The Port resident Santos Carrasquillo was recently honored at the 2024 Black Excellence on the Hill event, which is hosted annually by the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) to commemorate Black community leaders and trailblazers who are making a difference in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Santos was nominated for this recognition by Representative Mike Connolly. This year's celebration was held in the State House Hall of Flags with opening remarks from MBLLC Executive Director Zavon Billups, Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Bud Williams and Senator Liz Miranda, and Governor Maura Healey. The keynote address was given by Reverend Clyde Talley.
“I was excited to nominate Santos Carrasquillo for this year’s Black Excellence recognition for the 26th Middlesex district, and welcome him to the State House last week,” Representative Mike Connolly said. “Thank you Santos for your service to area students, to the environmental justice movement, and to our greater Cambridge community.”
Santos Carrasquillo is a lifelong Cambridge resident, educator, community organizer, activist and social entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of the non-profit Cambridge FIG, INC (Filling In the Gaps) and co-founding member of many grassroots movements such as The Goree Freedom House, Cambridge City Growers and more. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Green Cambridge, an organization that works to create a more sustainable city and to protect the environment for the health and safety of all. Santos is passionate about catalyzing collaboration and improvement with organizations focusing on Economic Development, Mutual Aid, and Social Justice. In addition to his public service engagements, he’s an educator and manages technology at the Community Charter School of Cambridge. Santos has worked in the Information Technology field for notable companies and educational institutions such as Keurig Dr. Pepper and MIT Sloan School of Business. Locally, he also worked at Bikes Not Bombs as The Director of Bike shop and Training Center. Santos studied Biotechnology at Bunker Hill Community College, Information Technology at Cambridge College and later community economic development at Suffolk University Sawyer Business School. When not serving his community, you will find Santos playing rugby with the Mystic River Rugby Club.
Other honorees at this year’s ceremony from Cambridge and Somerville districts included: Archy LaSalle (Representative Steve Owens), Michael Monestime (Representative Marjorie Decker), and Samuel Gebru (Senator Sal DiDomenico).
Created in 1973, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus remains a voice for Massachusetts' communities of color in the Legislature. They seek to empower constituents to gain a deeper sense of political awareness on issues concerning them and their greater communities. The MBLLC’s 24 legislators remain dedicated to serving communities of color throughout the Commonwealth through legislative, budgetary, and community endeavors.
