For Edwin, purpose was never something that simply appeared one day. It was built through struggle, sacrifice, community, and the people who believed in him long before he fully believed in himself.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Edwin grew up in a family of eight living in a tiny apartment. Financial hardship, high rent costs, and living close to the border amid concerns surrounding ICE enforcement eventually pushed his family to relocate to the Quad Cities. While the move brought uncertainty, it also introduced Edwin to the place he would eventually call home.
Even as a child, Edwin experienced realities many kids should never have faced. He remembers constantly moving from home to home, worrying more about the next meal than school, and watching his parents work endlessly to provide necessities rather than luxuries. His father’s departure became one of the defining moments of his upbringing. As the family’s breadwinner was suddenly gone, Edwin watched his mother respond not with weakness, but with resilience.
“She showed strength,” he reflected. “That’s when we knew we just had to keep going.”
That mindset shaped Edwin’s work ethic for life.
Today, Edwin serves as the director of Youth Engagement & Development at YWCA of the Quad Cities, where he oversees “The Place2B,” where he focuses on creating opportunities, mentorship, and safe spaces for youth. But his journey toward leadership did not happen overnight.
While earning both his associate and bachelor’s degrees as a student-athlete, Edwin admits it was during his junior year of college that he truly began taking his future seriously. Exposure changed everything for him. Through mentors, leadership programs, and community support, he began to see possibilities for himself that he had never imagined before.
One of the biggest influences in his life came from people outside of his immediate family, especially “Ms. P,” his friend’s grandmother, and his mother. Edwin credits them for seeing something in him before he could see it in himself.
“They exposed us to things we never had access to,” he said. “College tours, rides, taking us out to eat, they showed us there was more out there.”
That support became the foundation for the type of community leader Edwin strives to be today.
He recalls one of the hardest lessons coming from his very first job at Taco Bell, where a supervisor constantly belittled and discouraged him. Instead of allowing the negativity to define him, Edwin turned those experiences into motivation.
“I told myself I would never become that kind of person,” he said. “Everything he said to me became motivation.”
Throughout his life, Edwin has remained deeply connected to the Quad Cities community. Although he was born in California, he says the Quad Cities became home because of the people who poured into him. One moment especially confirmed that for him: after leaving the area for a period, community members continuously checked in, encouraged him, and reminded him that he was missing.
“That’s when I realized, this is home,” Edwin said.
Still, Edwin noticed challenges within the community as well. One thing that surprised him about the Quad Cities was how divided and segregated certain areas felt despite students attending the same schools. Those observations motivated him even more to become part of the city’s growth and development, especially for the next generation.
As a Hispanic leader, Edwin says he often felt pressure to prove himself beyond stereotypes tied to age, appearance, and background. He openly acknowledges the microaggressions and misconceptions he faced growing up, especially the assumption that Hispanic entrepreneurs are limited to certain industries.
“People think Hispanics only own food trucks or cleaning companies,” he said. “But we’re innovators, not just operators.”
Rather than allowing those stereotypes to discourage him, Edwin used them as fuel.
He takes immense pride in his roots and intentionally keeps his culture alive within his own family. Edwin and his wife, whom he has been married to for three years, are raising their two boys to understand where they come from. Inside their home, he speaks Spanish to his children to ensure they stay connected to their heritage.
“Some people try to Americanize themselves for the comfort of others,” Edwin said. “I never wanted to do that.”
Family remains at the center of everything he does. Alongside his wife, two sons, and even their two dogs, Edwin describes his family as one of his greatest sources of strength and support.
Professionally, Edwin says one of the biggest turning points in his life came through leadership programs and mentorship opportunities that exposed him to new possibilities. Seeing students, he mentored to continue to stay connected with him over the years became confirmation that he was truly making an impact.
“The relationships and bonds created with students made me realize this is what I’m supposed to do,” he shared.
Another breakthrough moment came when Edwin purchased his first car, something many people may overlook, but for him symbolized independence after years of relying on others for transportation.
Today, Edwin’s mission extends far beyond career success. His vision for the future focuses on mentorship, mental health support, youth programs, financial assistance resources, volunteering, networking, and reducing crime through early intervention and opportunity.
“How do we prevent those things?” he asked. “By starting young.”
Much of that inspiration also came through the YWCA of the Quad Cities, which Edwin says played a major role in his personal and professional growth by believing in him, supporting him, and creating opportunities for connection and development.
“The YWCA took risks on people like me,” he said. “That support changes lives.”
One lesson Edwin carries with him daily came from Ms. Tammy, a mentor who once told him:
“Give your family the best of you, not the rest of you.”
That quote continues to guide how he balances leadership, fatherhood, marriage, and service.
When asked how he hopes people remember him years from now, Edwin’s answer is simple: humble, genuine, hardworking, family-oriented, and someone who truly cared for his community.
More than titles or accomplishments, Edwin hopes his legacy will be about impacting changing perspectives, advocating for the next generation, and proving that where you come from does not determine where you can go.
And for young entrepreneurs trying to find their way, Edwin offers this reminder:
“Whatever you’re feeling is normal. If you think about it that much, it means you care. Surround yourself with people who share the same mindset as you, and don’t give up.”
