand giving some of that
knowledge away is just extremelypowerful.
And I'm sure your work has hadso many ripple effects
throughout our communities in away that's well.
SPEAKER_01 (31:13):
It's interesting.
That young girl did go to SUNYPersia.
That young girl is now, youknow, a mother and has her MSW.
And I saw her about maybe likesix months ago in an event at
the Museo El Barrio, and shewalked, she like ran, she saw
me, she knew I was there.
You know, Tony, because peoplethey've known me for a long
time, and now it's not Mr.
Ponty.
I mean, she's in the dope.
Tony, oh my God.
(31:34):
And I said, Doris, oh my God,how are you doing?
And it it it's really, I I Idon't even have words that can
express the feelings I feel andand how proud I am that my
calling has been the work that Ido today.
SPEAKER_00 (31:45):
Yeah, no, that's absolutely fascinating.
I think it's it's such ablessing, and it's something
that not many people get torealize within their lifetime.
And I think you've done thatmultiple times over, right?
Like you have, you're like, hey,I want to be an actor.
You're an actor.
Um, I want to help the youth.
You did that both through yourcareer as SUNY Purchased and at
(32:06):
the Boys Club and continue to dothat work, and then you go above
and beyond and say, Well, Istill want to do more.
So let me do things like thisLatino College Expo and help
even more families um get theright resources, just understand
information better, know theiroptions, and just let them do
with that information what theywill, but at least they won't
make decisions withoutinformation.
(32:27):
Um, so it's like extremelypowerful and extremely, you
know, just life-changing to havepeople like you that go above
and beyond their nine to five.
SPEAKER_01 (32:34):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm just one of many.
Thanks, thank God.
There are a lot, a lot of peopledoing this work, a lot of my
colleagues, a lot of otherorganizations that I've
spearheaded or supported ormentored and or offered best
practices or inspired to do thesame thing.
So I think, you know, it'sreally snowballed into a
movement in many ways.
Back in the day, Aspida was theorganization that provided for
(32:56):
our Latino community.
Now you have, you know, HispanicFederation is one of the largest
ones out there.
You know, the Expo is still asmall kid on the block, but a
very impactful small kid on theblock that really did it with
passion and with creativity andwith truth.
SPEAKER_00 (33:10):
What are you more most proud of in your career?
SPEAKER_01 (33:13):
Well, I'll probably the expo.
I think the expo, being onBroadway with Robert De Niro,
it's like a dream come true.
Just to work every day and andseeing lives that have been
changed, and and they they say,Thanks, Mr.
Ponte, for helping me.
And at that time, I mean,they've taken it to a greater
heights, but you always needthat pivotal moment, you always
need that start.
And to be the the start ofsomeone's, you know, seeing that
(33:36):
there's more out there in thisworld, I think it's one of the
greatest uh moments, you know,and and trying to be a good
father, and you know, made mymistakes, you know, it's hard
being a single father, but uh,but at least I stayed there.
And and and whether she sees itor not, I think as she gets
older, she'll see it.
But I've been there and it willnever leave her and always will
do my best to support her in herher journeys.
(33:59):
Great.
SPEAKER_00 (34:00):
Are there any forms of media?
I mean, that could be a play,that could be a book, uh, that
could be um any anything elsethat you have consumed that has
shaped you personally orprofessionally?
SPEAKER_01 (34:11):
Yeah, I mean, I like looking at books, I like reading
books.
I love theater, you know, uh andand and and the message that it
can share if it's if it's wellwritten.
But I think some books is uh Isay pivotal moments a lot during
our conversation, but that is abook by Roberto Espinosa.
And I and I that reallytriggered a lot for me because
it made me realize, you know,that I create pivotal moments
(34:34):
for kids and for young peopleand for people I meet, and that
a pivotal moment can reallychange their life.
And everyone, if they reallythink, has had a pivotal moment,
whether it's their basketballcoach, the school counselor,
their parent, someone was thatmoment that was pivotal in their
lives.
So that's one book.
Another book is starts with whyby Simon Sinek.
(34:55):
I love that.
I love what he says.
It's not what you do, it's nothow you do it, it's why you do
it.
And that why is so important inthe work that we do.
Because everyone does this work,but why, that's how you sell it.
Um, that's how you connect it.
Because if they understand thewhy, it takes on a greater
importance.
And um, and then this other bookthat I really like is called Um
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin,the musician and producer.
(35:18):
And he really touches upon somany things.
You know, again, uh combiningcreativity with education, uh,
with realization, with purpose.
And um, and I think that bookhas also been very, very good to
me and continues to toinvigorate the work that I do.
And and I look at it from acreative lens.
(35:39):
Everything I do, I'm not I'm nota textbook guy with saying, you
know, the metric show.
I'm about connecting and really,really seeing if there's 2,000
in my best approach, everysingle one approach and support
them as the individual they are.
And that's a lot of work.
But I think when you developsomething and you know how to do
(35:59):
it and it's innate in your inyour DNA and in your spirit, I
think it just happens naturally.
I think I've been gifted withthat and have that that that
that that I don't want to getinto spiritual, but but that
spiritual connection that I thatI have.
I'm Latinos, we know we're gonnagrow up with some spirituality.
But I do believe in reallyconnecting with a person's soul
and and listening to their theirtheir their needs and goals and
(36:22):
trying to help them.
SPEAKER_00 (36:24):
So you've had so many different kinds of careers.
Um at each point, can you talk alittle bit about how much money
folks can make in differentfields, right?
So in the acting space, I knowthat that was one of the
determining factors for you tothen go back to getting a
full-time role, right?
But like kind of just give folksa sense of at that time how much
(36:45):
money people can make in thatfield, um, and then through the
work that you're doing in directservices with something like the
boys club, right?
Um, and then as someone that hasyour own organization with the
Latino College Expo, like howhow do these pieces come
together?
SPEAKER_01 (36:57):
Ooh, it's a lot there.
You know, being an actor, youhave to have a passion.
I mean, you have that passion,right?
Be an actor is the high is thehigh and the lows the low,
someone told me, you know, andyou have to be per you have to
persevere, you have to bepersistent.
You have to have some talent.
That's not good enough, but youdo have to have some talent.
I mean, you have to just followyour heart, man.
If, you know, and if you reallywant to be an actor or musician
(37:19):
or an artist, follow it.
I'm never gonna turn anyonedown, but just be strategic and
work hard and understand thatthe high is the high and the
lows are low, and you alwayshave to learn.
You always have to continue togrow as as a performer and learn
the tools and learn from some ofthe greats.
And always but be out there.
Always audition.
You learn, always.
I I did a play, I auditioned fora play, I didn't get the part,
(37:42):
but the the act the directorremembered me.
And then there was another playlike three months down the line.
I got a call, you know, hey, youaudition for you, you weren't
right for the road, but Iremember you.
You had a really good audition.
Would you like to come in andaudition for this part?
And um, so always leave a goodimpression, but just understand,
you know, also, I mean, justunderstand that if if this is
(38:03):
the path you choose, then go forit.
I mean, one of the reasons Istepped out was not because I I
wasn't succeeding or I wasn't onthe cusp of maybe.
You have to be very selfish asan actor.
I mean, I just had my littlegirl and I had her by myself, so
it was a lot more work.
And I knew there was a calling,maybe, to do the work that I'm
doing now.
And and I knew there wassomething still not satisfying
(38:24):
me.
And there's the art of acting,this is the business of acting,
understanding both.
So I can't say how much youmake.
Yeah, you can hit it big andmake really good money.
Um, but you can also bestruggling around along the
road.
But if but you got to bepersistent and know when to step
out if you have to, but alsojust stay persistent.
In terms of admissions work, youknow, that's not something, you
know, while now they do have alot of courses and a lot of
(38:46):
certificate programs.
I think, you know, you canexplore it as a young person by
volunteering, you know, at yourcollege with the admissions
office giving tours.
There are different levelsdepending where you work.
You don't become an admissionsor dean of enrollment right
away.
You have to be patient, a youngperson.
You have to be patient and grow.
You have to start as anadmissions counselor, um, work
your way up, maybe becomeassociate, maybe become senior,
(39:08):
and then maybe become dean ordean of enrollment or director
of admissions.
There are many, you work forcity university, for state
university, for privateinstitutions, you know,
independent schools, you canwork at a private school, you
can work at a charter school.
They all have different levels,but just again, you have to
stick with it.
I think there's a great, greatgrowth, growth growth path in
that field, but you have tostick with it.
(39:29):
You have to understand that it'sa process, that it's a marathon
and not a sprint.
I tell that a lot to a lot ofyoung people.
It's a marathon and not asprint.
And understand that.
And you have to have thatwillingness to get out of your
comfort zone and meet people andconnect and learn.
Always be a learner, always be asponge.
And I think if you dedicate andyou show your work ethic, it is
(39:51):
going to be highs during the,especially the academic season,
where you're working days,nights, weekends, but it all
settles in later after you'vemet your class.
But if you like it, if youreally want to do it, just meet,
learn, and connect.
There are a lot of organizationsout there.
College Access Consortium of NewYork is one that I believe in
very much.
I was a founding member of that.
(40:12):
And it's a great network foranyone interested in college
access.
You know, there are a lot ofthere are a lot of ways.
You just have to really uh beout there and and and be a
student of the game.
But you can make a good living.
You know, and if you work in anindependent school, you can live
on campus for free.
You know, that's always awonderful first job.
It could lead to a career.
But when you're young, go to andnot pay for rent, not pay for
(40:32):
gas, electricity, maybe haveyour family or your significant
other with you, get your, youknow, get your your graduate
degree paid for.
I mean, I think it's a greatstart for someone and then see
where life takes you after that.
Um, that's how that's my answerto that.
SPEAKER_00 (40:47):
Absolutely.
No, that's a you know, those aresome really good career cheat
codes there, right?
Um, especially if you thinkabout having a role early on in
your career that gives you freeeducation.
That gives that was you knowsomething I definitely took
advantage of, and that's how Ihave a master's degree now,
right?
Thinking about a place thatgives you free housing, right?
Like that's an opportunity tocut your biggest expense
(41:08):
normally and save that money andset your family up for the
future.
So those are those are somereally good points that you
mentioned there.
You are a very layeredindividual, and you have so many
kind of pieces that may seemdisconnected to others, but you
you bring them together reallywell.
Um, I really like the frame acreative educator, um, because I
(41:29):
do think bringing thatcreativity to all of your spaces
is important, right?
Like I don't think we're alllinear, and even if we're an
accountant and that's what wedo, there are creative ways to
do that.
There are creative things thatyou can bring out into the world
that that make you just betterat what you do, or separate
outlets that at least kind ofbring the full person together.
(41:50):
Um, so I appreciate you sharingall of that.
How can people support the uhLatino College Expo or learn
about it?
SPEAKER_01 (41:56):
Well, they can go to our website.
I mean, obviously, when I dopromote, just continue to check
the website and I'll have moreupdates on when the next one's
going to be.
I think, you know, I do a lot ofworkshops or try to do a lot of
virtual, you know, uh panelistsuh to have people like yourself
share their share their story,you know, offering time, though
(42:17):
I do have quite a resource ofpeople over the years that I've
helped, uh I can always usemore.
Obviously, you know, we're501c3, but we're still growing.
You know, I I just keep lettingit, just keep supporting it.
You know, if you're an educatorand work in a high school,
supported within your schools toattend, to attend any of the
events we do in person orvirtual.
You know, if you're in the highschool, you know, come and seek
(42:39):
out the work of myself and andothers out there to help
navigate their journey to havethat opportunity to make an
opportunity of a private schoolaffordable, if that's what you
choose.
You know, and or if you'relooking at staying local with
public or charter, you know,seek out our help and my help to
um to navigate that journey.
There is nothing I haven't seenover the years.
(42:59):
And and I don't care if you havea 60 average or 98 average, I
will find a home for you.
So don't feel I'm not doing wellin school, I can't go to
college.
No, that is so untrue.
You know, you just have to wantit, and then there are people
like me, but if not, you canjust reach out to me and I will
help you to navigate a roadmap,a game plan to get to where you
(43:22):
want to be.
At the end, you have to carry itout, but I will provide a script
to use the term, and you have tobring your individuality to the
script, but at least you'll havea script to follow that if
you've if you work hard to learnthe lines, to to inject your own
personality into it, you will uhsucceed.
SPEAKER_00 (43:40):
Is there anything else we haven't discussed that
the world should know aboutAntonio?
SPEAKER_01 (43:44):
Antonio loves movies, Antonio loves live salsa
music, Antonio loves animals,Antonio likes to embrace life,
and Antonio likes to help anyonethat asks for help if I if it's
possible.
If not, then I will lead you tosomeone else that can.
And Antonio's very very blessedto to his parents in heaven and
(44:07):
to the people I've gotten toknow, and now you in my circles
um that I've gotten to know.
So thank you to you and to theworld.
SPEAKER_00 (44:16):
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing that.
Thanks for coming on CareerChico today.
SPEAKER_01 (44:21):
Thank you for having me.
I really um, you know, I washonored when you called and and
excited that we completed thisconversation.
And I hope that when it doesair, that people can, you know,
try to read between the linesand and try to maybe capture
what I was trying to say.
I hope they get it.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (44:37):
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
If you did and believe on themission we're on, please like,
rate, and subscribe to thispodcast on whatever platform
you're using, and share thispodcast with your friends and
your networks.
Make sure you follow us onInstagram and LinkedIn at Career
Cheat Code and tell us people orcareers you would like to see
highlighted.
See you next week with some morecheat codes.
Peace.
So many artists have come out of the Lower East Side,
so many great writers, greatmusicians, great poets.
It's really rich withcreativity.
I don't know.
I think it was in the air, butit was my calling.
It was my spirit.
It still is my spirit to becreative.
And I decided to uh pursue thatand went through the whole
journey of uh wading andbartending and then finally
(00:20):
getting a big break on Broadway.
SPEAKER_00 (00:22):
Welcome to Career Cheat Code.
In this podcast, you'll hear howeveryday people impact the world
through their careers.
Learn about their journey,career hacks, and obstacles
along the way.
Whether you're already havingthe impact you want or are
searching for it, this is thepodcast for you.
All right.
Antonio, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01 (00:39):
Thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate theopportunity to share my story.
SPEAKER_00 (00:43):
Absolutely.
Um, it's great to have folkslike you over on Career Cheat
Code, especially because you doso many great things that are
beneficial to our communities.
So let's just dive right in.
Let's tell the world what it isyou do for a living.
SPEAKER_01 (00:54):
You know, I have a title, and I mean director of
educational and career services,and also for the Boys Club of
New York, but also the founderof the Latino College Expo.
But I always put all thosetitles under one umbrella, which
is changing the lives of youngpeople in the communities I
serve.
SPEAKER_00 (01:09):
That's amazing.
So tell me more about your yourrole at the Boys Club.
Um, what is it that you'retasked with doing there?
And when you walk in on Monday,what is it that you're that
you're planning for the week andresponsible for?
SPEAKER_01 (01:19):
Yeah, it's interesting.
The work I do starts even beforeI enter the office as soon as I
wake up in many ways, because Icheck, you know, emails and and
and see if anything is needed bythe parents that I work with and
the families that I work with.
But what I do, you know, underthat title, it's not limited to
educational career services, butit is opening access and
allowing families to understandhow to navigate this journey of
(01:42):
getting their child into a greathigh school and into a great
college.
And not so much a great, buttheir right match college
because it's not always aboutgetting into because it has a
name.
It's about getting to the schoolthat's the best match for your
child's personality, for theirinterests, so they can have a
better and greater chance ofsucceeding.
Uh, we get caught up with names,but it's really more important
the right match because it'stheir journey for the next four
(02:05):
years or eight years or tenyears.
So it's important to do that.
And that's quite what I do.
And I also try to connect themto other resources out there.
We don't have all the answers.
I don't have all the answers,but I have quite a set of
resources and relationships thatI've built that I can
communicate with them and alsoconnect them to what else is out
(02:26):
there that can help them.
SPEAKER_00 (02:27):
So while these young men are at the boys club for
many different reasons, right?
Because you can be there forrecreational purposes or other
things, you're looking at itfrom the perspective of how do
we now think about their futureswhile they're while they're in
in this building?
How do we prepare them and theirfamilies for high school,
college, um, and kind of usingboth the network that you've now
(02:49):
built over the last decades,right?
Um, but also just what you knowabout these the youth.
What do we know about these kidsor young young people to kind of
make those matches?
SPEAKER_01 (02:59):
Well, again, knowledge is power in many ways,
understanding how to navigate,understanding that there are
resources, I mean, especiallyaround education, people get
scared of a price tag, butunderstanding that there are
ways to overcome that price tag,and there are so many options
beyond the radius of where theylive.
There are other states that arelooking for kids that look like
them, and parents especially tounderstand that it's an
(03:21):
opportunity for your child, andif they if they've earned that
opportunity, they should nothold them back.
Not that they want to hold themback, but they're fearful.
Don't let fear hold you backfrom trying to find better
angles and better roads towardssuccess.
And if your child has earned it,why not?
So a lot of it is inspirational.
A lot of it is is is getting toknow them, getting to know what
(03:42):
their interests are, and tryingthen to connect those dots.
Because kids have interests andthey don't even know it.
But when you get to talk tothem, they kind of share and
reveal some of their talents andsome of their passions.
And then if we really click,then I would help them to really
follow that passion in a roadmapthat's really going to connect
all the dots for them and alsoinspire them.
(04:04):
And it's okay to fall, it's okaynot to have uh have made
mistakes, it's okay to not bestrong in math or English.
We'll work with you and and helpyou.
And also trades.
Um, over the years I've gottenreally much into talking to
students about trade because noteveryone wants to go to an
academic institution, and tradesare booming, and they're great
careers, very lucrative careers.
(04:26):
And if their passion is withtheir hands and doing things
around HVAC or plumbing, it'sokay.
And it's a great career.
But know how to do it right,know how to get the right
certification, know how to thinkbeyond and become the owner of a
company.
So have that entrepreneurialspirit is what I also try to
teach students.
They have it naturally, but theydon't know it sometimes.
SPEAKER_00 (04:48):
Absolutely.
And like you said, it's youknow, providing some of that
insight and knowledge andexpanding their mind to
possibilities, right?
I know I've spoken to teenagers,so I have a kid in college now.
I've spoken to teenagers thatare his peers, and they're like,
I'm not applying to college,that's too expensive.
My parents can't afford that.
I'm like, wait a minute.
How about you sit down with somefolks that do this for a living
(05:09):
and they can tell you about someoptions, right?
Because I'm a fortunate productof services like this, right?
Not the boys club directly, butservices like that of people
that took the time out to say,well, let's let's explore some
options for you.
Like, I know your parents don'thave a lot of money saved up for
college, but can we use yourfinancial situation to secure
some grants, to secure somefinancial aid, to get you to the
(05:33):
right place that'll that'llnurture your talents.
So I try to like pass that down.
But I feel like I relied so muchon people like you growing up to
help me jumpstart my career andget to the right place.
SPEAKER_01 (05:43):
No, I I agree totally.
I agree totally.
I I don't want to uh be remissnot to talk about the expo and
the Latino College Expo, becausethat's part of this journey as
well and what I offer and havingthat idea to start this event 35
plus years ago was definitelymonumental for me, but also for
the thousands and thousands ofkids uh that have attended the
(06:04):
event.
And that triggered through mywork in admissions, uh where I
was seeing parents not as versedin the process.
But again, putting it inperspective, 35 years ago,
parents have become moreknowledgeable, but with the
influx of immigration andlanguage learners, it's still a
not known entity for them, uh,the idea of affording college.
But the Expo was a bridge withparents to become better
(06:26):
partners with their child, um,bringing in different colleges
that are bilingual in terms oftheir representation so they can
deliver the message not only inEnglish to the students, but
also Spanish to the parents.
Um, we forget to feel thatwithout the parents' support,
it's not gonna happen.
And um, and I really want tofocus on bringing uh a
partnership that's really gonnabenefit them and the community
(06:48):
they live in.
SPEAKER_00 (06:49):
Absolutely.
So we'll spend we'll definitelyspend some time talking about
the college expo because I thinkthat it all ties in and it all,
as you said, it's one umbrella,right?
It's just who you are and thework that you're doing to shape
people's lives.
We'd love to hear more aboutwithin the boys club.
One, how long have you beenthere?
And two, was your starting rolethe same role where you are now?
Like, what does that look like?
And I'm thinking about it fromthe perspective of you have a
(07:11):
very mission-aligned career,right?
And that's not always the casefor us.
It's like sometimes we have tofigure out community impact
outside of our work lives, butthat's not your case.
It seems very mission-aligned.
So we'd love to hear more abouthow you started in in this path,
and then we can we can talkabout the career expo there.
SPEAKER_01 (07:29):
Sure, sure, sure.
I mean, I as far as the boysclub, I mean, I was a product of
the boys club when I was ateenager, and I had the
opportunity to go there when Iwas about 11 or 12.
A little later than most kids,but it was the time that I was
allowed to go by my parents.
But it was pivotal for me to gothere to help me to have a safe
haven.
So I know the impact of whatthat offers, just being in a
(07:51):
safe environment where you canactually learn, expand, meet
friends, and and and not haveyour parents worry about you
being in the streets.
That kind of morphed into goingaway to school, going away to
boarding school, actually, whichthat was my pivotal moment for
me.
And then years later, you know,going on to college and then and
then coming back to the boys'club to work in the position and
(08:13):
in the program that helped me togo away, it was a no-brainer for
me.
It was like full circle for me.
I said, wow, I can do whatsomebody else did for me to help
them get out of the city and goaway to these expensive schools
that you have so manyopportunities.
And now I'm in the role ofmaking that decision and
changing a student's life.
(08:34):
I just jumped on it.
It was more personal thanactually, you know, business or
just moving up the ladder andgoing into a different career,
which I've had a differentcareer before that, which
hopefully I can share.
But so I've been there, youknow, since then, and I was a
director of high school andcollege placement.
It morphed a little bit intoeducational career services.
But, you know, to me, titlesdon't mean anything.
(08:56):
I honestly, you really, reallydon't.
It's the impact of the work.
But the work and the impact ofthe work is around helping and
elevating the educationalaspirations of our young people
and bridging the gap betweenparents and young people working
together to get to the nextlevel and bringing resources and
connecting them to alumni thathave succeeded so they can see
(09:18):
and hear stories of people thatlook like them.
So I really am holistic in myapproach.
Um, there are bullet points,applications, essay prep, test
prep, bringing in schools forinterviews, taking them to a
school, visiting them, writingthem emails, talking to the
parents to navigate thefinancial aid process,
advocating if they got introuble, if they want to wait to
(09:40):
a school or are adjusting tocollege and having challenges.
All of that falls under myumbrella.
So it is practical, but it'salso holistic because we are
human beings at the end of theday and have our own stories,
and each of us are in adifferent place.
And I have I try to reallyconnect to where they are to
help them get to where they needto be or want to be.
SPEAKER_00 (09:59):
Wow.
So it sounds like not only isyour role rewarding, it's also a
full circle moment, right?
Like you were a beneficiary ofthis program to then come back
and say, you know what, how do Inow help others achieve that
path?
And to then fall in love withit, right?
Like you have to love doing thatif you're if you're there, you
know, over 20 years later.
So we'd love to hear more aboutone, where did you grow up that
(10:24):
you were going to the voiceclub?
Where'd you end up going tocollege, that you went away for
a while and came back?
So let's talk about some of yourupbringing.
SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
Well, I was born and raised in the Lower East Side of
New York, and I'm very proud tobe a New Yorkin from the Lower
East Side.
And as my partner calls me,Puerto Rican preppy from the
Lower East Side.
And I I say that because I'm,you know, I'm Puerto Rican.
I went to prep school, but Ialso am from the Lower East
Side.
So I always tell kids, neverforget where you came from.
So I grew up in the Lower EastSide.
(10:52):
It was a very um interestingneighborhood back in the 70s
when I grew up.
I loved it.
Well, it was had this dangerpoints like most urban cities
have.
That era, though, was criticallydangerous and and and really,
really affected a lot of youngpeople if they weren't strong
enough or had some place to go.
And for me, fortunately, I had aplace called the Boys Club at
(11:14):
the time.
But it was a creativeenvironment full of many artists
and many poets and many writers.
And and and I didn't reallyunderstand that until as I got
older and realized the magicthat was occurring in that
neighborhood.
You know, places that struggle,art is a way of getting out of
that struggle, it's a way ofexpressing that struggle.
And I didn't realize that untillater on.
(11:34):
But I'm very happy to have beenborn and raised in the Lower
East Side.
And then going to the boys'club, having the chance to go
away to boarding school inProvidence, Rhode Island.
Uh, who would have thought ofit?
But my parents felt that it wasimportant for me to get out.
I was a good young man, butyou've when you're around a lot
of these landmines, you you justmight step into the wrong time
(11:55):
at the wrong place, andsomething could happen, even
though you're a good person.
So, but they saw that, and Ididn't know that.
I just said, wow, I'm going awayto school.
Did I do something bad?
No, that I think they they, totheir credit, they saw the
future and didn't want thatfuture to be derailed in any way
for me.
And then from there, I, youknow, I I I had a great career
in in prep school, I adjustedvery well, uh, succeeded in a
(12:17):
lot of leadership roles there.
And then I went to college,which was inevitable.
I went to Syracuse.
I the college, the collegeguidance that I use now with our
young people, I didn't have itthen.
I mean, I enjoyed my time atSyracuse, but I also, you know,
got into Middlebury, you know,got into BU.
You know, Middlebury would havebeen a nice small liberal arts
school.
But I went to Syracuse and Ithink, you know, like most kids,
(12:39):
I went to Syracuse because theywere in the final four the year
before.
So I was like, okay, I want togo there.
Um, but I don't think now, as Italk to kids, I that's not a
reason to pick a college.
But again, made some greatfriends, a great school, would
never change.
I would never change anything inmy life's journey.
Everything was meant to bebecause that's the way it was
laid out for me.
(13:00):
So yeah.
And then I and then aftercollege, I came back to New York
and wanted to be an actor.
SPEAKER_00 (13:05):
Oh.
Um yeah.
Is it did that start within yourcollege career, or was that
something that you had while youwere in the Lower East Side and
off to boarding school?
Like, did you always have inyour mind, like, I just I just
want to be an actor?
SPEAKER_01 (13:17):
You know, when I think about it, now that you
mentioned that, you know, I wasvery involved in creativity at
high school, in high school, youknow, did West Side Story, did
some poetry and all of that,very influenced by some of the
writers, New York City writers,that that I would pick up their
books at a library and say, wow,a lot, you know, and he wrote
this book.
And then in in college, I gotinvolved in a lot of theater
projects.
I think it was a calling, but Ididn't know that a lot of it was
(13:40):
probably embredded into me fromgrowing up where I grew up and
being in, I think it was in theair.
So many artists have come out ofthe Lower East Side, so many
great writers, great musicians,great poets.
It's really rich withcreativity.
I don't know.
I think it was in the air, butit was my calling.
It was my spirit.
It still is my spirit to becreative, and I decided to uh
pursue that and went through thewhole journey of uh watering and
(14:04):
bartending, and then finallygetting a big break on Broadway
with a play about the Lower EastSide, ironically, uh called Cuba
and his teddy bear.
And it was um the person whowrote it, uh someone I knew, and
he was the second Puerto Ricanever in the history of theater
to be produced on Broadway.
And he got Robert De Niro to bein it and Bert Young, Ralph
Machia.
(14:25):
It was quite a journey.
You know, I always tell Kityesterday I was sharing some
stories, you know, when we wentto a party and danced with
Madonna.
I was like, wow, I'm dancingwith Madonna.
Uh but again, that was that wasmy journey at that time.
And then it shifted.
And ironically, it's because ofthe boys club in many ways.
I was pursuing that that career,had a little girl, needed to
(14:45):
really get a little bit moresteady in my life.
And he offered me to, or wantedto nominate me for a job to work
in admissions at a school calledSUNY Purchase, which for those
who don't know, is a stateuniversity with a conservatory
school of the arts, one of thebest schools out there for a
state university and in thecountry for performing in visual
arts.
Again, the right match for me asI was looking to transition.
(15:07):
And then I was there and I gotto be an adjunct faculty in
theater, worked in admissions,and started really creating
programs.
So still, creativity is alwaysaround you.
Just you don't have to becreative because you're an actor
or singer or musician.
You can be creative as aprofessional administrator, as a
business person, um, you know,as a doctor.
I mean, creativity is veryimportant in everything we do.
(15:29):
Yourself creating this podcastis a form of creativity to
express, you know, and share tothe people out there.
And I did that at SUNY Purchase,and that was just the right
match.
And I created many programs, andthat's when I had the idea to do
the Latino College Expo.
That's something happened duringmy journeys and admissions that
triggered the idea to I need todo something.
(15:49):
And I took the chance to do it.
I still worked, but I had thispassion to create this event,
and it just it blossomed.
It blossomed.
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (15:58):
So you're this young man from the Lower East side,
figuring life out after college,doing some watering, all the
things you need to do to pursueyour your dreams at the time,
and you actually get to act onBroadway.
Uh, which also is not somethingto overlook, right?
Like it's one thing to say, atsome point I want to be an
(16:18):
actor.
It's another thing to actuallydo the thing, right?
Like you have actually done thethings that you have put into
the universe.
You know, I think one would loveto hear about kind of your
experience on Broadway and howkind of learnings that you got
from it and how that helpedshape you.
And then two, I know youmentioned it sounds like you you
had a daughter at the time thatthen sparked some thoughts into
(16:41):
your head about getting somestable income.
But, you know, we'd love to heara little bit more about that
process because that's a veryunique path.
SPEAKER_01 (16:47):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I mean, it didn't just get
to Broadway.
I did some off-Broadway, didsome commercials, and then had
the chance to get on Broadway.
It wasn't an easy journey.
And when I first auditioned forthe play, I made the wrong
choice.
So again, making choice isimportant.
I make the wrong choice in termsof some of the uh choices I made
when I auditioned.
I if I would have twisted it alittle bit, but again, so I
didn't get the actual part, Igot, but I got on as an
(17:10):
understudy.
Then when we went to Broadway, Itook over the role.
So I, you know, you have to bean understudy before you get the
role, if you don't get the roleright away.
And that was a business becausewhen you become an understudy,
you don't that doesn'tnecessarily guarantee that
you're gonna go on to Broadwaywhen they start moving from off
Broadway to Broadway.
They want to make sure it's abusiness that you can carry your
weight for if that opportunityhappens and you have to play the
(17:30):
role that you're gonna do wellenough, you know, to keep it on
that level, especially with theactors that were leading the
show, you know, you know, Bobbyand um and and Bert and Ralphie
and many others, um Paul calledit on.
And but I was taken to Broadwayas an understudy and I took
over.
And I learned a lot.
I learned a lot that I applynow.
I learned about being committed,I learned about being truthful,
(17:53):
I learned about my manager,being creative, being
passionate, being creative,being truthful.
As an actor, you have tocommunicate.
As an actor, you have to connectto the audience, not only in
their head, but in their heart.
And you have to really listenand you have to really give and
you have to be able to takeback.
These are all things of life.
And and I studied with, youknow, with the study with De
(18:14):
Niro, but being on there withhim and watching the energy just
trans transmit from his body.
When and this is different thana movie.
Theater is real life.
Theater is happening rightthere.
You know, you're looking at it,you're feeling his heat, you're
feeling his laughter, you'reyou're you're you're you're
looking at each other.
You know, it's tremendous, atremendous feeling.
(18:36):
But but to bring that into thiscareer that I do now, it's still
relevant.
You know, you have tocommunicate with families, you
have to communicate with kids,you have to communicate with
school officials, you have toreally be honest, and you have
to really sh tell your story andadvocate.
But you really have to also bepassionate and and and be
creative to make like LatinoCollege Expo came out of
(18:58):
creativity.
I could have sat there and justuh introduced my school, go to
all these different events, butI had a different eye calling or
a different thought process inmy head that I need to do
something bigger than that.
I need to really make a bigbigger impact.
This is important, not just forthe school, but for the Latino
community at the time and justall young people.
And sometimes you have to followit, you have to take that leap
(19:21):
and you have to be creative.
And I think theater is the same,theater is the same way.
You have to take that leap, takea chance.
You know, a funny story.
I did the show one day and itwas De Niro's birthday.
So I come in on the scene, Iknock on the door, his back is
to the audience, and then helets me in, you know, and and
I'm and I'm saying, Who is he?
I said happy because the thingis is um red lights was my
(19:43):
character, but I changed it thatday.
Why?
Because that was his birthday.
So I said, happy, happy, it'shappy.
He said, Who, happy, happy?
And he opened the door, happybirthday, you know, and no one
knew what that all meant.
Only he and I and somebody, buthe looked at me because his back
is to the ones.
He just gave me a little smirk.
You got me there, because he heloves improvisation, you know.
So I improvise, but it added alittle different element.
(20:06):
But I think that's so wonderfulto try to improvise and try to
find new ways to keep thingsfresh.
And as a business person, youcan understand that.
As a creative, you definitelyhave to understand that.
And as an admissions person, youdefinitely have to understand
that as well.
I've done seminars since thenand workshops with admissions
people to bring some of thoseapproaches to the work of
(20:27):
creativity and acting into thework of admissions because you
are dealing with people.
So I really combine both.
But my foundation, I call myselfa creative educator, not just an
educator, but a creativeeducator.
SPEAKER_00 (20:39):
That's great.
And that, you know, I think thatthat term really embodies who
you are, right?
Um, from all I know about you,is like I'm gonna take all the
pieces from the different walksof my life and bring them
together for the impact that I'mtrying to have here for the
youth that you're committed to.
I I love that term.
Uh, would would like to hearmore about now that you're
working at SUNY Purchase, whatis the moment that happens that
(21:02):
lets you know, sure, I'll keepmy enroll at SUNY Purchase or
continue to work in this field.
And there's a need for thisLatino College Expo.
Tell me more about that, Pat.
SPEAKER_01 (21:12):
Well, you know, being one of the only Latino
administrators, you know, whichis still kind of like that, make
a lot a lot better now.
But at the time, you know, Ireally gravitated to the Latino
students on campus and allstudents of color on campus or
you know, black and brown kidson campus.
And I became an advisor to youknow a Latino organization.
Uh, they wanted to do a play.
When they heard my background, Iactually helped them put
(21:33):
together a great performancethat I still have a video of it
because I did the openingmonologue, and they were like,
Man, Mr.
Ponty, you really know how toact.
Oh, it was really funny.
But being creative, I also saw aneed, there's a program called
EOP, H E O P Higher EducationOpportunity Program, Education
Opportunity Program, where inorder to get into that program,
(21:53):
you have to fit a financialguideline and an academic
guideline.
So during that time when I wouldgo, I would see kids that fit
the academic guideline, but notthe financial.
So they were in this catch 22.
I can't get in academically, Ican't get in financially, how am
I going to get in?
So I approached the dean ofacademic affairs with an idea.
(22:14):
Let's start a program wherestudents who are academically
not eligible and financially noteligible, a chance.
And a handful, about 10 kids.
And let me work with them, letme guide them and advocate how
they can navigate the resourceson the campus because they don't
realize you don't have to bepart of a special program.
There are many support serviceson campus.
(22:34):
Again, you have to know how tonavigate.
And he said yes, because ithelped to build numbers.
And we did.
I had 10, 9 came back.
Eventually, by the time I left,I had 150 kids in the program.
But I gave chances to some kidsthat are excelling today, that
even and one in particular thatI always talk about.
His name is, and I'm sureAnthony Goanaga.
I always talk about him.
(22:55):
Those that know me say, oh,again, you're talking about
Anthony.
But Anthony really uh deplicsthe work and the importance.
He had a 75 average.
I took him into the program.
He wanted to be a bio major.
He wanted to be a trainer.
At the time, the New York Knickswere training at the facility.
I went and I connected him tothe trainer then to provide an
internship for him.
(23:15):
He got the internship.
He ran with that internship.
He folded towels for the first,you know, four years while being
a bio pre-med major.
But he'd also gained the trustof the Knicks staff, coming
there every day, committed towhat he had to do, went on and
got his doctorate and master'sin physical therapy.
Anyway, he is the doctor of theNew York Knicks for training.
(23:37):
He is the main doctor.
He's been with them like 25, 30years, but he's he started at 17
as an intern.
And he's so successful and so soindicative of giving someone a
chance.
And I have thousands of storieslike that.
And and and he he came back andspoke to some of my kids about
the value of internships tounderstand if this is something
(23:57):
you want to do in life.
Really don't disregard doing aninternship if you're not getting
paid.
You know, it's all about gettingexperience and all about
exploring whether this issomething you see yourself doing
down the line.
So he he's tremendous.
Luis Roseto, another greatperson, accepted through my
program, who was on the board ofHispanic Federation, doing
really well, you know, uhfinancially and career-wise.
(24:20):
And these guys always rememberthat pivotal moment that they
had um with me.
And I feel really good.
I I really get excited about allthe young people I've helped
over the years.
I can go on and on and write abook just on all these people
that that that really um displayhow important getting that
pivotal moment in your life cando for your trajectory of your
(24:41):
future.
SPEAKER_00 (24:41):
No, absolutely.
So I'm sure you have so manymore of these folks that are
like just prime examples of thegreat work.
Tell me more about how do youthen grow this from a one-time
program for 10 students to justhelp them, right?
To what it is now, right?
Like this is now 30 years later?
SPEAKER_01 (25:01):
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, I don't do the programnow.
I mean, I'm not there anymore.
And the program has evolved andmorphed into something else.
But at the time, it was theoriginal idea and concept that
really was the springboard towhat they do now.
SPEAKER_00 (25:14):
Interesting.
So so you're doing that andyou're having that impact within
within the campus, and then yougo off and say, you know what, I
also am gonna host this collegeexpo too, as you said earlier,
to then bring in also theparents, um, get them a little
bit more involved.
Like what right.
How how does that how do thosepieces come together?
(25:36):
How do you go from just doingthe work internally for a subset
to then saying, I also need todo much more?
SPEAKER_01 (25:42):
I mean, you have to have passion, first of all.
And the and the expo evolved bygoing to college fairs as a
representative for the college Iwas working at and seeing
students not asked the rightquestions, seeing parents not as
invested or unaware and reallyholding them back.
And one evening, driving backafter I spoke to a young lady
with her mom in the Bronx, SUNYpurchases in Westchester,
(26:03):
literally a half hour away.
You know, if you take theBeeline bus or the Metro North,
and mother saying, no, you can'tgo, you can't apply, it's too
far.
And I was like, wait a minute,mom, this is really this is
closer than her going to SUNYBinghamton or something like
that.
You know, and and and um I came,I was driving back with a
colleague from anotherinstitution, and we were just
talking a lot of Latino mail.
(26:24):
Um, and together we just said,you know, we got to let's try to
do something.
And we said, let's, and it'sreally funny.
We just said, let's call itLatino College Ex.
It was on a drive home.
And they say, well, let's callother colleges then.
Let's call and try to find aspace to do a college fair,
making sure that most of thecollege admissions people are
(26:44):
bilingual, offering someworkshops to explain the basic
financial aid process and how tofill out an application, and
let's see where it goes, youknow, and and do it on a
Saturday so there's less redtape with getting kids out of
school.
And first time I had maybe like30 colleges and and maybe about
350 kids, but we did it.
Kept doing it every year.
(27:05):
That, yeah, but you know, it is,it is, it is for the first time.
I mean, that's not bad.
But it grew at its peak becausethings have changed recently in
this whole landscape.
But at its peak, I would getabout 150 colleges, about 1,500
to 2,000 kids coming.
And I had some of the greatestspeakers that you can imagine
come and offer their time tospeak to the students in the
(27:27):
opening leadership summit, uh,which my partner helped me to
really evolve that even greater.
And then, you know, I got togive props to, you know, Diempo,
the talk show on Channel 7, Mr.
Joe Torres, who's had me on hisshow for over 20 years, or or
close to 20 years.
And two years ago theycelebrated their 40th, and he
even put me on and said, Andthis is Antonio, who I've known
(27:47):
him since we both didn't havehair, or I he had black hair,
now I have he has gray hair, andI have no hair.
Um, but we've known each other,become friends.
But people like that havesupported the visibility of the
audio, you know, AM New York,you know, the Makardo project.
They've they've supported.
I've gotten a lot of support.
Now it's been challenging thelast few years.
(28:08):
The landscape has changed, youknow, after COVID, you know, a
lot of virtual college fairshave popped up.
That personal touch is not thereas much.
Um, also, you know, thelandscape with immigration has
caused some fear with us, ouryoung families and and kids, you
know, to last my last expo lastyear that I, you know, it was
good, but it wasn't, you know, Ifelt, I felt the little gap.
(28:30):
And I think there was the fearof what was going on in this
world today.
And so I'm I'm reevaluating thenext one in 2026.
I don't want to stop.
I will keep doing it.
Is it gonna be a virtual event?
Is it gonna be a live event?
I still have some time to figurethat out.
I'm gonna speak to some of mycolleagues and people that have
supported me and figure thisout.
If I do it in a virtual method,I really want to get a good
(28:54):
platform, you know, get thesponsorship I need to create a
really, in, really robustplatform where it almost feels
like you're there in person.
I know in person it's alwaysbest, but I think if if my
vision comes together, I willhave a powerful virtual uh
platform that'll still educateeveryone, provide, and I can
always work with themindividually afterwards.
(29:16):
But I want to keep going withthe mission of the Latino
College Expo.
It's really taught me everythingI am today.
It's really been embedded intomy DNA and who I am.
It really set me up as a leader,much more than all the other
work I've done, because the Expowas expanded.
I've had calls from people to doit in other states, other people
have replicated it, like inCalifornia, in Miami, and in you
(29:37):
know, Florida.
Um, and that's okay.
That's that's a testament to thework.
Yeah, I feel really proud that Ithat I, again, being creative,
that I took that leap to dosomething.
And you never know unless youtry, as an old adage.
But that's kind of how Iapproach life now as I get to my
my years of going to my thirdchapter, you know, more
consulting and and eventsplanning.
SPEAKER_00 (30:00):
Yeah, no.
So you see, I think this is sopowerful, right?
Because you already had animpactful role within a
university, right?
You're a SUNY purchase, you'rehelping students like myself
that went through HEOP or EOP,right?
You're providing so much accessto things.
Somewhere in your brain, you goto so many college fairs all the
(30:20):
time, and you're like, actually,why don't we just host one for
the kids that we want tosupport, right?
And like to then go from thatkernel of an of an idea to the
first year already having 350people there, over 30 colleges,
like that's really powerful,right?
And then to build on that yearafter year, like we're talking
about thousands of students,families that have been impacted
(30:42):
by your work and that are ableto trace a direct line.
And I'm I'm sure a lot of thesestories you may not even know
how that impacted them, right?
Like even yeah, like even justthat person of oh, SUNY purchase
is so far from the Bronx, andyou're like, it's 30 minutes.
Like you can go to St.
John's and travel longer, andthat's in the city, right?
You can go to Brooklyn forcollege and that's further.
(31:03):
But just that like expanding andand giving some of that
knowledge away is just extremelypowerful.
And I'm sure your work has hadso many ripple effects
throughout our communities in away that's well.
SPEAKER_01 (31:13):
It's interesting.
That young girl did go to SUNYPersia.
That young girl is now, youknow, a mother and has her MSW.
And I saw her about maybe likesix months ago in an event at
the Museo El Barrio, and shewalked, she like ran, she saw
me, she knew I was there.
You know, Tony, because peoplethey've known me for a long
time, and now it's not Mr.
Ponty.
I mean, she's in the dope.
Tony, oh my God.
(31:34):
And I said, Doris, oh my God,how are you doing?
And it it it's really, I I Idon't even have words that can
express the feelings I feel andand how proud I am that my
calling has been the work that Ido today.
SPEAKER_00 (31:45):
Yeah, no, that's absolutely fascinating.
I think it's it's such ablessing, and it's something
that not many people get torealize within their lifetime.
And I think you've done thatmultiple times over, right?
Like you have, you're like, hey,I want to be an actor.
You're an actor.
Um, I want to help the youth.
You did that both through yourcareer as SUNY Purchased and at
(32:06):
the Boys Club and continue to dothat work, and then you go above
and beyond and say, Well, Istill want to do more.
So let me do things like thisLatino College Expo and help
even more families um get theright resources, just understand
information better, know theiroptions, and just let them do
with that information what theywill, but at least they won't
make decisions withoutinformation.
(32:27):
Um, so it's like extremelypowerful and extremely, you
know, just life-changing to havepeople like you that go above
and beyond their nine to five.
SPEAKER_01 (32:34):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm just one of many.
Thanks, thank God.
There are a lot, a lot of peopledoing this work, a lot of my
colleagues, a lot of otherorganizations that I've
spearheaded or supported ormentored and or offered best
practices or inspired to do thesame thing.
So I think, you know, it'sreally snowballed into a
movement in many ways.
Back in the day, Aspida was theorganization that provided for
(32:56):
our Latino community.
Now you have, you know, HispanicFederation is one of the largest
ones out there.
You know, the Expo is still asmall kid on the block, but a
very impactful small kid on theblock that really did it with
passion and with creativity andwith truth.
SPEAKER_00 (33:10):
What are you more most proud of in your career?
SPEAKER_01 (33:13):
Well, I'll probably the expo.
I think the expo, being onBroadway with Robert De Niro,
it's like a dream come true.
Just to work every day and andseeing lives that have been
changed, and and they they say,Thanks, Mr.
Ponte, for helping me.
And at that time, I mean,they've taken it to a greater
heights, but you always needthat pivotal moment, you always
need that start.
And to be the the start ofsomeone's, you know, seeing that
(33:36):
there's more out there in thisworld, I think it's one of the
greatest uh moments, you know,and and trying to be a good
father, and you know, made mymistakes, you know, it's hard
being a single father, but uh,but at least I stayed there.
And and and whether she sees itor not, I think as she gets
older, she'll see it.
But I've been there and it willnever leave her and always will
do my best to support her in herher journeys.
(33:59):
Great.
SPEAKER_00 (34:00):
Are there any forms of media?
I mean, that could be a play,that could be a book, uh, that
could be um any anything elsethat you have consumed that has
shaped you personally orprofessionally?
SPEAKER_01 (34:11):
Yeah, I mean, I like looking at books, I like reading
books.
I love theater, you know, uh andand and and the message that it
can share if it's if it's wellwritten.
But I think some books is uh Isay pivotal moments a lot during
our conversation, but that is abook by Roberto Espinosa.
And I and I that reallytriggered a lot for me because
it made me realize, you know,that I create pivotal moments
(34:34):
for kids and for young peopleand for people I meet, and that
a pivotal moment can reallychange their life.
And everyone, if they reallythink, has had a pivotal moment,
whether it's their basketballcoach, the school counselor,
their parent, someone was thatmoment that was pivotal in their
lives.
So that's one book.
Another book is starts with whyby Simon Sinek.
(34:55):
I love that.
I love what he says.
It's not what you do, it's nothow you do it, it's why you do
it.
And that why is so important inthe work that we do.
Because everyone does this work,but why, that's how you sell it.
Um, that's how you connect it.
Because if they understand thewhy, it takes on a greater
importance.
And um, and then this other bookthat I really like is called Um
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin,the musician and producer.
(35:18):
And he really touches upon somany things.
You know, again, uh combiningcreativity with education, uh,
with realization, with purpose.
And um, and I think that bookhas also been very, very good to
me and continues to toinvigorate the work that I do.
And and I look at it from acreative lens.
(35:39):
Everything I do, I'm not I'm nota textbook guy with saying, you
know, the metric show.
I'm about connecting and really,really seeing if there's 2,000
in my best approach, everysingle one approach and support
them as the individual they are.
And that's a lot of work.
But I think when you developsomething and you know how to do
(35:59):
it and it's innate in your inyour DNA and in your spirit, I
think it just happens naturally.
I think I've been gifted withthat and have that that that
that that I don't want to getinto spiritual, but but that
spiritual connection that I thatI have.
I'm Latinos, we know we're gonnagrow up with some spirituality.
But I do believe in reallyconnecting with a person's soul
and and listening to their theirtheir their needs and goals and
(36:22):
trying to help them.
SPEAKER_00 (36:24):
So you've had so many different kinds of careers.
Um at each point, can you talk alittle bit about how much money
folks can make in differentfields, right?
So in the acting space, I knowthat that was one of the
determining factors for you tothen go back to getting a
full-time role, right?
But like kind of just give folksa sense of at that time how much
(36:45):
money people can make in thatfield, um, and then through the
work that you're doing in directservices with something like the
boys club, right?
Um, and then as someone that hasyour own organization with the
Latino College Expo, like howhow do these pieces come
together?
SPEAKER_01 (36:57):
Ooh, it's a lot there.
You know, being an actor, youhave to have a passion.
I mean, you have that passion,right?
Be an actor is the high is thehigh and the lows the low,
someone told me, you know, andyou have to be per you have to
persevere, you have to bepersistent.
You have to have some talent.
That's not good enough, but youdo have to have some talent.
I mean, you have to just followyour heart, man.
If, you know, and if you reallywant to be an actor or musician
(37:19):
or an artist, follow it.
I'm never gonna turn anyonedown, but just be strategic and
work hard and understand thatthe high is the high and the
lows are low, and you alwayshave to learn.
You always have to continue togrow as as a performer and learn
the tools and learn from some ofthe greats.
And always but be out there.
Always audition.
You learn, always.
I I did a play, I auditioned fora play, I didn't get the part,
(37:42):
but the the act the directorremembered me.
And then there was another playlike three months down the line.
I got a call, you know, hey, youaudition for you, you weren't
right for the road, but Iremember you.
You had a really good audition.
Would you like to come in andaudition for this part?
And um, so always leave a goodimpression, but just understand,
you know, also, I mean, justunderstand that if if this is
(38:03):
the path you choose, then go forit.
I mean, one of the reasons Istepped out was not because I I
wasn't succeeding or I wasn't onthe cusp of maybe.
You have to be very selfish asan actor.
I mean, I just had my littlegirl and I had her by myself, so
it was a lot more work.
And I knew there was a calling,maybe, to do the work that I'm
doing now.
And and I knew there wassomething still not satisfying
(38:24):
me.
And there's the art of acting,this is the business of acting,
understanding both.
So I can't say how much youmake.
Yeah, you can hit it big andmake really good money.
Um, but you can also bestruggling around along the
road.
But if but you got to bepersistent and know when to step
out if you have to, but alsojust stay persistent.
In terms of admissions work, youknow, that's not something, you
know, while now they do have alot of courses and a lot of
(38:46):
certificate programs.
I think, you know, you canexplore it as a young person by
volunteering, you know, at yourcollege with the admissions
office giving tours.
There are different levelsdepending where you work.
You don't become an admissionsor dean of enrollment right
away.
You have to be patient, a youngperson.
You have to be patient and grow.
You have to start as anadmissions counselor, um, work
your way up, maybe becomeassociate, maybe become senior,
(39:08):
and then maybe become dean ordean of enrollment or director
of admissions.
There are many, you work forcity university, for state
university, for privateinstitutions, you know,
independent schools, you canwork at a private school, you
can work at a charter school.
They all have different levels,but just again, you have to
stick with it.
I think there's a great, greatgrowth, growth growth path in
that field, but you have tostick with it.
(39:29):
You have to understand that it'sa process, that it's a marathon
and not a sprint.
I tell that a lot to a lot ofyoung people.
It's a marathon and not asprint.
And understand that.
And you have to have thatwillingness to get out of your
comfort zone and meet people andconnect and learn.
Always be a learner, always be asponge.
And I think if you dedicate andyou show your work ethic, it is
(39:51):
going to be highs during the,especially the academic season,
where you're working days,nights, weekends, but it all
settles in later after you'vemet your class.
But if you like it, if youreally want to do it, just meet,
learn, and connect.
There are a lot of organizationsout there.
College Access Consortium of NewYork is one that I believe in
very much.
I was a founding member of that.
(40:12):
And it's a great network foranyone interested in college
access.
You know, there are a lot ofthere are a lot of ways.
You just have to really uh beout there and and and be a
student of the game.
But you can make a good living.
You know, and if you work in anindependent school, you can live
on campus for free.
You know, that's always awonderful first job.
It could lead to a career.
But when you're young, go to andnot pay for rent, not pay for
(40:32):
gas, electricity, maybe haveyour family or your significant
other with you, get your, youknow, get your your graduate
degree paid for.
I mean, I think it's a greatstart for someone and then see
where life takes you after that.
Um, that's how that's my answerto that.
SPEAKER_00 (40:47):
Absolutely.
No, that's a you know, those aresome really good career cheat
codes there, right?
Um, especially if you thinkabout having a role early on in
your career that gives you freeeducation.
That gives that was you knowsomething I definitely took
advantage of, and that's how Ihave a master's degree now,
right?
Thinking about a place thatgives you free housing, right?
Like that's an opportunity tocut your biggest expense
(41:08):
normally and save that money andset your family up for the
future.
So those are those are somereally good points that you
mentioned there.
You are a very layeredindividual, and you have so many
kind of pieces that may seemdisconnected to others, but you
you bring them together reallywell.
Um, I really like the frame acreative educator, um, because I
(41:29):
do think bringing thatcreativity to all of your spaces
is important, right?
Like I don't think we're alllinear, and even if we're an
accountant and that's what wedo, there are creative ways to
do that.
There are creative things thatyou can bring out into the world
that that make you just betterat what you do, or separate
outlets that at least kind ofbring the full person together.
(41:50):
Um, so I appreciate you sharingall of that.
How can people support the uhLatino College Expo or learn
about it?
SPEAKER_01 (41:56):
Well, they can go to our website.
I mean, obviously, when I dopromote, just continue to check
the website and I'll have moreupdates on when the next one's
going to be.
I think, you know, I do a lot ofworkshops or try to do a lot of
virtual, you know, uh panelistsuh to have people like yourself
share their share their story,you know, offering time, though
(42:17):
I do have quite a resource ofpeople over the years that I've
helped, uh I can always usemore.
Obviously, you know, we're501c3, but we're still growing.
You know, I I just keep lettingit, just keep supporting it.
You know, if you're an educatorand work in a high school,
supported within your schools toattend, to attend any of the
events we do in person orvirtual.
You know, if you're in the highschool, you know, come and seek
(42:39):
out the work of myself and andothers out there to help
navigate their journey to havethat opportunity to make an
opportunity of a private schoolaffordable, if that's what you
choose.
You know, and or if you'relooking at staying local with
public or charter, you know,seek out our help and my help to
um to navigate that journey.
There is nothing I haven't seenover the years.
(42:59):
And and I don't care if you havea 60 average or 98 average, I
will find a home for you.
So don't feel I'm not doing wellin school, I can't go to
college.
No, that is so untrue.
You know, you just have to wantit, and then there are people
like me, but if not, you canjust reach out to me and I will
help you to navigate a roadmap,a game plan to get to where you
(43:22):
want to be.
At the end, you have to carry itout, but I will provide a script
to use the term, and you have tobring your individuality to the
script, but at least you'll havea script to follow that if
you've if you work hard to learnthe lines, to to inject your own
personality into it, you will uhsucceed.
SPEAKER_00 (43:40):
Is there anything else we haven't discussed that
the world should know aboutAntonio?
SPEAKER_01 (43:44):
Antonio loves movies, Antonio loves live salsa
music, Antonio loves animals,Antonio likes to embrace life,
and Antonio likes to help anyonethat asks for help if I if it's
possible.
If not, then I will lead you tosomeone else that can.
And Antonio's very very blessedto to his parents in heaven and
(44:07):
to the people I've gotten toknow, and now you in my circles
um that I've gotten to know.
So thank you to you and to theworld.
SPEAKER_00 (44:16):
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing that.
Thanks for coming on CareerChico today.
SPEAKER_01 (44:21):
Thank you for having me.
I really um, you know, I washonored when you called and and
excited that we completed thisconversation.
And I hope that when it doesair, that people can, you know,
try to read between the linesand and try to maybe capture
what I was trying to say.
I hope they get it.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (44:37):
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
If you did and believe on themission we're on, please like,
rate, and subscribe to thispodcast on whatever platform
you're using, and share thispodcast with your friends and
your networks.
Make sure you follow us onInstagram and LinkedIn at Career
Cheat Code and tell us people orcareers you would like to see
highlighted.
See you next week with some morecheat codes.
Peace.
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