HISTORY PRESENTS “PARCEROS,” A DOCUMENTARY THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF YOUTH

On Wednesday, April 29, HISTORY presents, exclusively for Latin America, “PARCEROS,” a powerful documentary that ventures into the comunas of Medellín, Colombia’s second most important city, to offer an unfiltered portrait of the daily life and social challenges faced by thousands of young people whose lives have been shaped by poverty, inequality, and violence.

“Parceros” is also a strategic program run by the Mayor’s Office of Medellín focused on protecting, supporting, and creating real opportunities for transformation for this vulnerable population. The documentary, which shares its name with the program, was born out of a partnership between HISTORY and the Mayor’s Office, aiming to amplify stories that rise above adversity and become inspiring symbols of resilience and progress. Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez said that when the public sector works hand in hand with social organizations and media with global reach, the impact multiplies, and that this partnership was created to shine a light on the city’s youth and show the world the Medellín that is rising, fighting, and transforming.

Renowned Argentine actor and producer Michel Brown goes beyond the role of host, fully immersing himself in each story and experience, connecting with the people at the center of the documentary and their realities. He shared that “PARCEROS” has been a deeply moving experience for him, saying that when he returned from filming the documentary, he felt something he hadn’t felt in years — that for the first time in a long while, a real, genuine story reached his soul. As an actor, he said, he works with other people’s scripts, but here he felt they were generating real change; he described the experience as impactful for the whole team and said it would be for audiences too, calling the documentary “an atomic bomb.”

“PARCEROS” tells the story of Marcela, Alejandro, and Juan Sebastián, known as “Raíces”: three young people from different comunas of Medellín who found in art, culture, and the strength of community an opportunity to rewrite their destiny.

Marcela joined the program after having engaged in paid sex work for three years. Today, at 25, she is a mother, works as a security and coexistence coordinator for a Medellín Mayor’s Office program, and has become a role model for transformation among those around her.

Alejandro lived on the streets starting at age 14, caught up in illegal activity and tied to criminal organizations. “PARCEROS” became his motivation. He is now an ambassador for the program and owns his own barbershop. At 25, he is building a new life alongside his wife, his stepdaughter, and his newborn daughter.

Juan Sebastián, “Raíces,” was born in Cartagena. He arrived in Medellín after going through an experience of abuse that led him into deep depression. He joined the program in 2024 and is now part of the tourism sector around the comuna’s outdoor escalators, where he also shares his voice and his story through rap.

“PARCEROS” reflects the lives of more than 9,000 vulnerable children and young people who have been supported by the program since 2024. It shows how, through social support, training, and access to education and employment opportunities, they have chosen to build a life within the bounds of the law and are rewriting their futures. Paulina Patiño, Director of the Parceros program, noted that Parceros is a factory of stories that don’t happen only in Colombia or only in Medellín — it’s something that happens to young people all over the world who grow up without hope or self-worth. She said Parceros is genuinely creating change and serves as an example to inspire many young people who believe their lives are worthless.

Through “PARCEROS,” HISTORY reaffirms its commitment to the region, presenting real stories of redemption and hope that showcase the transformative power of second chances. Cesar Sabroso, Senior VP of Marketing, PR & Corporate Communications for A+E Networks Latin America, said they want to be the amplifiers of this message and thanked the Mayor’s Office of Medellín for the trust placed in the History Channel team, adding that their goal is not just for the story to be heard and resonate in Colombia, but throughout all of Latin America, since it’s a story that deserves to be told.

The 43-minute documentary was filmed in the comunas of Medellín, a city that for decades was synonymous with violence and today is internationally recognized for its social transformation, vibrant culture, and homegrown global talent such as Karol G, J Balvin, and Maluma. Produced by HISTORY and the Mayor’s Office in partnership with Loso Producciones and co-produced with Lulo Films, this documentary shows that investing in children and young people can change the course of entire generations.

“PARCEROS” is a story that will leave no one unmoved.

About Parceros
In Medellín, Colombia, around 350 criminal groups are active, and more than a thousand young people are recruited into them every year. These gangs, which together have roughly 6,000 members and can reach as many as 12,000 when counting those who serve them indirectly, have turned violence into a profitable business for those who prey on people’s vulnerability. Adding to this reality are hundreds of women trapped in prostitution and sexual exploitation networks, forced to sell their bodies out of need and lack of opportunity.

Against this backdrop, Parceros was born — a program run by Medellín’s Secretariat of Security and Coexistence aimed at preventing children, adolescents, young people, and women from being recruited by criminal organizations. Its mission is clear: to take young people’s lives back from the gangs and offer real alternatives for building a dignified life within the law.

Through training, employment, and psychosocial support, thousands of children, adolescents, young people, and people deprived of their liberty have found a new opportunity to redefine their lives. Between 2024 and 2025, more than 9,000 people have been supported by the program, with a goal of reaching 15,000 over the four-year term.

ABOUT MICHEL BROWN
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 10, 1976. Today he is one of the most recognized and versatile actors in Latin America, having taken part in various projects in Mexico, Spain, and his native country.

In Colombia, he rose to great popularity for his portrayal of Franco Reyes in the telenovela “Pasión de Gavilanes.” Among his most notable projects are “Hernán” (2019), HISTORY’s series about the conquest of Mexico, in which he played Pedro de Alvarado. In 2020, he hosted the third season of “Desafío sobre Fuego Latinoamérica,” also for HISTORY.

Michel Brown has built his career on boundary-breaking stories. In 2022, he starred in the hit series “Pálpito,” playing Simón Duque. More recently, in 2025, he played Alejo Valdés in “Simplemente Alicia.”

He is married to Colombian actress Margarita Muñoz.