Community Highlights: Meet Paulina Montaldo of “Somos Youngstown”

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulina Montaldo.

Paulina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Chile and moved to Ecuador when I was seven years old. We moved because my father was a diplomat for the Chilean government. From an early age, I was drawn to storytelling and journalism (my father and my grandfather were journalists).. While still in high school, I was involved in my school newspaper and was always looking for stories to tell. At age 16, I had an opportunity that changed the course of my career: I met someone who hosted a television show at a local station, “Teleamazonas” in Ecuador, and he invited me to join his team. That experience sparked my passion for broadcast journalism.

I later earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Universidad Central del Ecuador while continuing to work in television. Over the years, I worked for several TV stations, including “Televisión Nacional de Chile” after moving back to Chile. At the same time, I served as a foreign press correspondent for “Primer Impacto”, the Univision news magazine program in the United States. Through my involvement with the International Federation of Television Archives, I also had the opportunity to serve as master of ceremonies for their International Television Awards in Austria.

My connection to this area actually began much earlier. As a Rotary Club foreign exchange student, I spent my senior year of high school in New Castle, Pennsylvania, living with an American host family. We stayed in touch over the years, and in 2001, I moved to the United States on a work visa sponsored by their family business in New Castle.

Although I initially applied to local television stations in Youngstown, opportunities in broadcasting did not materialize, so I decided to reinvent myself professionally. I returned to school and earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, with a concentration in College Teaching, from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

Education became my second passion. I taught Spanish at Youngstown State University for 15 years, through the summer of 2025, while also building my full-time career as a Spanish teacher at Ursuline High School, where I have taught AP Spanish since 2014. Four years ago, I created a Broadcast Journalism class after the school invested in a small TV studio. I now enjoy combining my journalism background with teaching, helping students produce a weekly student news broadcast for the school community.

Although my passion for television never disappeared, it remained dormant for many years while I focused on education. Wanting to reconnect with my journalism roots and create a platform that would inform and empower the local Hispanic community, In October of 2024, I launched the Spanish-language YouTube show “Somos Youngstown”. Through the program, I highlight stories of Hispanics in the area and their contributions to the community. A year ago, I expanded this effort by creating “330 Informa”, a weekly interview program filmed at a studio in Canfield, where I speak primarily with nonprofit organizations about the services they provide, especially those that benefit the Hispanic community. These projects have brought me tremendous satisfaction, allowing me to combine my passion for media, education, and service to the community. In July 2025, “Somos Youngstown” officially became a nonprofit organization, and I look forward to continuing to grow with the support of the local community and generous benefactors.

Beyond my professional work, I have always valued service and community involvement. Volunteering has been an important part of my life, and today I serve on the boards of the Youngstown Press Club and Thrive Mahoning Valley. Looking back, my journey has been shaped by storytelling, education, and a willingness to adapt while continuing to do work that connects people and builds community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road—there have definitely been highs and lows—but overall, I feel fortunate. At the same time, I believe much of that has come through hard work and perseverance. While attending university full-time, I also worked full-time, learning early on the importance of balancing responsibility with ambition.

Moving from one country to another has brought many blessings: the opportunity to experience different cultures, make lifelong friendships, and constantly learn and adapt. But it also comes with sacrifices. Being far from family is never easy, and just when you begin to feel settled and comfortable somewhere, life asks you to start over again. I was born in Chile, moved to Ecuador, came to the United States as an exchange student, returned to Ecuador, later moved to Mexico, went back to Chile, and eventually settled here in the United States. In many ways, I have often been seen as a foreigner in each country, even though I have always embraced and felt connected to the place where I lived.

One of the greatest challenges I faced in the United States was the language barrier and having an accent, which can sometimes create obstacles—especially in a field like television, where being in front of the camera matters. Yet, I have always tried to see my accent not as a limitation, but as part of my story. In fact, I often share with my students a quote of Amy Chua that resonates deeply with me: “Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery.” That quote reminds me that every accent represents courage, resilience, and the willingness to step into unfamiliar spaces and build a life in a new place.

As you know, we’re big fans of “Somos Youngstown”. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
“Somos Youngstown” is a passion project that grew out of my love for storytelling and my desire to serve the Hispanic community in the Mahoning Valley. It is completely free—I do not make any money from it—and that has never been the goal. My mission is to share the stories of Hispanics in our community, highlighting their sacrifices, hard work, resilience, and contributions. Through interviews and features, I tell the stories of people from many different backgrounds: some who arrived with nothing and started from zero, others who have been part of the community for decades, representing a wide range of professions, businesses, and trades.

What sets “Somos Youngstown” apart is that it focuses on authentic, human stories that often go untold. I truly believe that every person has a story worth sharing, and one of the things I enjoy most is discovering those stories and helping bring them to light. While people often thank me for featuring them, the truth is that it gives me tremendous satisfaction to showcase these journeys and place them “in the spotlight” so others can see that, no matter the obstacles, with faith, perseverance, and hard work, it is possible to move forward and succeed.

Another important part of “Somos Youngstown” is providing valuable information and resources. Many people in the Hispanic community are unaware of the programs, organizations, and services available to support them. Through our platform—and especially through “330 Informa”, where I interview nonprofit organizations—we help connect people to resources that can improve their lives. Since becoming a nonprofit organization in July 2025, my hope is to continue growing with the support of the local community and benefactors, while remaining true to our mission of informing, inspiring, and uplifting others.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I hope to see both “Somos Youngstown” and “330 Informa” continue to grow as trusted platforms that educate, inform, and empower the community. I believe there is an increasing need for accessible, culturally relevant information—especially for Hispanic families who may not always know what resources, services, or opportunities are available to them. My goal is for these programs to continue telling meaningful stories while also serving as a bridge between the community and organizations that can make a difference in people’s lives.

At the same time, I hope to secure more financial support to help the project grow sustainably. Right now, this is truly a labor of love. Producing an episode of “Somos Youngstown” takes approximately 8–10 hours between the interview process, script writing, filming, editing, music selection, and final production. I would love to invest in more professional video and audio equipment to improve production quality, compensate the people who generously help behind the scenes, and eventually pay for studio space rather than relying on borrowed facilities.

One of my biggest goals is to make the content even more accessible by adding English subtitles to every episode, helping bridge cultures and allowing more people to connect with the stories being shared. However, balancing a full-time teaching job, community involvement, family responsibilities, and producing two programs leaves limited time. Like many people, I juggle a lot—but I genuinely love what I do. I believe deeply in this project, in the power of storytelling, and in the impact it can have. My hope is to continue growing with the support of the local community and those who believe in the mission of uplifting and informing others.

I hope people will continue to support me by following and subscribing to my YouTube channel, so I can keep growing this project. It only takes a few minutes to subscribe to my YouTube channel or follow me on social media, but that small action makes a big difference in helping us continue sharing these stories and serving the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.somosyoungstown.com
• Instagram: @somos_youngstown
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomosYoungstown
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-montaldo-b1a565300/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulinamontaldo/videos

Image Credits
Luzid by ARC, Youngstown.