Kalaoram, Stella, 1969-

“Every Monday I will be at the union, like right now, helping the grievance team. If you’re asking for memories, no. It’s memories every day for me.”

Hailing from the strongly multicultural Singapore, Stella Kalaoram has always been surrounded by diversity and acceptance, leading her to have a strong appreciation for all Las Vegas has to offer. Born in 1969 to a taxi driver and a cook, she spent the early years of her life learning the many language of Singapore and got her first job as a dental assistant in high school. After moving to San Bernardino, California in 1990, she continued her work in dentistry before moving back briefly to Singapore to have her daughter.

Kalaoram arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000 after her husband had found a job in the city and began working as a house cleaner. Later, prompted by a need for better health insurance, she found a job in The Cosmopolitan as a guest room attendant in 2011. This led to her membership with the Culinary Union and her continued strong involvement in the workers community. Her duties include helping the grievance team as well as translating for those with language barriers.

Among her many experiences, Kalaoram discusses what it was like being sick with COVID and the toll it took on her health and family. She also touches on traditional cultural celebrations, her Buddhist religion, the importance of family, her kitchen prowess, and what it means to her to be a part of the local AAPI community.