Sal Lucatero (@thatoneguysal on Instagram) is, in every sense of the word, a community builder. He is an Events Manager for a tech company and works to build strong community networks through experiential events that help drive change and create a workforce in underdog communities. Using this same logic, he has found ways to bring together young people diagnosed with T1D and create a strong support system using real-life meetups and social media networks. He is currently obsessed with remodeling his home with his 130 pound, adopted Great Pyrenees, Clifford, and looking for ways to travel to some of the most exotic places on earth. When he’s not at home or working in the community, you can find him hanging out with his friends at a music festival or finding ways to build a new music festival from scratch.

Sal was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 19 years old and since then, has taken control of how to manage living with a chronic illness, especially as a young adult. Type 1, an autoimmune disorder, which occurs because of antibodies that destroy your pancreatic beta cells. Without these pancreatic cells, the body can no longer produce insulin.