Eimy Santiago was born in Tampa, FL and raised in Springfield, MA. One of four children, Eimy was raised by her mother, Margarita, in a single-parent home. Eimy spent most of her teenage years living in Puerto Rico, exploring her culture.
When Eimy was a teenager she faced many trials in her life. Eimy left her family at a young age and went into a world of troubles. She dropped out of high school when she was just about to become a single mother.
As Eimy was becoming a single parent she realized that she couldn't put her child through what she had gone through. She decided to find a way to change her life for the better. That is when she went to a program called YouthBuild. YouthBuild is place that gives young adults an opportunity in life. YouthBuild gave Eimy the opportunity to obtain her GED and learn job skills by building affordable housing for low-income families. In YouthBuild Eimy learned how to take responsibility for herself, her family, and her community.
When Eimy graduated from YouthBuild she enrolled in Holyoke Community College and was taking Human Services courses. She completed one semester but discovered that being a single parent made school at that time impossible. She decided to go back to work and postpone school. She became a Vista AmeriCorps volunteer and worked for the ReStore Home Improvement Center in Springfield, MA. While Eimy was at ReStore she helped strengthen the nonprofit agency by doing outreach in the community and informing the public about the services that ReStore offered. In addition to working and supporting her daughter, she continued to volunteer at YouthBuild.
Eimy also met Senator John Kerry in 2001 while a member of YouthBuild. From this unlikely encounter Eimy left such an impression on the Senator that she was asked to speak at Senator Kerry's announcement for his run for Presidency at Fanniel Hall in October 2003. Following that proud and defining moment, Eimy continued to work to get Kerry elected. She returned to Boston in July 2004 where she received national attention as one of the three speakers who nominated Senator Kerry for Presidential candidate of the Democratic Party at the Democratic National Convention. Eimy became a role model for many Hispanic individuals that day.
Eimy's volunteer work at YouthBuild led to employment in the program. She became a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer and part of staff at YouthBuild Springfield. Eimy was running a mentorship program in YouthBuild. She also became a board member of YouthBuild USA. Eimy continues to work giving opportunities to young adults who need a second chance at life. She has grown so much at YouthBuild that she is now the alumni coordinator. Eimy has enrolled back into college and is in her second semester. There is always time for volunteer work in her schedule. She is also a volunteer mentor for the Sheriff's Department and has been a mentor now for over two years. Eimy is a strong and positive leader in her community. She is a woman with courage and knowledge.
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