We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlos Davila and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlos, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Puerto Rico but came to NY at a very early age and grew up in the Bronx during the 80’s (not a fun time lol). But it was this experience and dealing with poverty, normalized violence, and the general apathy and learned helplessness that these social milieus can create that fostered my desire to get out of that space. This eventually lead to my becoming the first person in my family to get a graduate degree and has pushed me to start my own small business.
But this was all foreign to me. Not having many positive examples when I was younger created its own challenges but it also forced me to “figure it out”.
It also created a “hustler” mentality that led to me doing fitness as a side job, which eventually led to my being a part of one of the most popular boutique fitness spaces in NY, but more importantly, positioned me within the fitness industry as a voice for DEI.
All of this came from a desire to be seen, which was often not how I felt when I was younger.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Becoming the Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Fhitting Room has been one of the most significant achievements in my career because of the impact that it allows me to have. This path was not easy and, as I have often stated, if not for a global pandemic and an increased level of attention placed on DEI in general, this position may not exist. But once I got the position the why didn’t matter, it was all about the how. How do we create spaces for all to feel welcome and seen in health and wellness?
That’s become the challenge, the difficult conversation, the reframing…but the end goal makes it all worth the effort.
But this path isn’t easy, and the things that being us joy and fulfillment are often challenging. But I can say with all honesty that I am doing work that is impactful, and that makes the process less daunting.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh if we are in Bushwhick, Brooklyn we have to try Maite and sea Wolf for food. Get some amazing groceries, great coffee and some amazing meat from the butcher shop at Foster Sundry. And maybe go rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Davila Boys Robin Palmer
Mastermind Connect
NFBLME
Blaque

Instagram: Babalos

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-davila-he-him-6010a039

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.