Difference Maker: Alex Kandalaft

By Brenda Saucedo: Youth Engagement and Empowerment Coordinator

In Eagle County, where mountain culture often celebrates athleticism and physical performance, one local leader is working to create space for a different kind of strength, one rooted in healing, connection, and self-acceptance. 

For Alex Kandalaft, the journey into serving youth and families wasn’t just professional, it was deeply personal. 

After moving to Eagle County to begin her career as a kindergarten teacher at Avon Elementary School, Alex was doing what she had always dreamed of: working with kids and helping them grow. But when personal health challenges forced her to step away from the classroom, her path took an unexpected turn. Instead of stepping away from service, she leaned in immersing herself in recovery and discovering gaps in support that many others in the community were also experiencing. 

That realization became the foundation for her work today. 

Driven by her own experiences, Alex set out to create the kind of support system she wished had existed during her recovery. That amazing result is BodyKind Vail, a peer-led organization focused on creating inclusive, accessible spaces for anyone navigating challenges with food, body image, or wellness. 

“What makes BodyKind Vail unique?” Alex shares, “is that it’s peer-led and there’s no clinical barrier to entry. Whether you have a diagnosed eating disorder, struggle with dieting, or just have hard body image days, you are welcome!” 

Through bilingual peer support groups, monthly mealtime support, and creative healing workshops, BodyKind Vail offers something many traditional systems cannot, connection without judgment. It’s a space where people can show up exactly as they are. 

Alex’s work is especially critical in a community where social pressures can be intense. She points to the growing influence of social media and the persistent beauty standard of thinness as major challenges facing local youth. Combined with a culture that often emphasizes athletic performance, many young people feel pressure to meet unrealistic expectations. 

Yet, despite these challenges, Alex sees hope. 

 “Youth today are incredibly resilient,” she says. “They’re aware of mental health in ways previous generations weren’t. They understand how important it is to take care of themselves and each other.” 

 That awareness is a strength, but it also calls for adults and community members to step up. 

 Alex emphasizes the importance of modeling healthy behaviors, especially when it comes to how we talk about food and our bodies. From casual comments at the dinner table to conversations around sports performance, messaging matters. 

“Pay attention to what we’re consuming on social media,” she advises. “And really check how we talk about food and body image around our kids.” 

Her vision for Eagle County is clear and powerful, a community where youth struggling with eating disorders or body image challenges have safe, supportive spaces to turn to, and where adults actively model positive, healthy relationships with their bodies. 

Beyond her organization, Alex also highlights a key strength of the community itself: resources. 

 “We’re so lucky to live in a place with so many supports,” she says. “The key is using them and staying connected. Connection is essential for both physical and mental wellbeing.” 

At its core, Alex’s work is about more than recovery. It’s about redefining what support looks like, breaking down stigma, and building a culture where every person, especially young people, feel seen, valued, and supported. 

And in doing so, she’s not just changing individual lives, she’s helping reshape the future of the community.