Once a month, members of the Understood team nominate and vote for a co-worker who demonstrates Understood’s values. Someone who is truly shaping the world for difference. This team member receives the People’s Choice Award. 

In May 2024, our winner was Alejandra Charaima. So we’re excited to spotlight Alejandra and her remarkable career. Read on to learn more about her role at Understood and what our mission means to her. 

Tell us about your career path. What brought you to Understood? 

When I moved to the U.S. in 2023, I was looking for a role that would fulfill me both professionally and personally. I wanted to work in a position that allowed me to help people and make a meaningful difference in their lives. Having experienced firsthand how learning and thinking differences can be challenging for those close to me, both at work and on a personal level, I was keen to contribute to this cause.

When I learned about Understood and saw they had an opening for a bilingual social media manager, I felt excited to apply. The role perfectly fit what I was looking for, both from a professional and personal point of view. It provided me with an opportunity to use my skills in social media management while also supporting a mission that I am passionate about. 

What’s your role? And what does your day-to-day look like at Understood? 

As a bilingual social media manager at Understood, my role involves overseeing and curating content for Understood.org’s social media platforms, with a particular focus on engaging our Spanish-speaking audiences. I manage platforms like Facebook and Pinterest.

I’m passionate about connecting with our audiences daily and providing support in their native language. Being an immigrant myself and having moved countries twice, I understand firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new language and system. It’s incredibly rewarding to help parents navigate these hurdles, especially those facing additional challenges with their children who have learning and thinking differences.

I’m incredibly proud, particularly of building a Facebook group for parents of kids with learning and thinking differences. This group has grown significantly over the last year, and it’s rewarding to see parents joining, helping each other, and learning from our experts and resources.

How do you stay passionate and engaged in your work? 

One of the highlights of my job is receiving real-time feedback from our audience. Witnessing firsthand how our work positively impacts Hispanic parents is incredibly rewarding. When a parent or individual reaches out to share how our resources and content have made a difference in their lives, it means the world to me and reinforces the importance of our mission.

Being able to give back to the Hispanic community holds a special place in my heart. I feel privileged to contribute to their development and success through the support and resources we provide. Knowing that I play a role in empowering families and individuals with learning and thinking differences within my community is extremely inspiring.

What advice would you give to someone new in this industry? 

If someone is considering working in the nonprofit sector, I’d say find a cause that resonates deeply with them. When you’re genuinely passionate about what you’re doing, it makes all the difference. Being empathetic and keeping an open mind are key. It’s about understanding people’s unique challenges and finding ways to support and uplift them. Stay curious, embrace different viewpoints, and know that even the smallest efforts can mean the world to someone.

Want to work with us? We’re always looking for talented people to join our team. If you’re interested in working with us, check out our open roles.