Hola, I'm Sandra Barocio.

I wear many hats in this life—mother, abuela, storyteller, caretaker, advocate, and proud Mexican-American. But more than anything, I'm someone who believes our stories matter. They connect us, remind us where we come from, and help us understand one another a little better.

For more than a decade, I had the privilege of helping build an AIDS Services program through Catholic Charities of San Mateo County. What began as a small team of just two people grew into a community-wide network supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Together, we walked alongside individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS, helping coordinate daily care, connect people with medical resources, offer emotional support, and, far too often, help families navigate the heartbreak of saying goodbye. It was some of the most meaningful work of my life, and it deepened my belief that every person deserves dignity, compassion, and to have their story witnessed.

Writing has always been another thread woven through my life. Whether I was filling journals, writing short stories, or submitting essays and reflections to local newspapers, I was always trying to make sense of the world through words. Poco a poco, those pages began telling a much larger story—the one I had been carrying with me all along.

We Are All Others is the culmination of those years of writing and reflection. It tells the story of my family's journey from Mexico to Texas and eventually California in search of opportunity, belonging, and a better life. It is a story of sacrifice, identity, perseverance, and love—la historia de mi familia. But my hope is that somewhere within these pages, you'll recognize pieces of your own family's journey, too.

Whether your roots stretch back generations or your family's story began somewhere else, bienvenidos. Thank you for being here. It's an honor to share this story with you.