Yami

Community Resources Guide
Orlando, FL

Yami brings deep compassion, grit, and lived experience to her role as a Community Resources Guide at firsthand in Orlando, FL. She works one-on-one with individuals, navigating the complex intersections of mental health, housing instability, and systemic barriers—meeting people where they are, both literally and emotionally.

Before joining firsthand, Yami spent time at a local mom-and-baby hospital, helping new parents—many of whom were recent migrants—navigate the challenges of securing Medicaid and other essential support. She grew up in a home where advocacy was a way of life. Her mother worked in social services, and her family often had to fight to access mental health care for her brother, who lives with bipolar disorder and ADHD. Watching her mother push through red tape with persistence and dignity left a deep impression, one Yami carries into her work every day.

Though she didn’t take a traditional path into this field, Yami’s journey is rooted in service. When COVID hit and jobs dried up, she began volunteering full-time at her mother’s organization in New York, which provided after-school programming and community support for Latino youth. That experience led to a series of roles in casework and child welfare—positions she never imagined for herself, but ones where she quickly found purpose.

Yami has had her own struggles, including a period of heavy alcohol use following a personal loss in her early twenties. Recovery wasn’t sparked by a dramatic moment, but by love: her now-partner helped her see that the life she was building mattered—and that it was worth protecting. That turning point, and the hard internal work that followed, fuels her empathy and resolve today.

At firsthand, Yami’s favorite part of the job is fighting for people who feel like they’ve run out of steam. She’s proudest when she helps someone move into permanent housing after bouncing between motels, or when she’s able to restore benefits that had been wrongly cut off by the system. Her approach is simple but powerful: show up, listen closely, and never give up on someone. “I like being that voice for people who are tired of screaming.”

Working at firsthand has shifted how Yami sees mental health, especially serious mental illness and stigma. What once felt unfamiliar or intimidating now feels human, and deeply personal. “Don’t make up your mind about anyone,” she says. “Get to know who they are behind all that.”

Outside of work, Yami is a voracious reader who read 54 books last year alone—often walking her dog around the neighborhood with a book in hand. She and her partner also explore nature trails on weekends, seeking out small moments of peace and connection. When she reflects on her past, she doesn’t dwell on regrets. Instead, she feels immense pride in how far she’s come—and in the quiet, daily decision to keep showing up for others.