Eduardo immigrated to Albuquerque, New Mexico with his family at the age of seven from Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico and grew up between South Broadway and the South Valley where he developed a strong sense of community that has been a driving force throughout his life. He studied biochemistry at the University of New Mexico, where he started organizing with the UNM Dream Team.  Eduardo has been with NMDT since 2015 and has worked on training and curriculum development with a focus around education equity and racial justice, served as Programs Manager and now serves as Co-Director for the organization. Eduardo is also an anti-racist trainer and facilitator and is passionate about youth leadership development When he is not working, Eduardo enjoys DJing, cooking and playing games with his friends and family.

Karen is an undocumented, woman of color living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She immigrated with her family to the United States from Ciudad Juarez in 2006 at the age of six. Karen started getting involved in community work when she was 14 years old after noticing the injustices people of color experience in the United States. She began her community involvement with Young Women United, now known as Bold Futures- as part of a youth circle for young women of color. Through YWU, she found out about the New Mexico Dream Team. She started to get involved with them in the Summer of 2018, where she found an instant community belonging. Her role consists of making creative content that tells the stories of our community and making sure the NMDT brand is reflective of each unique experience of NMDT’s members across the state.

Saygen is a DACAmented college student that was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. When he was just two years old, his parents made the courageous decision to move to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Both of them worked tirelessly to ensure he had food to eat and a roof over his head. Their resilience and dedication planted the seeds of strength within him. During high school, he discovered the New Mexico Dream Team during a meeting they had at lunch time and discovered that a lot of his values aligned with the one that the organization held very highly. He was an active member until he became a digital fellow and is currently the Digital associate with the organization and is extremely passionate about shifting narratives and putting the spotlight on our immigrant communities and all of their successes.

Sophia Sangwanthong is an Arab disabled transgender woman who holds a PhD in Professional Communication. Her work on the Dream Team focuses on curriculum, research, grants, and leadership development.  Sophia’s published works cover media theory, cultural studies, professional communication, philosophy, medical anthropology, and political theory, and she is passionate about understanding and challenging the systems and networks that produce exclusion and oppression. She loves the Scream movies, Rosie Perez, Spawn comics, Magic Knight Rayearth, and Penguins hockey.

Jovanny lives and organizes in Las Cruces, NM, in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, about 50 minutes from Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He moved to Las Cruces in 2019 but has lived in New Mexico since 2010. Jovanny is the son of immigrants from Mexico, and he spent most of his early childhood moving from town to town in north Texas and Kansas as his family migrated with the boom-and-bust cycle of the oilfield. He studied government at NMSU, but his true education came from his and his family’s experiences living, working, and building community in rural towns. The example and hard work that his parents set for him and his sister have been the benchmark for true success in life. The work of creating your life is work. And we work because it must be done, leaving no place for bitterness.

Aailinn immigrated to the U.S. from Querétaro, Mexico when she was just eight months old, so she has never known her home country. Her parents left their homeland in pursuit of a brighter future for her and her siblings. From their struggles, Aailinn learned the true meaning of hard work and love. Now, Aailinn is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work with the aim of becoming a community organizer. As a DACAmented individual, she is deeply passionate about supporting her community. Aailinn’s love for organizing began when she witnessed the NM Dream Team’s day of action at the state capitol. Seeing hundreds of youth chanting for change, she realized that she desired to be part of a community committed to making a difference. Being part of the NM Dream Team means learning to lead with love, compassion, and resilience, driving change within the immigrant community.

Guillermo was born in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. He immigrated into the US with his family when he was only two years old. He has resided in Albuquerque, NM majority of his life, living alongside his family. After completing high school, Guillermo moved to Silver City, NM where he was a part of the Social Work program at Western New Mexico university. Guillermo resided and studied on campus for three years in which he experienced many difficulties due to his current status. The lack of a SSN, paved the way for many obstacles that created a gap between himself and other students within the University. These struggles, alongside the oppression from the institution, influenced Guillermo’s decision to pause his education and return to Albuquerque. Today he is a member of the NM Dream Team, where he is given the opportunity to become a part of an organization that feels like home. A place where he no longer has to be ashamed or afraid of his own identity. He is slowly stepping into his own power and is motivated to help other undocumented individuals to the same. 

Jason is a 23 year-old young man who came to the United States with his two sisters and his mother in 2010 pursuing the dream of having a better life without fear, with more opportunities, and a better future. Jason started as a member of the Rio Grande Dream Team and eventually became the RGDT chapter lead. He got distance from organizing but his passion brought him back as Development and Operations Manager.