" WHO WE ARE "
CONCRETE LYFE ISN'T JUST A PROGRAM; IT'S A. LYFE-STYLE
HOW MY GRANDFATHER'S COMPASSION AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IGNITED A MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE
" 1 of 5: THE INSPIRATION "
Family Inspiration Showed Me the Power of Community: ​My grandfather's act of kindness and support for the youth saved our family during a time of war when my mother was only two years old. One night, a young person whom my grandfather had helped came to warn him of an impending attack. This warning allowed my grandfather to evacuate the village in Angola and save our family's lives.
​
​Turning my pain into passion: ​Growing up, I lost many friends. Thinking back, I wonder how our lives might have been different if we had known more about what life had to offer beyond our limited access. Some might still be alive today if we had more opportunities.
" 2 of 5: THE FOUNDER "
Meet Tony Galvao: Founder and Executive Director
​
Concrete LYFE was founded by Tony Galvao in 2021, who has been dedicated to community service since 2013 and has received:
-
"Hero Among Us" award from the Boston Celtics for youth work.
-
He was also honored with a citation from the Governor of Massachusetts for his contributions to youth work
-
Acknowledged by the Harvard Phillips Brooks House Association for his DEI work.
​
Current Role: As a voluntary Executive Director, Tony utilizes his lived experience and professional expertise to ensure the success of the Concrete LYFE mission.
​
Follow Tony Galvao on LinkedIn to learn more about his leadership.
" 3 of 5: Why We Started Concrete LYFE" "
Tony created Concrete LYFE to provide a safe space where young people can be themselves. Concrete LYFE connects with youth more effectively by inspiring, motivating, and bringing happiness, creating lasting memories, keeping them on trend, and building their sense of status within the community. This approach fosters deep trust and engagement, establishing honest, transparent relationships where we can guide them toward success and growth.
​
Our unique approach aims to build a community that young people genuinely want to join. We inspire authentic action by embodying the values, aspirations, and interests of the communities we serve, turning dreams into reality, symbolized by a rose growing from concrete. By integrating innovative strategies led by the Youth Advisory Board, we create a strong connection that allows us to invest in young people, enhancing their financial security, well-being, and overall quality of life.
" 4 of 5: NAME BREAKDOWN "
​Concrete: symbolizes the oppressive infrastructure of systems that makes it difficult for many people from underserved communities to truly flourish due to social injustice and the barriers these communities face.
​LYFE: symbolizes the livelihoods of the people whom we are trying to help grow from concrete. Life is spelled with a "Y" so that people never forget their "WHY" in LYFE and can focus on the "WHY" behind their goals, dreams, mission, and purpose
" 5 of 5: ROSE FROM THE CONCRETE "
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete?
-
Often, it feels like the community and youth create something valuable out of nothing, making their resilience seem like the struggle isn’t real.​
​
The rose defies nature’s law by thriving without the usual resources.
-
Just because a rose grows in less-than-ideal environments doesn’t mean the burden of struggles falls on the individuals in high-risk environments.​
​
It’s remarkable that by holding onto its dreams, the rose learned to thrive despite the odds.
-
Sometimes, intense pain and struggle drive people to pursue their dreams with even greater determination. However, this should not be a sustainable way for some youth to overcome challenges.​
​
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else cared.
-
Youth of color continue to grow up in environments where society has failed them and does not equally support every youth.​​
