Stories from the Green Team: Aaliyah Zambrano and Jeremiah Santiago

Today, we present you two inspiring stories from Aaliyah Zambrano and Jeremiah Santiago, who are part of the Green Team at the 18th WONDER initiative. Let's dive into their experiences, learnings, and future aspirations.

Aaliyah Zambrano: Learning and Growing with the Green Team

Aaliyah Zambrano's journey with the Green Team has been a transformative one. The experience has taught her valuable life lessons, instilled confidence, and provided a platform to make a difference in her community. Aaliyah's interaction with her community was limited. She only stepped out to board the school bus or visit a friend's house. Joining the Green Team opened a new world for Aaliyah. It underlined the fact that a little bit of help could indeed bring about a significant change. The team taught her life lessons, such as opening her first bank account, which made her feel responsible and adult-like.

The Green Team also encouraged her to participate actively in her community, an experience she truly cherishes. The confidence gained from the Green Team led her to apply and work for the Public Works Department under the City of Reading Mayor Moran 2023 Summer Youth Employment Initiative Program.

Aaliyah's future looks promising. She has been accepted by Alvernia and is excited about experiencing college life. Aaliyah is majoring in Early Childhood Education B.A. with Grades PK – 4 & Special Education PK-12 Certifications.

Jeremiah Santiago: Inspired to Be Better

Jeremiah Santiago's association with the Green Team has inspired him to strive for betterment and reinforced his belief in the power of hard work.

The Green Team made a significant impact on Jeremiah. It taught him about work ethics and laid a foundation for his future work performance. The experience also enabled him to buy a bike and save up for his first car.

Today, Jeremiah is putting his learnings to good use. He works as an assistant director at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club, helping keep kids off the streets and ensuring they have a great time.

Jeremiah envisions a bright future for himself. He is preparing for college and constantly striving to improve himself financially, skillfully, and mentally. Jeremiah plans to major in accounting as he is good with numbers, a talent he discovered during the Green Team's financial literacy classes. After 2 years at Berks, he plans to transfer to a State College.



Both Aaliyah and Jeremiah are shining examples of how the Green Team at the 18th WONDER initiative is helping shape the future of young individuals. We look forward to sharing more such inspiring stories.