Gina Catanzarite proud to drive positive change with Luminari

Gina Catanzarite

"You had me at coffee." Well, that's not exactly how Gina Catanzarite remembers her first Luminari meeting back in 2009, but once the writer, teacher and Emmy-Award winning television producer learned about Hilda Fu's plans to launch a program that would broaden young minds through experiential learning and drive positive change at the grass-roots level, she was hooked. Now, in her sixth year with Luminari, Gina's role with the five-year-old organization has evolved from advocate and grant writer to director of two of it's most popular programs. Gina is proud to be a part of such a unique organization and looks forward to seeing it grow.

How did you first get involved with Luminari and why?

My association with Luminari began six years ago. Over a cup of coffee (where most great ideas begin!), Hilda Pang Fu described her vision of a camp for teens dedicated to teaching the concepts of diplomacy. Hilda had a great big smile and bright eyes as she spoke about the benefits of engaging young people in efforts to drive positive change, and instilling in them the art and skills of an ambassador. These skills, Hilda knew, could help them be better leaders on a local, national and international level. Hilda's enthusiasm was contagious, and I very soon found myself assisting with grant proposals and then held the role of Assistant Director for the very first I Want to be an Ambassador! camp held about a year later (in 2010).

Talk to us about some of the big successes in the last 5 years of Luminari. What moments stand out to you? What are you the most proud of? 

As the person who has written the grant proposals and grant completion reports, I've had the sincere pleasure of seeing the organization grow from a fledgling to an established educational and arts organization with a spectacular reputation. I've felt proudest when I wrote the 2013 grant completion reports and was able to see the true overview and scope of the organization's growing footprint and successes.

Who are some of the people that make the organization what it is, why? 

Hilda Pang Fu is the fuel that drives this engine. Her positive attitude, vision, and ability to engage people is beyond impressive. It makes anyone who comes into contact with her want to jump in and be a part of this organization dedicated to broadening minds and creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Ambassador Camp Directors, past and present

What’s next for Luminari? What will the next 5 years look like? 

Now that we've gotten the "early years" under our belts, I think this organization is headed for an explosion in growth. Luminari is ready to build on its past successes but also to expand into new territories in program offerings and experiment with new and even more creative ways to serve this community and engage its citizens.

For those just learning about the organization, what’s the one thing they should know to get them involved? How can they help? 

The thing I always tell people is that Luminari is nothing like organizations that simply offer camps intended to provide a pleasant but temporary experience. Luminari programs are designed to build crucial life skills that participants can carry with them for immediate benefits and long-term impacts. While there's great value to learning in a classroom in a school environment, Luminari's programs offer an entirely different way to grow through experiential learning and young people who join our programs can expect an exhilarating hands-on experience that really will mark a turning point in their lives as they gain new skills and create new goals for their futures.