When a shoulder injury shattered Pedro LaTorre’s dream of becoming a professional baseball player six years ago, it left him with an uncertainty he never saw coming. With doctors telling him he’d never play baseball again, he surely didn’t expect how life-changing the injury would truly be.
After meeting a young man at a Starbucks who began sharing his issues and stories with Pedro, he knew all it would take to make a difference in this young person’s life was to listen. With that, an idea sparked. Out of the thought that there could be a generation of youth whose suppressing their struggles and wanting to be heard, Hope in Motion was created.
For the past six years, Pedro has been developing a dynamic organization just as dynamic as youth culture itself. Rather than having young people reach out to Hope in Motion, it reaches out to them. In a presentation rooted in inspiration and his personal story, Pedro adds elements of dance and music to amplify his speaking engagements. The goal behind the presentation encourages students to understand that “life was not just meant to be lived, but to be lived in a furious, passionate way.”
With a strong focus on helping youth reach their long-term potential, Pedro encourages them to streamline their dreams. Or as he puts it, “the difference between a dream and a goal is a deadline.” Outside of presentations, Hope in Motion also hosts concert/speaking tours with artists it partners with and manages to bring its message to venues outside of the school atmosphere and create a whole new experience.
Rather than falling victim to his personal struggle, Pedro saw it as an opportunity to not only take control of his life but a chance to inspire others.
– Juan Frausto
(Photo credit: Hope in Motion)
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