Erick Salgado was born in the Bronx on November 8, 1970. The son of Puerto Rican parents Joseph Salgado and Ada Norma Torres, he graduated with high honors from High School in 1988, the same year he finished his first three years of theological study. Salgado devoted nearly a year to missionary service in the Dominican Republic, distributing food and clothing to the people living in the poorest se
ctions of the country. He then returned to New York City where he lived in Sunset Park. Salgado went on to Boricua College graduating with an Associate degree in Liberal Arts and earned his Doctorate in Theological Studies from UTI University in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in May of 2010. In 1989, Rev. Salgado realized that many of the residents of his community were struggling. This motivated him to open his first church in Red Hook, where he served as a community leader during a time when many in the neighborhood faced serious economic difficulties. That same year he began a day job at an auto parts shop owned and operated by the Frasca family - a well known Brooklyn Italian family. His hard work as an employee − as a driver and serving customers − earned him a promotion. He was appointed manager of the shop, giving him valuable management experience. In 1992, Rev. Salgado married Sonia Delgado. Together, they began and grew a small Sunset Park bookstore into a chain with outlets in the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens. He and Sonia prided themselves on being able to provide employment for local residents. Even as a businessman, Rev. Salgado addressed the community's social issues developing programs to teach immigrants English and young people to play musical instruments. In 1998, Rev. Salgado expanded his ministry to Bensonhurst, creating a congregation of primarily immigrants who had recently moved to "Little Guatemala in Brooklyn." The new Church began to grow dramatically. Included among his followers were former gang members and trouble-makers from Bensonhurst. Salgado’s ability to connect with these troubled youth was recognized by local police commanders and other community leaders. In December 2001, Rev. Salgado established Bensonhurst’s first Hispanic church, The Iglesia Jovenes Cristianos (Young Christian) Church. The church grew to such an extent, that in a few years he was able to establish a second church in the Bensonhurst community, having an even greater impact in a neighborhood where Latinos faced serious economic and social issues. The two churches currently have over 1,100 active members. To be able to help even more of New York City's residents in need, in April of 2003, Rev. Salgado began a radio ministry known as “Radio Cantico” Nuevo Inc., (New Song Radio) by leasing evening and weekend broadcast time from the former Spanish Network known as “Radio Unica.” When “Radio Unica” stopped broadcasting, Rev. Salgado's "Radio Cantico" Nuevo Inc. continued on the air over WSNW-AM 1430, where he successfully developed a very large, broad audience in the tri-state area. Other stations broadcasting his programming included WNYH-AM 740, WRKL- AM 910 (formerly “PolskieRadio”) and WJDM-AM 1530. This created one of the largest Spanish evangelical networks in the tri-state area. In May of 2010, Rev. Salgado and his organization purchased the first radio signal for the ministry, WNYG-AM 1440. Realizing that New Yorkers deserved and needed a candidate who understands the problems they face on a daily basis, Rev. Salgado made the decision, last December, to resign as President of Radio Cantico Nuevo Inc, and registered as a candidate for Mayor of New York City in 2013. Salgado and Sonia live in Westerleigh, Staten Island, with their six children
