Hispanic Heritage Month: Arlin Santiago
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, providing an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. At the Merrimack Valley YMCA, we are proud to have such a diverse group of staff, members and volunteers who make our Y such a wonderful and welcoming place to be.
Stay tuned throughout this month as we recognize a few of those individuals and share a little bit about their story.
Arlin Santiago
Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to the Merrimack Valley YMCA?
I’m the Executive Director of SheRoot, a nonprofit focused on creating therapeutic circles that empower and support women. I’m also a board member of Lawrence Community Works, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening our community by creating economic opportunity, social, and physical revitalization of the City of Lawrence. My connection to the Merrimack Valley YMCA is deeply personal. As a single parent, the YMCA provided me with a safe and supportive place for my family while giving me access to childcare so I could work and provide for my children. My son also had the opportunity to participate in the Adelante program, which provided him with meaningful support and opportunities. And also at one point worked at the YMCA during the youth summer programs. It has also come full circle generational experience. Both of my grandchildren attend the YMCA, allowing my daughter the same opportunity I once had, to work, provide for her family, and know that her children are in a safe and supportive environment. The YMCA has been more than a place for my family; it has been a source of support across generations. That is why the work of the YMCA means so much to me and why I’m proud to remain connected to its mission and the Merrimack Valley community.
What brought you to the Y in the first place?
What first brought me to the YMCA and kept me coming back was knowing that it was a safe and welcoming place for my family. The caring and professional staff have always been there to guide, encourage, and support us when needed and the strong sense of community and knowing that the YMCA genuinely cares about the well-being and success of families. It has become a place where my family feels supported, welcomed, and connected.
What does your Hispanic/Latino heritage mean to you?
To me it means carrying forward the values of hard work, compassion, faith, and community. I’m proud of my heritage because it has shaped the person I am today and strengthened my commitment to giving back, uplifting others, and making sure our culture and stories continue to be celebrated and passed on to the next generation.
Is there a tradition, value, or lesson from your family or culture that has stayed with you?
The greatest values my family and culture have instilled in me is the importance of giving back, especially to those who are most vulnerable and in need.
Who has had the biggest influence on the person you are today?
My Mother. She is a survivor of DV and regardless of the barriers she faced she always made sure that we were safe and very well taken care of and worked very hard to provide for us the best that she could. She is my warrior veija.
What is something you’re proud of — either personaly, professionally or within your community?
I’m proud of the person I have become and the journey that has shaped me. One of my greatest accomplishments is raising two wonderful children and watching them grow into the people they are today. Now, I have the blessing of enjoying my grandchildren, which brings me a different kind of joy and fulfillment. Being able to look back and see the love, values, and lessons I’ve passed on to my family is something I’m truly proud of.
What is one thing you hope to pass on to the next generation?
I hope to teach them to believe in themselves, use their voice, extend kindness to others, and understand that success is even more meaningful when you use it to lift someone else up. And to remember to always give back to their community.
