Meet Teo. Help the Next Young Person Find Their Path.
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Meet Teo. Help the Next Young Person Find Their Path.
“Fab was one of the first places where I felt encouraged to explore who I was and what I cared about without being boxed in by expectations.”
Following His Curiosity: Teo Janiga’s Journey from London to Business Consulting
Dear Friends,
When Teo Janiga first became involved with FabNewport, he was a curious young person trying to figure out where he belonged and what might be possible for his future.
I first met Teo through his mother, Kelly, who was connected to Social Enterprise Greenhouse and supportive of our early work. At the time, there was a debate in the family about where Teo should attend high school. The traditional path pointed toward Classical High School. Teo, however, felt strongly that he belonged at The Met.
Fortunately, his family listened.
Over the next four years, we had the privilege of watching Teo grow into a leader as part of FabNewport’s PVD Young Maker team.
What stands out isn’t any single project or achievement. It was his willingness to follow his curiosity, take initiative, build relationships, and develop the confidence to chart his own course.
Today, Teo is a student at Fordham University. After studying abroad in London and exploring different career interests, he is spending this summer interning with a business consulting firm, helping organizations solve problems and improve their operations.
When we recently asked Teo what he gained from FabNewport, he didn’t talk first about skills or credentials.
He talked about mindset.
“I think one of the biggest things I got from FabNewport was an entrepreneurial mindset—not just in business, but in life.”
And when asked what memory stayed with him all these years later, he didn’t mention a project.
He remembered community.
He remembered a room full of young people talking, creating, helping one another, and feeling connected.
“It was special,” he said.
Stories like Teo’s remind us why long-term relationships matter. Transformation doesn’t happen in a weekend or a semester. It happens over years as young people gain access to caring adults, meaningful opportunities, and experiences that help them imagine a future they can see themselves in.
This summer, hundreds of young people will begin or continue journeys like Teo’s.
To help make those experiences possible, the Royal Little Family Foundation has issued FabNewport a $10,000 Summer Challenge Grant.
The Foundation has committed $10,000 and is challenging our community to match that investment dollar for dollar. If we succeed, together we will generate $20,000 to support summer experiences, transportation, meals, mentoring, and opportunities that help young people discover what is possible for their futures.
Every gift moves us closer to unlocking the challenge.
Will you help us meet the goal?
Thank you for believing in young people and for helping create more stories like Teo’s.
