Published on
May 22, 2026
Cambio Center’s “Spark Change” Award celebrates individuals who inspire change through their research and/or outreach focused on Latines/Hispanics, immigrant integration, and communities undergoing demographic change. With this award, we recognize the resilience, innovation, and impactful contributions of individuals who actively work toward bridging divides, amplifying underrepresented voices, and fostering sustainable change within diverse communities. Meet this year’s nominations!
Esmeralda Aharon is a retired U.S. Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer; she served 26 years in the Chaplain Corps, leading intercultural, crisis, and interfaith initiatives across diverse and rapidly changing communities, including during four deployments to the Middle East. At Saint Louis University School of Medicine, she serves as Program Director for Faculty, Staff, and Community Engagement, where she designs and leads initiatives grounded in whole‑person care. She is also a four‑time international best‑selling author and co-founder of Latinas Rising.
Robin Hattori is passionate about uplifting the Asian American community in the Midwest. As the daughter of Japanese American parents incarcerated during WWII, she has presented on this topic locally and nationally. Robin has also played a leadership role in collaborative projects such as the InVISIBLE Asian American art exhibit, AAPI Voices oral history project, a discussion series exploring Asian identity, an Asian American storytelling initiative and an Asian-Jewish dialogue group. She works at Washington University’s Program in Occupational Therapy as a lab manager.
Jenifer Rueda is an educator and community advocate originally from Colombia. She earned her degree in Psychology in 2018 and a Master’s in Community Psychology in 2021. She has lived in Missouri for the past four years, where she works as an EL teacher at a secondary school in CPS, supporting multilingual students in their academic journey. In 2024, Jenifer started leading Sonrisas, a community group that brings together Latina mothers and their children ages 0–5. This initiative creates spaces of connection, support, and empowerment for families, fostering a strong sense of belonging and community.
