Hard Work, Passion & Love
Meet the Mendez Kachwaha Family
By Seth Stutman | Photos by Hillary Lynn Photography & Mendez Kachwaha family
Published in Longmeadow Neighbors | September 2025
All parents want a better life for their children - and sometimes, their children work even harder to ensure that EVERYONE can rise up and have a better, healthier tomorrow. The story of the Mendez Kachwaha family is one of the most impressive families I’ve come across – hardworking, kind and working to create a healthier tomorrow.
Laila Kachwaha was originally born in England and moved to the Pioneer Valley as a child with her parents, of Indian, Sri Lankan, and English descent. In 2012, she met German Mendez Cancino when he came to see a rental unit she had available. After briefly talking about each other’s lives, German offered to help Laila remove her staging items from a property that had just sold and the two fell in love from there. Very shortly after, they decided to make a life together and form a family, welcoming a baby boy in 2013, another baby boy in 2014, and a baby girl in 2015, to join big sister Shyla. Finally they married in 2015 and are soon to celebrate their 10-year anniversary.
“German and I spent most of our early years together growing our family, our businesses, and working on German's immigration papers. Our most stressful moment was when he had to go back to Mexico for his final interview, knowing if he was denied he would not be able to return,” Laila said.
“Thankfully, he was approved after waiting an entire month in Mexico for an answer. Four months later we bought our home here in Longmeadow and finally became part of a community where our children can thrive and have stability,” she said.
That stability is something that Laila and German coveted for their children. Laila graduated from Amherst Regional High School before earning a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis in Illustration with minors in Business and Spanish. German’s educational path wasn’t as straightforward.
“My husband left home at 11 years old to be able to continue his schooling,” Laila recounts. “He is from a remote town in Mexico and there was no school available to him after the age of 10. He was hired to make cement blocks and in return, they paid for his schooling. He worked before and after school and on weekends, long hours making blocks and delivering them by wheelbarrow. At 16, he graduated and entered into a college prep program, which he paid for by selling watches. At 19, he decided to come to the United States.”
Fast forward a few decades and the Mendez Kachwaha family have settled in quite nicely. Parents Laila and German own Fix & Furnish Home Improvement & Interior Design. Laila is a designer and home stager with two decades of experience and German has worked in interior renovations for more than a decade. After spending many years helping each other on projects, they decided it would make sense to combine their businesses into one company and they haven’t looked back.
“We are a family that works hard. My husband works long hours and often six days a week. We are trying to show our children to follow their dreams and work for them. We feel fortunate to work with great clients and be given the privilege to transform their homes,” said Laila.
The rest of the Mendez Kachwaha family consists of their four children Shyla Ruiz Kachwaha, Lael Mendez Kachwaha, Aslan Mendez Kachwaha, Alina Mendez Kachwaha, and a three-year-old turtle named Rafael.
Laila and German gush speaking about their children.
“Shyla, is at UMass Boston studying Environmental Studies and Sustainability. She is an avid dancer, an amazing artist, and the best big sister. Many may know her from being a cashier at Big Y, however, her passion lies in her commitment to the environment. She is a Youth Member of the Governor’s Council on the Environment, a leading member of YCLP through the Audubon Society, and was the President (three years running) of the LHS Climate Change Club. She also served on the Longmeadow Long Range Steering Committee for two years and helped develop the townwide plan on how to address the effects of climate change for the next 20 years.”
“Lael loves soccer and plays travel soccer for Longmeadow and plays in the winter for Roots. He loves to play goalie (like German). He also plays the trumpet. Aslan also loves soccer and plays for the town and Roots. He plays the violin and sings in the school chorus. He can make so many things out of origami, loves to spell and has been known to read the dictionary. Both Lael and Aslan love flags of the world, and have the majority of the world flags memorized. Alina is a dancer also, and, as a 4th grader, is a member of Center School’s Green Club. She loves to make silly graphic novels and also loves all kinds of art and painting,” the Mendez Kachwahas report.
When not advocating for climate change, working on a home, or helping with schoolwork, the Mendez Kachwaha family finds time to unwind in the town where they have built their life.
“If my husband is home, you will probably see him outside with the boys playing soccer (as he also used to play in a league). We enjoy simple things, like time together and cooking good food.”
Student Spotlight: Meet Shyla Ruiz Kachwaha
Shyla isn’t your average college student. She’s a dedicated climate change activist, dancer, friend and freshman at UMass Boston where she studies Environmental Studies and Sustainability. As a senior at LHS, she engaged local partners and planned the Future Planet Fiesta on the Longmeadow Town Green. Now in Boston, she has her sights set on leaving our planet better for future generations.
Longmeadow Neighbors: How did you become interested in climate change?
Shyla: I've always had an interest and care for the environment. I loved to be outdoors when I was young, nature has always fascinated me. In middle school we had to raise money for an organization of our class's choice, through a walk-a-thon. Our class completed presentations to convince our group as a whole to support one organization. I managed to get my whole group on board with cleaning our oceans, donating our funds to Oceana. Ever since then my whole life has been centered around protecting our environment.
I joined the Climate Change Club at [LHS] my freshman year. I was one of 2 freshmen in a group of only seniors. One of the co-presidents, Ella, had some ties with the Longmeadow Energy and Sustainability Committee. At the time Longmeadow was highly advocating against the Eversource pipeline that was trying to be placed through Longmeadow.
Ella urged the club members to attend a protest that was being held against the pipeline. I attended and that's when I can say I really started to indulge in climate activism and efforts. Since then environmental activism has become my passion, finding new, creative ways to make an effort towards bettering our climate.
Longmeadow Neighbors: Many people are passive in their advocacy for issues. What springs you into action?
Shyla: I have always been a very empathetic person, that is very fascinated by the world around me. As I've grown up and learned more about climate change, it has become very clear to me that at the rate of how things are going we will be seeing another mass extinction that includes our human species. Even throughout my short life I've seen drastic and alarming changes in our environment. But what really springs me into action is the fact that I, nor anyone else my age, was ever given the opportunity to change our ways to prevent this issue from occurring. We have been born into this issue, caused by all the generations before us, affecting OUR futures and OUR lives, being told we are the only ones who can DO something about it. I have younger siblings and I also hope to possibly have children some day and they should not have to carry this burden as well. My generation wasn't given a choice, so I want to do everything in my power to ensure the generations after us aren’t placed in the same situation. Because at this rate, the burden of Climate Change won't be able to be ignored, not when navigating its effects is the only means to survival.
LMN: How do you think the community response has been for your work?
Shyla: For a challenging world with so many thoughts and opinions, Longmeadow has been nothing but a big support and advocate for my work. The school system has supported many of my efforts, such as the implementation of metal utensils. However I did face a few challenges at the school. With the implementation of metal utensils at the high school, I was placed with the constant responsibility of ensuring students were not throwing away the utensils. Given warnings after recounts, that the metal utensil efforts would have to be taken away if I didn't find ways to stop the students from disposing of them. I found this to be very frustrating and it ended up being too much for me with everything I already had going on as a junior in high school.
Unfortunately after the discontinuation of my efforts we did see the depletion of metal utensils. However Center School learned of our efforts and with my previous efforts we were able to get metal utensils into the elementary school.
The community as a whole has been very supportive of my efforts. I was invited to be a part of the Longmeadow Climate Perspectives documentary that the town and Bay Path put together. From that and with help from my school, I found myself in position as the Clerk and Youth Liaison of the Longmeadow Long Range Plan Steering Commiee, where all members valued my voice.
This past school year I found myself wanting to take on a project unlike anything I'd done before, educating our town on climate change through the form of a festival. I received so much help and support from the Longmeadow community. First Church actively invited me to their environmental group meeting where they offered advice, labor, funds, advertising and so much more. Their group continuously aided and supported me in the ways I wished to be aided and supported. I saw support from Longmeadow Transitions, the energy and sustainability committee and many more groups. Even small businesses in Longmeadow were more than happy to help me advertise.
I couldn't be more grateful for the open minds and arms that Longmeadow has shown me.
LMN: What do you hope for the future of climate and advocacy work in Longmeadow?
Shyla: I hope for Longmeadow to continue to work towards many climate continuous efforts. Hopefully through the school systems and town plans, specifically with infrastructure and cafeteria habits. I hope to see efforts Eversource is making towards their pipeline, demolished. And I also really hope that environmental clubs and groups throughout the school systems continue to grow and collaborate. And for the high school Climate Change Club, I hope they continue to do amazing things and possibly make the Future Planet Fiesta an annual…
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