The story of 5 young Latino men who could ... read to find out more about them.

The word family has many different meanings, depending on whom you ask? It is associated with bloodline, community, an association, or brotherhood like a fraternity. Family is one of our most important relationships. A friend and mentee, @Visions.From.Hima Himanuel Vega, exemplifies the word family. As a young man, husband, father, entrepreneur, friend, son, brother, legacy builder, self-published author, motivational speaker, with a Youtube platform, Hima-vision.com, https://youtube.com/channel/UCUX9PR9cCbGITtPjn5PDcaA, and so much more, who grew up in the foster care system, now living his best life, embodies all the things and struggles associated with family. I am glad to know him, support him and celebrate him today. Himanuel is our day six hero in our #100YoungMenofColor2021 campaign.

Alejandro Jimenez, who is Dominican, exemplify the word, #honorable: he is deserving of respect and high regard: His character speaks volumes about who he is, although quiet and unassuming, this 6' 3" gentle giant of a man is a husband, son, brother, friend, educator, musician, #chef and the person that I would most want by my side when I'm in the trenches. He continues to pursue excellence, and above all of his other qualities, Jimenez is a God-fearing man. He is indeed #honorable, and for such a young man? He sets the bar pretty high for others to follow as he trail blazes among the stars. Today on this seventh day of our #100MenofColor2021 campaign, our hero of the day is Alejandro Jimenez. We celebrate you today and every day. God bless you!

Justyn A. Santiago, an extraordinary friend I now call family, exemplifies the word #teammember. I have enjoyed working closely with Justyn on several effective anti-racist, health-promoting, immigrant-serving programs at UMass Boston beginning summer 2019 to encourage social justice and systemic change students feel most in need. Santiago, a close and trusted confidant, handles working behind the scenes exceptionally well to ensure that any assigned project he has committed himself to is completed with excellence. I am so proud of him and his development and growth as a student, leader, community member, and role model we can all look to for what a #teammember should embody. Santiago is our hero on this 8th day of our #100YoungMenofColor2021 campaign. Would you please help me celebrate my friend and such an extraordinary young man today and every day? Justyn A. Santiago.

Ishmael Pina, aka Manny, exemplifies #ambition, a strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. Manny was a classmate of mine in undergraduate science class, who felt that there was more to life than the path he was pursuing at the time, was able to strike an agreement with his mom to allow him to pursue his passion for acting for one year. They agreed that he would return to college and complete his degree as previously planned if he weren't successful. Manny, however, was successful in his endeavors as an actor and now has a production company. His #ambition provided a GPS to arrive at his destination, and he is now fully realizing his dreams. Manny has achieved what may have seemed impossible, but his determination and hard work have paid off. Our young men are talented beyond words; Manny is yet another example of who and what our young men can achieve when they are encouraged and the support they need. Let's celebrate and encourage Manny as he continues to assail to greater heights with his craft as an actor, producer, and writer. Let's support Manny's projects; he is one of our young black men making a difference and changing the narrative by his example. Manny is our hero today, on day 8, of our 100-day campaign to uplift our young black and brown men. #YoungMenofColor2021, day, Ishmael Pina.

Edward Arias Dominican Prince, a family man, and friend, exemplifies the word #family-first. #Family-first denotes the care and priority given to those we love and care for. It suggests our young black and brown men can have human compassion for their fellow man, contrary to what we hear from society. Our young men are not savage beasts; they are jewels in our vast treasures of gifted people destined for greatness, sometimes realized from the sidelines. Not all of us will become known, like the late great Kobe Bryant, who will forever be immortalized in our hearts and minds. Some are simply quiet heroes who go about their everyday lives making a difference. Edwards's superpower includes his brilliant smile and infectious laughter, beckoning sunshine on a rainy day because family matters to him. In our numerous discussions, I hear the stories of how much he loves his siblings and cares for them. I hear his concern for his mother, who works two and three jobs to make ends meet. I listened to his anxiety and pain over the recent loss of his goddaughter. I hear that he is first, a protector, a provider, a comforter, a son, a big brother, and a man who has so much to offer the world; we are pleased to celebrate young men like Edward A. AriasDiaz; we need to hear more stories like these that give a different narrative of just who our young men are. They are strong, powerful, endearing, caring citizens who make a difference in our lives every day. Edward A. AriasDiaz is our hero today, on this 10th day of our 100-day campaign to celebrate our#YoungMenofColor2021. Edward, we applaud you, appreciate you, and love you for the man you are, who cares about #family-first.