About Us

About Somos Youngstown

Somos Youngstown is a media platform dedicated to telling and highlighting the stories of Hispanics in the Youngstown area while providing valuable information and resources for the community. The show is conducted in Spanish, making it a unique and essential resource for Spanish speakers in the area.

Somos Youngstown: Telling Stories, Empowering the Hispanic Community

Somos Youngstown was created to highlight the contributions of Hispanics in the area and provide a space where their voices are heard.

The show is conducted in Spanish, making it one of the only media platforms dedicated to the Hispanic community in Youngstown.

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Meet the Team

Paulina Montaldo
Founder & Reporter

Paulina is a Chilean journalist who has lived in the United States since 2001. Since she can remember, she has always wanted to be a journalist like her father. She started at the local TV station when she was 16, which marked the beginning of her career in media.

Francisca Gatica

Social Media

Francisca is a Nursing student at Ohio University and a graduate of.....

Edison Sánchez

Voice Over

Edison holds a B.S. in Social Communications and a Master’s in.....

Tess Sawyer-Solano

Public Relations

Tess is a Communications graduate from Kent State University.....

Andrés Solano

Marketing

Andrés earned a Bachelor's degree in Managerial Marketing from......

Víctor Arcenio

Camera

Víctor teaches TESOL at East Middle School within the Youngstown City.....

Mission

Our mission is to highlight and celebrate the valuable contributions of the Hispanic community in various fields by sharing their stories, showcasing their achievements, and emphasizing the services they provide, as well as the resources and programs available to support them. Through this nonprofit project, we aim to be an authentic voice that connects, educates, and empowers Hispanics, bringing visibility to their impact and fostering a sense of community, belonging, and growth.

Vision

To be a leading platform that, through inspiring stories and valuable resources, promotes the recognition and well-being of the Hispanic community. We aim to expand and reach more individuals and organizations, creating a network of mutual support that strengthens Hispanics and provides a space where they can find opportunities, services, and solidarity, with the goal of building a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.

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copright@somosyoungstown.com

Paulina Montaldo

Founder & Reporter

Paulina is a Chilean journalist who has lived in the United States since 2001. Since she can remember, she has always wanted to be a journalist like her father. She started at the local TV station when she was 16, which marked the beginning of her career in media.
As a Rotary exchange student she graduated from Neshannock High School in Pennsylvania and earned a degree in Social Communication from the Universidad Central del Ecuador, followed by a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Geneva College in Pennsylvania.
In television, she worked as a producer and reporter at Teleamazonas (Ecuador), and later in Chile, she was part of Televisión Nacional de Chile and a correspondent for Primer Impacto on Univisión (USA). She also worked as a journalist for the Teletón Foundation, led by well-known host Mario Kreutzberger, “Don Francisco.” 
Since arriving in the U.S., she has also worked as a model in advertising campaigns for companies such as Giant Eagle, Cleveland Clinic, and Philips. She also writes as a freelancer for The Catholic Echo and is a member of the Youngstown Press Club. Between 2011 and 2024, she was an adjunct professor at Youngstown State University and currently teaches Spanish and Broadcast Journalism at Ursuline High School.
In 2024, she decided to make a long-postponed dream come true: the creation of a Spanish-language program dedicated to highlighting the contributions of the Hispanic community in the region and providing valuable information about available services for Spanish speakers. With Somos Youngstown, Paulina aims to give a voice to the community and strengthen their access to opportunities and resources.
This show is, in part, a tribute to her father, Mauricio Montaldo, who was a journalist and worked for the Ecuadorian government, contracted by the United Nations to advise the communications department. He also served as the press attaché at the Chilean Embassy in Ecuador, director of press at Radio Chilena in Santiago, director of Newsweek en Español, and editorial director at Editorial Televisa. He passed away in Youngstown in 2023.

Francisca Gatica

Social Media

Francisca Gatica, Chilean, is a nursing student at Ohio University, minoring in Spanish, nutrition, and business. Her passion for health and wellness, combined with her interest in different disciplines, has led her to develop a comprehensive academic background that will allow her to address healthcare challenges from a holistic and multicultural perspective. Francisca graduated from Ursuline High School in Youngstown, where she distinguished herself as part of the top 5% of her class of 2024. Her academic performance earned her the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Award. Currently, at Ohio University, Francisca is a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, where she serves as the Director of Continuous Open Bidding (COB), responsible for coordinating and fostering the integration of new members into the organization.

Edison Sánchez

Voice Over

Edison holds a B.S. in Social Communications and a Master’s in Strategic Communication from Universidad Central del Ecuador. With experience as a reporter and television anchor, Edison has led communications departments and independent TV production, including directing the Television Department for the Ecuadorian Department of Communication.

Tess Sawyer-Solano

Public Relations

Tess is a Communications graduate from Kent State University. With a successful career in customer experience, she has supported major brands like Revlon and L’Oréal, ensuring client satisfaction and successful brand partnerships across various industries.

Andrés Solano

Marketing

Andrés earned a Bachelor’s degree in Managerial Marketing from Kent State University. Specializing in revenue operations, he has helped businesses optimize processes, driving growth and profitability through efficient operational strategies.

Víctor Arcenio

Camera

Víctor teaches TESOL at East Middle School within the Youngstown City School District and holds a Master of Science in Education from Youngstown State University. He also has experience teaching Computer Information Science and is the recipient of the 2024-2025 Fulbright Teacher Exchange award for his dedication to cross-cultural education and global collaboration.