Henry Sales Leonel Hernandez, a first-generation college student from an Indigenous Maya Mam immigrant family from Guatemala, is a doctoral candidate in the Language, Literacy, and Culture cluster at UC Berkeley’s School of Education. His path as an Indigenous Maya Mam has been shaped by resilience and a dedication to his cultural heritage, driving him to become a recognized researcher and academic working to revitalize the Maya Mam language and culture. He lives in Oakland, CA with his wife and a lovely daughter.
Growing up in San Juan Atitán, Guatemala, Henry developed a profound connection to his heritage, which has evolved into his research and advocacy efforts in the Bay Area. His work centers on how the Maya Mam diaspora maintains cultural identity through language and traditions despite the pressures of assimilation. As part of his research, Henry studies the lived experiences and challenges faced by young immigrant Maya Mam communities in the San Francisco Metropolitan Area. Using ethnographic, community-centered methods, he explores the dynamics of bi/multilingualism and translanguaging within the Oakland Unified School District and the broader Maya Mam community.
With the recent growth of the Indigenous Maya Mam population in the Bay Area, Henry sees a critical need to support initiatives aimed at preserving Indigenous language and cultural diversity. His research covers three main areas: theoretical frameworks for language revitalization with a focus on community- and family-centered approaches, potential strategies to expand digital resources for Mam language learning, and the roles of schools, community organizations, and intergenerational practices in sustaining Mam language transmission. Additionally, his research celebrates Mam individuals dedicated to preserving their language, traditions, and cultural practices, which are essential for passing on their heritage.
Henry’s dedication to language began with the founding of Mam language workshops at Laney College, which he led from 2019 to 2022 with the support of Professor Arturo Davila. These workshops arose in response to a lack of awareness about the Mam people’s unique identity within broader Latino communities. Recognizing the increase in Mam-speaking students in Oakland Unified School District, he went on to establish Mam language electives at Oakland High School and Rudsdale Continuation High School from 2019 to 2023. These classes provided Mam-speaking students with a supportive space to connect with their language and heritage, strengthening cultural identity, academic performance, and leadership abilities.
In addition to his academic work, Henry has contributed to Indigenous outreach through various media. He has been featured on Colorín Colorado, creating videos in English, Spanish, and Mam, and he was featured on Facebook’s Latino Month 2020, sharing his advocacy and insights.
Currently, Henry collaborates with the community organization Trybe to design Mam language programs at San Antonio Park that integrate cultural practices, fostering intergenerational connections among Mam families. He also co-leads the LITTLE READERS program, where he incorporates Maya Mam cultural narratives into early literacy sessions, supporting young children’s language development and cultural pride. Through these initiatives, Henry is building a lasting foundation for identity and resilience among the next generation of Maya Mam youth in the Bay Area.
Specializations and Interests
Indigenous Maya Mam language and culture, multilingual learners, and tranlangualism
