City Councilor Aaron Vega and his wife Debra enjoy a spin around the Holyoke Merry Go Round at Heritage State Park
Aaron Vega was born on Park Street, what is now Clemente Avenue, in South Holyoke. He attended Morgan Elementary School and eventually followed his parents’ footsteps by attending Holyoke Community College. Aaron soon became a film editor, working on projects for Ken Burns, PBS, TLC and HBO. After living in New York City and New Hampshire for a number of years, Aaron moved back to Holyoke with his wife Debra. Together they opened Vega Yoga and Movement Arts, a small business in downtown Holyoke that has quickly become one of the most successful yoga studios in the region.
In 2009, Aaron ran for City Council and won, becoming one of the first Latino at-large councilors. In his first term he worked to keep his commitment to improve the quality of life for all Holyoke residents by working to strengthen city ordinances while giving city departments and citizens the tools they need to address the many issues facing Holyoke. In order to do this Aaron successfully passed many important pieces of legislation, most notably the Clean and Safe Streets Act. In 2010, Aaron received the 40 Under 40 Award from Business West, given to local civic and business leaders.
In 2011, Aaron won re-election, receiving an 80% increase in votes from his first election. He currently is Chairperson of the Redevelopment committee and sits on the Ordinance subcommittee, the Mayor’s Economic Development Council, the Holyoke Senior Center, Library, and High School Building committees, and the Joint Committee of the City Council and School Committee.
Aaron sits on the boards of the Holyoke Health Center, Homework House, the Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice, Morgan School turnaround team, and the Connections Afterschool Program. He helped found Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success in Holyoke, or C.R.U.S.H., a dynamic group that seeks to improve the image of Holyoke and promote local economic growth by connecting residents, local leaders, and small businesses together. He is also a member of the Holyoke Taxpayers Association, the Holyoke Community Land Trust, Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke Unites, Friends of the Council on Aging, and the Rotary Club of Holyoke.
In addition to being a small business owner with Aaron, his wife Debra performed as a New York City Rockette for over four years and has taught dance at Mt. Holyoke College, Williston School, and to Holyoke seniors at the Council on Aging. Aaron has three daughters, two who work full time and one is the third generation in her family to go to Holyoke Community College. Aaron’s father Carlos moved to Holyoke when he was five years old and has been active in the community ever since. Aaron’s mother Paula used to work at Steigers and now lives in New Hampshire.
