Meet Alma Carrillo

We were lucky to catch up with Alma Carrillo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alma, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

I think a big part of my generosity comes from my culture. As a first-generation Latina, community is embedded into who we are. From borrowing a cup of sugar to lending a helping hand, I grew up seeing how care and generosity connect us. As the daughter of immigrants, I was taught from a very young age to always give back—even when you have very little.

That lesson has stayed with me, and it’s a big reason why I created Juntas Social Club. Whether it’s organizing free community book swaps, helping fundraise for families impacted by ICE, or hosting community days at the farm with free clothing swaps, generosity is a core part of how I try to show up for others.

My mom used to say, “Si hay un dulce, lo cortamos en seis,” which means, “if there’s one piece of candy, we’d split it into six.” She grew up in El Salvador, sharing what little her family had, and that spirit of giving—of making sure everyone gets a piece—has guided me my whole life.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Juntas Social is a community-centered social club I founded to create spaces that celebrate connection, care, and mutual support. Through meetups, community book swaps, clothing exchanges, and collaborative events with local vendors and artists, Juntas Social builds spaces where generosity and community care are part of everyday life.

As we continue to grow, I’m looking to partner with more individuals and organizations in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley who are equally dedicated to giving back—people who believe in showing up for one another, sharing resources, and building a more compassionate and connected community together.

Starting this season, I’ll be hosting monthly book swaps in collaboration with Shift Our Ways Collective (S.O.W.), a local urban farm in the San Fernando Valley, along with Un Pedacito Del Cielo (matcha and coffee cart), to raise funds for families impacted by ICE. More updates and event details can be found on our website https://www.juntassocial.com.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I think the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been communication, confidence, and community support.

First, strong communication—both written and verbal—has been essential. It’s what allows me to share ideas clearly, connect with others, and bring people together around a shared purpose.

Second, having the confidence to put myself out there has made all the difference. It’s not always easy to take up space or start something new, but learning to trust my voice and my vision has opened doors I never expected.

And lastly, I’ve learned that none of this happens alone. I’m not a self-made woman; I have friends, family, and community members who cheer me on, support my ideas, and show up when I start to doubt myself. It really does take a village.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice would be: take risks, talk to people, and get to know your community. Build something authentic, not something that looks perfect. For a long time, I felt a little lost trying to find my place in the world, but by showing up as myself, I eventually found my people—others who share the same values and desire to give back. That’s where real growth and impact begin.

And even now, I’m still learning and growing. I know that will always be part of the journey—continuing to listen, adapt, and evolve to meet the needs of my community.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest challenge I’m currently facing is finances. I know it’s often considered taboo to talk about money, but the reality is that building and sustaining community takes resources. Even with partnerships and shared efforts, there are always unexpected costs—printing flyers, venue fees, supplies, and all the behind-the-scenes details that make events possible.

I do my best to keep Juntas Social events free or low-cost because accessibility is at the heart of what I do. That also means I’m not focused on profit; the goal is always to make community care reachable for everyone.

To address this challenge, I’ve been actively applying for grants, building relationships with local organizations, and inviting community members to contribute when they can through donations at events. It’s been a learning process, but I’ve had some success and continue to put myself out there and make the ask.

For anyone interested in supporting or collaborating, you can reach out at [email protected]
or connect via Venmo @Alma_Carrillo. Every contribution helps sustain the work and keep our community spaces open, inclusive, and thriving.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juntassocial.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juntassocial/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/almacarrillo/

Image Credits

Sandy Rachel Saravia- https://www.sandysaravia.com/photography/