For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Stella Kalaoram of UNITE HERE.
When she’s not volunteering with the Culinary Union, Stella Kalaoram works within the Asian community, primarily with the Thai and Chinese communities. Kalaoram speaks Mandarin and Thai fluently. By word of mouth, people find her, and Kalaoram takes them to the Social Security, welfare or citizenship offices to help them translate and fill out paperwork.