With the support of a Zoom Cares grant, Aliento invests in the healing and wellbeing of undocumented and mixed-status families. Learn more about Aliento and its partnership with Zoom Cares below.
About Aliento
Aliento is a community organization located in Arizona that serves undocumented, DACA, and mixed immigration status families to transform trauma into hope and action. With youth-led, directly impacted people and allies, Aliento aims to co-create and build a place where human potential is nurtured and not defined by immigration status.
Aliento supports students and families impacted by the inequities of lacking an immigration status through education initiatives, arts & healing programming, leadership development training, policy & advocacy.
“Despite the challenges, we have shown that we can build together a future where immigration is not a determinant factor of success. In May 2021, the Arizona state legislature chose to build a future to improve educational outcomes for our Dreamers and our state. In 2022, Arizona voters will have an opportunity to make our students eligible for in-state tuition and scholarship.”
Reyna Montoya, Founder & CEO, Aliento
Aliento & Zoom Cares
With grant funding from Zoom Cares, Aliento brought together their arts and healing workshops, mental health initiatives, and support to undocumented and mixed-status families amid the pandemic. The organization leveraged the power of Zoom’s technology to make sure that no matter where the community is, they have an opportunity to engage in healing – no matter what mental health struggles they are facing, they are not alone.
How Aliento Delivers Impact
Aliento offers arts and healing workshops, open mics, mental health support groups, and more. Aliento co-creates a space with young people from mixed immigration status families and the migrant community feels welcome and safe to share their experiences.
Aliento offers training for undocumented youth and allies to learn about the history of migration, education, detention, deportation, and the political system. Through working with high schools, community colleges, and universities, Aliento increases youths’ agency, leadership, and self-advocacy. Aliento also provides paid fellowships and internships for school credit and help create and develop student hubs.
Notably, Aliento’s work has resulted in:
- The Arizona House announcing a Legislative Proclamation honoring the mission and vision of Aliento including the organization’s efforts on in-state tuition, mental health, and education initiatives
- The U.S. Government approving a $300,000 grant for Aliento to support the organization’s higher education work with first-generation immigrants and Latino/a students
- A partnership with MTV’s Mental Health Youth Action Day encouraging and empowering people to take the next step for #MentalHealthAction
“Despite the challenges, we have shown that we can build together a future where immigration is not a determinant factor of success. In May 2021, the Arizona state legislature chose to build a future to improve educational outcomes for our Dreamers and our state. In 2022, Arizona voters will have an opportunity to make our students eligible for in-state tuition and scholarship.”
– Reyna Montoya, Founder & CEO, Aliento
