Anthony Cherolis

Age: 38 Company: Center for Latino Progress Title: Program Manager Town where I live: Hartford Town where I work: Hartford College: Florida State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Fun Fact I built and sledded on creations in all five Hartford Art Sled Derbies, and last year broke my collar bone. Q&A: What do you do in your current job? At the Center for Latino Progress, I develop, find funding for, and manage programs that provide opportunities, education and asset building in Hartford and our neighborhoods. Most of my time is spent on youth and young adult enriching internships, college prep, and the BiCi Co. community bicycle workshop. What are your goals in your current job? My overarching goal is to listen to our community and follow their lead to provide useful supports and access to systems that give them agency, power and a path to their goals. The historical systems of power and influence in our city have removed power from many in our community. What's your biggest passion? Others guess that my passion is the humble bicycle. That is partially correct. What is exciting is putting powerful tools in the hands and minds of those who have been short-changed by a world that is working against them. A bicycle is one of those tools. Education, critical thinking and the confidence to speak truth to power are other tools that we need more of in our community. What are your future professional aspirations? To have positive impacts around me, stay interested in life, and go on terrific adventures. How are you involved in the community? In 2015 I left Pratt & Whitney after 14 years as an aerospace engineer to spend more time working in Hartford, the city I live in. Outside of work, I volunteer widely and promote the awesomeness around us. If you were governor of Connecticut for a day what is one policy you'd push to improve the state's future? There is not one policy. The dysfunction is at all levels — federal, state, and municipal — and can feel overwhelming. I prefer to focus attention hyper-locally. We can all have real and satisfying impacts on our neighborhoods and community, and even our region. I would like to see all towns and cities in Hartford metro adopt Complete Streets transportation policies and municipal sustainability plans that improve our quality of life while respecting the world that we are handing down to future generations. List four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: Left engineering career in 2015 to focus on youth and young adult programs that support our future leaders at the Center for Latino Progress on Park Street in Hartford. Started and developed the community bicycle workshop and storefront of BiCi Co. at the Center for Latino Progress. Enthusiastic board member of Night Fall, a magical free outdoor community performance celebrating seasonal change through art, music, dance, and spoken word. Founding board member of Bike Walk Connecticut, back when it was called the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance. Click here to see all 40 Under Forty winners