Santiago is a changemaker in many ways. He strives to create community wherever he goes and is always a welcoming presence to students, staff, faculty and community members at UNCG. Santiago is from Colombia, and he’s also involved in clubs like ALPFA and Ritmo Latino. To him, a changemaker is an integral and collaborative person who seeks to create change within the community by empowering other members through creativity, education, critical thinking, and communication, all to generate a common good where we all make a difference.
Santiago served this summer as a SECU Public Fellows Intern with the Center for New North Carolinians (CNNC), which promotes access and integration for immigrants and refugees in North Carolina by bridging newcomer populations with existing communities through direct service provision, research, and training. Santiago completed over 300 hours with CNNC working with people new to the United States, helping them get acclimated to their new home. Santiago also served as a CHANCE Mentor this summer. CHANCE is a program for Hispanic/LatinX high school students that come to UNCG and spend a week learning about the life of a college student. Santiago served as not only a mentor but a friend, a support system, and a role model to these students.