Carl Soares
Class of 2012
"Building relationships and initiating dialogues has immense power to create community."
As a UConn student, Carl Soares found comfort and growth as a Student Leader with Community Outreach. He enjoyed giving back as a volunteer for Horace Porter Tutoring, One-Time Service Events, and Alternative Breaks. Carl attended seven service trips during his time at UConn. He has served across the country, from New Orleans to Birmingham, and reflects that these experiences gave him opportunities to critically examine issues of social justice. Awareness of inequity and exclusion drove him to continue to promote inclusive, equalizing spaces in his future career.
An Economics major, Carl continued his path of active citizenship after college, when he joined City Year Providence to mentor and tutor students in the Providence area. Soon after, he joined the City Year Boston Civic Engagement Team to lead painting and construction projects in partnership with students, school administrations, and local nonprofits.
These rewarding experiences inspired Carl to pursue graduate school in Student Affairs and Higher Education. At Marquette University, he coordinated the Marquette Volunteer Corps, which, he states, “continued to challenge my beliefs and make me a more empathetic and understanding individual.”
After graduating, Carl worked at the University of Dayton in the Dayton Corps. He witnessed injustices in the Dayton community, such as education and economic inequality and homelessness. The program applied a two-generation approach to ameliorating poverty and the education gap.
Carl is beyond excited to take his journey full circle. Now a leading staff member for UConn’s Alternative Breaks, he continues to work toward creating a culture of open-mindedness, compassion, and critical analysis as he works toward a more equitable and inclusive society.
