Students in Arizona are eligible for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities regardless of their immigration status. This went into effect in December 2022, following the historical victory of Proposition 308 that Arizona voters helped pass. This has allowed students to qualify for state-funded aid like grants and scholarships.
Aliento is a community organization that believes in transforming trauma into hope and action with dreamers, undocumented students, and mixed-status families.
We are a budding nonprofit with a vision of nurturing human potential independent of immigration status. Our recent success in securing in-state tuition in Arizona is just the beginning—we're striving for further achievements to empower our communities to thrive.
“‘Hope in Action’ is a mantra we live by at Aliento. 2023 was the embodiment of these words. As I reflect on this year, I go back to the day our team dreamt about ensuring every high school student, regardless of immigration status, could have a fair shot at achieving their higher education dreams. As I type these words, I become overwhelmed and overjoyed as I know this is no longer a dream but a reality.”
- Reyna Montoya, CEO and Founder.
We are a community organization that is DACA, undocumented, and youth-led. We are directly impacted people and allies who are invested in the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status.
Aliento is thrilled to announce our selection as a 2024 Kindness in Community Fund grant recipient, supporting youth mental health and wellbeing in our community.
Darlene Peralta attended Pima Community College and graduated with an associate degree in liberal arts in December 2023. Her family is originally from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Alongside her four brothers and her parents, they immigrated to Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 7 after her father suffered a car accident that caused him to lose his right arm. Ever since, they have lived, laughed, cried, and come together in Tucson. Where she and her brothers went to school, met lifelong friends, and continued into higher education. In her free time, she likes to make assemblages, collages, and ceramics. She enjoys going to the gym and practicing yoga.
Asareli Lopez is currently a senior at Camelback High School. One of the things she likes to dedicate her time to in her everyday life is music. She enjoys singing and learning new songs. She also enjoys caring for her body and keeping it moving, and she tries to dedicate at least 1 hour daily to lifting weights, going for a run, or practicing tennis!
Heidy Tapia was a senior at Bioscience High School and is originally from Rosamorada, Nayarit, Mexico.
Sergio Cipriano is a senior at Bioscience High School. He and his mom are from San Juan Del Rio, Queretaro, while his dad is from Oaxaca, Mexico. His hobbies mainly revolve around his passion for music. In his free time, he plays various instruments, records, and listens to music. Aside from music, he enjoys playing and watching soccer.
Marisol Castro graduated from GCU in December 2023 with her Bachelor’s degree in Government with an emphasis in Legal Studies and minor in Business Management. She enjoys going on early morning hikes, visiting coffee shops around the valley, only doing legs at the gym, practicing nail care, and caring for her plants.
Noelia Flores is part of the Class of 2025 at Mountain View High School. She is the daughter of immigrants and the second oldest of six siblings born and raised in Mesa, AZ. She loves reading, volunteering in her community, and participating in her school's music program.
Regina Herrera Marquez is a junior at Mountain View High School graduating in 2025. As a daughter of a mixed-status family and a first-generation student, she is very active in my community through different clubs, organizations, and community service projects. She was born and raised in the US, but her parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in hopes of pursuing the “American dream” and finding a better future. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family.
Noemi Lucero is originally from Sonora, Mexico. Her mother came to the United States for the American dream. Now, she is in her first year at Phoenix College. Being the first generation to attend college, continuing her education has been a great goal that she is achieving. One of her hobbies is playing chess; in her first year of high school, she created her own chess club.
On June 4, 2024, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HCR 2060, which will impact 140,000 U.S. citizen children in Arizona from immigrant parents and is projected to cost our state over $325 million.
