Salvador Gómez-Colón
Salvador Gabriel Gómez-Colón | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002 (age 22–23) |
| Education | Saint John's School Phillips Academy Yale University |
| Occupation | Author |
| Known for | Founding Light and Hope for Puerto Rico |
| Notable work | Hurricane: My Story of Resilience |
| Awards | Time's 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017 President's Environmental Youth Award Diana Award (2019) Straubel Foundation Impact Leader Award |
| Website | salvadorgomezcolon |
Salvador Gabriel Gómez-Colón (Latin American Spanish: [salβaˈðoɾ ɣaˈβɾjel ˈɣomes koˈlon]; born 2002) is an author and advocate from Puerto Rico. In 2017, Gómez-Colón founded the humanitarian initiative Light and Hope for Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Maria. He published the nonfiction book Hurricane: My Story of Resilience in 2021.[1]
Early life
Gómez-Colón was born in 2002. He was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and attended Saint John's School until 2018 and left to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.[2] During his senior year, he served as one of the student body co-presidents.[3][4]
Career
Light and Hope for Puerto Rico
After the hurricane in September 2017, Gómez-Colón launched a crowd funding campaign called "Light and Hope for Puerto Rico."[2][5] Starting in November 2017, he raised funds and delivered solar lamps and hand-operated washing machines to the affected communities through his campaign.[6][7] The campaign raised over $170,000 and distributed 4,100 lamps to over 3,500 households across the island.[8]
Gómez-Colón petitioned for R.C.S.455, which requires climate and resilience education for K–12 curriculums in Puerto Rico. The legislation was passed in 2024.[9]
Davos 2020
In January 2020, Gómez-Colón attended the annual meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He spoke along with Greta Thunberg, Natasha Mwansa, and Autumn Peltier on a panel named Forging a Sustainable Path to a Common Future.[3][10] Gómez-Colón was named one of the inaugural teenage change-makers at the annual meeting.[11]
Writing career
In 2021, Gómez-Colón published the memoir Hurricane: My Story of Resilience, about his efforts establishing Light and Hope for Puerto Rico.[12] The book was one of the inaugural titles in W. W. Norton & Company's "I, Witness" series for young readers.[1][13] The book received a starred review from School Library Journal, praising its accessibility, clear narrative, and sense of emotional urgency and immediacy.[14]
The Mark Twain House and Museum hosted a discussion event with Gómez-Colón about the book in February 2025.[15]
He has also published opinion editorials for various media, including Time magazine, The Independent, and CNN Business.[16][17][18]
In popular culture
Gómez-Colón is featured on Marvel's Hero Project, in the episode "Superior Salvador" of Season 1.[19][20]
Honors and awards
Gómez-Colón was named one of "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017" by Time magazine.[21] In 2019, Gómez-Colón received the Diana Award for his humanitarian work.[22]
References
- ^ a b Lodge, Sally. "Youth Activists Share Their Stories in 'I, Witness'". PublishersWeekly.
- ^ a b Parija Kavilanz (Sep 30, 2017). "15-year-old boy in San Juan raising funds for solar lamps". CNN Business. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Nancy Hitchhock (Feb 4, 2020). "Gómez-Colón '21 featured at World Economic Forum". Phillips Academy. Retrieved Feb 19, 2020.
- ^ Laura Ospina (April 13, 2020). "Megan Cui '21 and Salvador Gómez-Colón '21 Elected Student Body Co-Presidents". The Phillipian. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ninth grader raises funds for Puerto Rico". CNN Business. 21 November 2018. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ Parija Kavilanz (Feb 3, 2018). "Teen delivers hundreds of solar lamps to Puerto Ricans without power". CNN Business. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ Phineas Ruckert (Oct 24, 2017). "This 15-Year-Old Is Bringing Light to One of Puerto Rico's Poorest Communities". Global Citizen. Retrieved Feb 19, 2020.
- ^ "Student Council Launches Hurricane Dorian Relief Initiative for the Bahamas". The Phillipian. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
- ^ "Puerto Rico Bill Grows Climate Resilience Through Education". National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
- ^ "World Economic Forum: Four young activists address world leaders at Davos". British Broadcasting Company. Jan 21, 2020. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ Dara Lee and Gill Cassar (Jan 19, 2020). "Meet the teenage change-makers making waves at Davos 2020". World Economic Forum. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ Kim, Erin (2021-04-02). "'Hurricane: My Story of Resilience': Salvador Gómez-Colón '21 Pens New Memoir". The Phillipian. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ Blair, Elizabeth (2021-10-01). "'I, Witness' makes world events visceral for young readers". NPR. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ Salvador, Gómez-Cólon. "Hurricane: My Story of Resilience". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ ""Hurricane" Book Discussion with Salvador Gómez-Colón". MetroHartford Alliance. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "We Need Empathy in Times of Crisis. But That Doesn't Just Mean Feeling for Others". Time. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
- ^ "Opinion: A hurricane changed my life. It taught me how young people can help solve climate change". The Independent. 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
- ^ Perspectives, Salvador Gomez Colon for CNN Business (22 November 2018). "Perspectives: I'm growing up in Hurricane Maria's aftermath. Here's what the world can learn from youth resilience". CNN. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ Jamie Frevele (Feb 25, 2020). "'Marvel's Hero Project' Recap: Superior Salvador". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ "MARVEL'S HERO PROJECT SEASON 1: SUPERIOR SALVADOR". Marvel HQ. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.
- ^ Time Staff (Nov 2, 2017). "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017". Time.
- ^ Simon Perry (July 1, 2019). "Record Number of Americans Honored by Charity That Carries Princess Diana's Name on Her Birthday". People. Retrieved Feb 19, 2021.