10/09/2026
Community advocate Sandra Calderón-Huezo knows what it’s like to arrive somewhere new without the language to ask for help. Her family fled El Salvador to seek asylum during the country’s civil war, spending some time in New Jersey before finding refuge in Kalamazoo. During her first two years in the U.S., she learned English in New Jersey, but learning a language takes time. She recalls being confused, crying as she was pulled to the school lunch line, unsure of where she was going.
That experience is one of many that shape her advocacy today. As president of El Concilio’s board of directors and a community interpreter, Sandra shows up for families facing barriers similar to the ones she once faced. She translates documents and interprets at counseling appointments and Individualized Education Program meetings so families can understand and get the care they need. Her advocacy and volunteer work reflect her belief that communities that haven’t always received the attention and equity they deserve need networks built from within, where neighbors come together to create resources that aren’t always available to them.
Among her many community contributions, Sandra also teaches math at El Sol, Kalamazoo’s English- and Spanish-immersion school. As she watches students navigate two worlds with resilience and an incredible spirit to learn, she sees some of herself. “That was me in New Jersey,” she said.
