Salem Prep's Yamily Byas Honored As 2024 MA Commonwealth Heroine

SALEM, MA — A Salem Prep student support specialist has been honored as a Massachusetts Commonwealth Heroine Of The Year in recognition of her extraordinary acts of service and outstanding contributions to her school community.

Yamily Byas was named to the Heroines Class of 2024 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

State Rep. Manny Cruz (D-Salem) nominated Byas for the award.

In 2019, Byas founded the support group Mamás Unidas, which helps local Latina mothers in need receive access to everyday necessities, basic needs, even living arrangements, food insecurity and education.

"I feel really proud and honored to serve my community and its families," said Byas, who recently capped her third year at Salem Prep. "It is very rewarding to me."

In February 2023, Byas was named the recipient of the Dominican Flag Committee Up-and-Coming Youth Leader Award, and nominated for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce/City Awake 10 Outstanding Young Leader Awards.

Last fall, she was one of several Latina leaders in Salem to be featured on the El Mundo Mural in The Point neighborhood.

The Class of 2024 included 20 recipients from Essex County, including Teasie Riley Goggin, also of Salem.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)