Odilia Romero

Odilia Romero, born in San Bartolme Zoogocho is the co-founder of the Comunidades Indigenous en liderazgo (CIELO), a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles dedicated to assisting Indigenous communities. Born in a Zapotec community, Romero faced formidable language barriers upon arriving in the U.S. at the age of ten. These barriers pushed her to become an interpreter and an activist, highlighting the need for Indigenous-language interpreters to address the unique struggles faced by Indigenous migrants, particularly in legal and medical contexts. Romero is proficient in English, Spanish, and her native language of Zapotec.

Romero's early life in the U.S. was marked by discrimination and difficulties, common to many Indigenous immigrants which struggle with a language barrier. In her early years, she encountered linguistic barriers that hindered her academic progress. Despite this limitation in the modern American school system, Romero found alternative ways to teach herself English, primarily relying on audiobooks and apps. This struggle is faced by many immigrant children who grapple with language barriers, limiting their access to higher education, which is an issue that Odilia prioritizes.

The significance of CIELO lies in its origin story, which is tied to Romero's personal experiences as an Indigenous immigrant. Arriving in the U.S. with minimal knowledge of the English language, she became her own interpreter out of necessity. Many Indigenous people from Latin America are automatically given Spanish-English interpreters even though they often do not know either language— this was the case for Romero's parents. Despite Romero's own lack of proficiency in English and Spanish, she had act as an interpreter for her parents, who only spoke Zapotec, because the state assumed that they, as Mexican immigrants, spoke Spanish. Romero learned first hand that indirect translation or translation between 3 or more languages loses clarity and leads to misunderstandings. Her experiences emphasized a need for indigenous language interpreters. Recognizing the shared struggles of others overcoming language barriers, Romero, along with her daughter Janet Martinez, founded the CIELO in 2012. The organization plays a crucial role in various sectors, including hospitals and the census, by training translators to serve Indigenous communities and addressing language barriers in the U.S. Recently CIELO published a book called, Diža’ No’ole, Palabra de Mujer, A Woman’s Word, it documents stories of living in Los Angeles as an undocumented Indigenous women from Mexico and Guatemala during the pandemic.

CIELO's initiatives and impact

CIELO's impact is detailed in various articles and interviews featuring Romero. CIELO distributed $2.4 million in COVID-19 relief to Indigenous communities. Indigenous populations were heavily impacted with COVID-19, with a higher percentage in deaths of Indigenous individuals. The organization not only provides COVID-19 relief but also creates instructional videos in specific languages, addressing the gaps left by government efforts. Romero emphasizes the organization's efforts to train translators and collaborate with communities, highlighting the specific ways CIELO works to overcome language barriers and improve the lives of Indigenous individuals. CIELO promotes Indigenous languages through social and cultural events. In 2016, the organization started Weaving Words and Rhymes— a concert for Indigenous musicians meant to connect various Indigenous communities living in the US and revitalize Indigenous languages. They also created a literature conference for Indigenous communities in Los Angeles.

Contribution to LAPD language barriers

One critical aspect of Romero's mission involves addressing the language barriers between the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Indigenous communities. Romero points out that tragic misunderstandings such as the accidental killing of a Guatemalan man, displays the necessity of language access to all people in contact with law enforcement. Romero, as a Zapotec interpreter, helps by bridging this gap between Indigenous immigrants and important services average people sue everyday. She also raises awareness about the important of effective communication to ensure safe, and equal treatment during interactions with law enforcement. Odilia Romero introduced to the LAPD, a pocketbook with common terminology and expressions in various Indigenous languages to aid in communication between police and those in indigenous populations.

On October 9, 2023, an audio recording of a private Los Angeles City Council meeting was leaked. City Council members who were recorded included Ron Herrera, Kevin de Leon, Gil Cedillo, and Nury Martinez. In the recordings, the councilmembers made racist remarks about individuals and groups, specifically black and indigenous people.

In response to this leaked audio, Odilia Romero, a prominent figure and leader of Indigenous people, Oaxaqueños, and Zapotecos spoke out. “It’s upsetting that they’re inciting hate against Black people, they’re inciting hate against Indigenous people and contributing to the violence." “It’s an everyday thing. I go through it every day as an Indigenous woman. My relatives go through it every single day, in different institutions in different places. But I do have to remind all of you and the politicians ... that we make this city.”

Odilia Romero and the organization she co-founded, CIELO, works first hand to combat racism amongst indigenous communities as she understand the long-term repercussions of discrimination. “[Martinez’s comments] continue the language violence that indigenous people enter across the nation,”“She… incites hate. And this hate leads to our human rights violations.” Odilia Romero continues to fight against discrimination and bridge barriers, such as language misinterpretation, between indigenous communities and institutions. “Access to an interpreter is a basic human right. Our lives are shaped by words and even a single word can have a huge impact. Without the right context, someone could lose their freedom, get deported or even worse, lose a life. It all comes down to this one thing – language."

Romero is a member of the Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales(FIOB), an organization based in Los Angeles. Serving two terms as Binational Women's Issues Coordinator for FIOB, for more than a decade as an activist. She began working with FIOB due to the discrimination and racism she and her family experienced.FIOB is a political organization that works with Indigenous migrants and non-migrants in Mexico and the United States. Through collaborative research with activist of FIOB, workshops that deal with gender, generation, and ethnic diversity with FIOB leaders in Baja California, California, and Oaxaca.

Romero has had contributions to immigrant rights and Indigenous communities. With over two decades of experience, she is a respected organizer of Indigenous migrant communities and has contributed to academic publications, with appearances of TedX. Romero has given lectures at prestigious universities such as John Hopkins, USC, and UCLA. Her work includes Indigenous community organization, women's leadership, and youth empowerment, showcasing the broadness of her impact for her community.