Contributions and Challenges of the Latinx Community in Kalamazoo

Maria Santos Helps to Provide Quality Care at Family Health Center In Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, MI - In 2019, Maria, originally from Ecuador, made a bold move. She left her job at an investment firm in Miami and relocated to Spain with her husband and three children. She had no idea that her life was going to change so much in just three years.

"We wanted to give our kids a European education and introduce them to different cultures."  We started out with the idea of opening a gym.  "We sold everything we had," she said. "It didn't work out."  The gym owners backed out of the contract and raised the price, which made it unaffordable.  "Since we were already in Spain, we had to move quickly," Santos said.

The pair used their entrepreneurial skills to open a shop that sold imported candy from the U.S. They soon added baked goods to their offerings to keep their customers happy.  "I had to learn how to bake. I did some research and watched a few YouTube videos.  It had nothing to do with my background.  "We had to make it work," she said.

They opened another store, and everything was going well until March 2020, when she said, "the world collapsed."  Because of the pandemic, they had to close because it wasn't considered an essential service.  They lost everything, including their marriage.

"I came back to the U.S. with my three kids, my dog I adopted in Spain, one suitcase, and $500. I'm not looking for pity.  "It's basically a survival story," she explained.

She added that being a single mom is challenging. She said she needed to provide for her children because she didn't have much support otherwise. She got a job at Denso Manufacturing in Battle Creek.

"Working at a factory was a challenge."  It was tough getting up at 3 a.m. when I was so physically exhausted. I was proud of what I was doing because I was making it and paying off my debt.  I'm a hard worker.  The kids saw how hard I was working.  I never called in sick.  That's just the way I do things. Meanwhile, I kept my eyes open for something else that would fit with my background.

She eventually found a job listing that matched her qualifications. After applying, she got a call right away and was hired within two weeks. 

Two and a half years later, she's now settled into a position as executive administrative assistant to President and CEO Denise Crawford of the Family Health Center in Kalamazoo.  When I first interviewed for the position, she met with me for about five minutes and said, "Yes, this is the one." Crawford is my sunshine. "I really like that lady." 

The Family Health Center's main facility is located at 117 W. Patterson in Kalamazoo.  The nonprofit health facility provides health and dental care to underserved communities, with fees adjusted based on income.  The Family Health Center (FHC) has three locations, including mobile units that provide health and dental services in the Kalamazoo area.

"They've welcomed me with open arms.  They asked me if I was okay with a diverse environment. I let them know that I speak three languages.  Even things that aren't in my area.  "If I have to step in with a Spanish-speaking patient or situation, I'll drop everything to help out," she said.

On top of her admin work for Crawford, she's a key player in putting together the FHC's two main annual events. In March, we have the Dental Day of Caring, and in August, we host the Back to School Bash.

Santos added, "We give out 1,500 backpacks that include school supplies and hygiene kits. We also make sure they're up to date on their vaccinations. We team up with El Concilio for all our events.  We've also got Spanish-speaking providers and medical assistants, which helps people feel more comfortable coming to us.  El Concilio is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower and support the Latinx community.

"We let people know that we can see patients even if they don't have insurance, and that we provide care regardless of their immigration status.  Some Latino patients are understandably nervous. They're reluctant to see the doctor because they're worried about getting into trouble if they don't have the right immigration documents. We make sure everyone gets seen.  We have a sliding fee scale. "If they can't pay for the services, there's a minimum they do pay when they come in," Santos explained.

A Pew Research article from October 27, 2023, found that 53% of Hispanic adults believe that their worse health outcomes are since they are more likely to work in jobs that put them at risk for health problems.  Almost half say another big reason is that they have less access to quality medical care where they live.  About 40% say communication problems are caused by language or cultural differences.  And 48% say it's because of preexisting conditions.

"My kids are very involved in the community. They're always with me. I volunteer for the Battle Creek Latin America Hispanic Heritage Initiative, which provides computers and scholarships for Latino students. My daughters volunteer, too. I tell them, 'You gotta come help me,' and they love it. At an event in Kalamazoo, they ended up being translators, so they stepped up to help. That's the goal—they need to help serve as well," Santos said.

Santos is part of the ELLAS network, which stands for Empowering Latina Leaders & Advocates for Success. It's a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Latina women grow personally and professionally so they can become influential leaders in their communities. "I was asked to be involved, and of course I said yes. We grow together, we set goals and support each other along the way.  We learn to be better leaders.  "I'll be graduating from the program this coming November," she added.

When she's not volunteering or giving back to the Latino community, she makes time for her sense of adventure. 

"I love zip lining," Santos said. "I go on my own. It's a great way to unwind and stay active. My kids wanted to give me a massage for Mother's Day, but I told them, "No, thanks! It's a waste of your money. Send me on a zip line somewhere." My favorite place is in Puerto Rico, and it's one of the longest in the world. It's called The Monster. I went on it last year—twice!