Sondra Ortiz (they/them) is the Youth Program Coordinator at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

Sondra has been involved in education for over a decade, working with underserved communities. Before joining VAI, they served as the director of community relations at a Montessori school, which significantly shaped their desire to establish a school with a liberatory approach. Sondra is passionate about creating deep connections with families and emphasizes the importance of respecting young people. Having grown up on the west side of Chicago, Sondra dreams of revitalizing the hood. They have also worked as a health educator, supporting teen parents, and have experience running programs for teenagers. In their free time, Sondra enjoys playing board games with their two children and singing karaoke.