Gilberto Cintrón, Executive Director

In November 2022, Gilberto Cintrón was brought on board to bring to life the vision set forth by HImT’s founder, Lewis A. Miller, and the Board of Directors. Gilberto, or Gil as he prefers to be called, was the ideal candidate to lead this effort. A dedicated, Licensed Social Worker and proven community leader with years of community and program development experience, Gil will bring much to the helm of HIMT. 

Gil is a take charge type of guy and came on board ready to go. One of the first things he did was name the initial project LLEGAMOS.NYC. This name is appropriate because when translated to English, it can be read as “We Are Here” or “We Have Arrived.” This is exactly the case with immigrants in our great city, and nation.

For thirty five plus years, Gil has been an avid community activist, organizer, and leader, having started several non-profit entities in East Harlem. He has worked with those on the fringes of society, treating them with dignity and the respect that they deserve. Prior to this, he worked as a social work supervisor at the Puerto Rican Association for Community Affairs, where he developed programs for special needs infants, specifically those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, or born addicted to crack cocaine. 

Gil’s strengths lie in creating and developing grassroots community based entities. He founded the Boricua College Pre-Law Society, the East 112th Street Block Association, the Talent Unlimited Corporation, the Jeffersonville Homesteaders Association, the East Harlem Council On Public Safety, Inc., and El Barrio Broadcasting Corporation. And after obtaining an MSW from Fordham University in 1997, Gil worked for the New York City Housing Authority as Chief of the Drug Elimination Program. 

Gil’s community work has led him to serve in many capacities. President and CEO of the Talent Unlimited Corporation; Executive Director of El Barrio Broadcasting, Corporation; Founding President of the Iroquois Jaycees in Medina, New York; Executive Director of the East Harlem Chamber of Commerce; Co-founder of Música Against Drugs, Inc. to name just a few. In 2005, Gil retired from all professional and all civic duties to raise his two daughters, Atabex and Cemí Cintrón. And in 2022, he came out of retirement specifically to lead the efforts of Helping Immigrants Thrive, Inc.