Nuestra huella
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Kris Anderson
Kris Anderson was born in Kodiak and spent part of his childhood in Spain, where he learned Spanish and Catalan. It was also in the Iberian Peninsula that he met his wife, Rosita. Anderson moved back to Alaska in 1969. Noticing Anchorage’s growing Latino community, he opened La Tienda, Alaska’s first Latino store, in 1981. Anderson was also a certified translator. He recalls that in the early 1980s, a couple of Barcelonan mountaineers had an accident when climbing Denali. One passed away. The rescue team contacted the survivor by radio. Anderson provided help and comfort in Catalan, the climber´s native tongue. Throughout the years, Anderson helped many Latinos in need. Back then, “the community was united by a beautiful solidarity,” he remembered. |
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Kendra Arciniega
Born in Laredo, Texas, Kendra Arciniega arrived in Alaska at age 9. She is a proud descendant of the Arciniegas from San Antonio, whose legacy dates to the 18th century. A street is even named after them in the heart of San Antonio! For years, Arciniega has been concerned about representation and belonging. She left the state for college and, since her return, she has worked actively to create spaces for the expression of her multifaceted identity. “I am an identity-driven person. My queerness is very sacred to me. My Latinidad is very sacred to me. My identity as a woman is very sacred to me,” she explained. Arciniega is the proud founder of Arciniega Street productions, named after her ancestors, and producer of Drag Lotería, hosted at Cafecito Bonito for the past 3 years. |
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Teodora Cabrera
Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Teodora Cabrera arrived in Alaska in the early 1990s. Like many Latinos, she worked long shifts at the canneries. Today, she has her own business. Cabrera got involved in Our Lady of Guadalupe’s celebration in the early 2000s. Along with her sisters, she has decorated the church with hundreds of flowers for the festival for many years. “We have been learning throughout the process,” she said. Initially, they arranged a few vases. Later, they created the Tepeyac Hill scenery with help of their fellow Catholics. Over time, the celebration has blossomed into a vibrant garden of scents and colors. The Cabrera sisters helped the church bring the sculpture of Our Lady of Guadalupe that now stands at the chapel. |
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Sonia Cornejo
Born in Colombia, Sonia Cornejo arrived in Alaska as a child. Her mother worked long shifts to support the family. Like many immigrant children, Cornejo quickly learned English and assisted her parents with translating and filling out official documents. She later worked for the Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance. Cornejo has been an active member of the community for a long time. She performed in a Colombian dance group in the 2000s and participated in multiple community events, where she recalls, “everybody helped.” Today, Cornejo works as a realtor, but she continues to support vulnerable Latinos, guiding them through the system when they need it most. |
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Hugo Forest
After living in New Jersey for a few years, Hugo Forest moved to Alaska in the mid-1970s. Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Forest began his Alaskan journey working in Fairbanks, then in the North Slope and Valdez, finally settling in Anchorage. Forest’s contributions to Alaska’s Latino culture include creating a soccer league, launching Telemundo’s TV show Latinos in Alaska, and participating in the organization of multiple community events. In 2008, Hugo completed one of his dreams. He placed all the Latin American flags in Utqiagvik and took a picture of them. “My goal was to say, we Latinos are here, at the top of the world,” he said. |
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Julie Santaella
Born in El Paso, Texas, Julie Santaella migrated to Alaska through the military. Her husband was in the army. When Santaella’s parents, Juan and Lucy Aragon, were growing up in the border town, Hispanics were disciplined for speaking Spanish. She explained that “the focus was on English.” Later, the Aragons moved to California, and when they came back for the summer, “my grandparents only spoke Spanish. There was a disconnect in communication.” By fortunate circumstances, as the principal of Government Hill Elementary School, Santaella has had the opportunity to work for the preservation of language diversity in Alaska. “I am happy and proud to encourage all these students to keep their language and for families to understand the importance of their children maintaining their language.” |
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Nicolás Olano
Born in Colombia, Nicolás Olano is an experienced immigration attorney who began practicing law in the early 2000s. He opened his firm in Miami, where he handled more than 10,000 cases. “I was defending people in the Immigration Court all the time,” he said. In 2015, Olano moved to Alaska and launched his firm here, along with his wife, Lara Nations. Nations Law is the first immigration firm in the state led by a Latino. During these years, Olano and Nations have become deeply acquainted with the stories of resilience and hope of those seeking a better life in our state. |
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Ninetta Regalado
Ninetta Regalado worked with refugee communities on the East Coast before moving to Alaska in 2000. After a short period on the North Slope, she settled in Anchorage and joined Catholic Social Services’ refugee program. “I have always been driven to work with cultural diversity. It is a constant invitation to open our hearts,” she explained. Born in Santo Domingo, Regalado works tirelessly to keep Anchorage’s Dominican community vibrant. She is currently involved in the Dominican Republic Independence celebration, featuring traditional food and dances. Aware of Latino seniors’ legacy, Regalado organizes get-togethers where they dance, share stories, and honor Latinos’ joyful ways of being. |