Aliento Features: Emily Sotelo Estrada

Reverend Martin Luther King Junior stated, "The ultimate measure of a [person] is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." MLK Jr.'s words speak volumes to me because, as a U.S. citizen witnessing how immigrant rights are constantly being challenged, I know it is important to use my voice to advocate for them.

My name is Emily Sotelo Estrada, and I am a current junior at Arizona State University, double majoring in Economics and Justice Studies with a minor in classics. I am the daughter of two Mexican immigrants and am a first-generation American.

Growing up in a mixed-status household, I saw the importance of hard work, dedication, and compassion. Outside of advocacy and school, I enjoy watching movies, going out with friends, sparring in taekwondo, and exploring new places!

Growing up, I was always told that I was never supposed to talk about immigration or my family’s immigration status. Through every age, grade, and milestone in my life, I found myself biting my tongue because I did not want to attract any unwanted attention towards myself and my parents. I had to hide the pride I had in my culture and roots because my family’s safety and unity were the most important things for me growing up. I always strived to work hard and excel so that my successes would reflect the character and the heart of my parents.

Higher education transformed my life, and I encountered Aliento at ASU. After seeing students' posts about Aliento, I knew I had to get involved because I had never heard of an organization doing the work Aliento was doing. From there, I looked for any way I could get involved. I followed the Instagram page, spoke to the officers, and attended every event I could. During the spring break of my sophomore year, I wanted to contribute to the work Aliento was doing, so my best friend and classmate, Marlene Castillo, and I drove 2 hours from our hometown in Northern Arizona to Phoenix to participate in a mini E-Day. After meeting with an Arizona senator and learning more about the goals Aliento was trying to meet, I felt so much hope. I wanted to share this hope and continue to work towards change. That is why I applied for the fellowship and invested so much time in my application. Looking back, I am glad that everything lined up the way that it did. Immigration is something I’ve lived with since before I was out of the womb. I am thankful for the fellowship because it has given me an outlet to share my experiences as a child of immigrants to contribute to necessary change in Arizona and the United States. This fellowship has filled me with hope in a place I thought I would never find it.

Aliento’s mission to transform trauma into hope and action has changed my life, and through the events Aliento has held, I have had the opportunity to share this mission with other students. I experienced my first official Education Day this year, January 2025, and it gave me an opportunity to directly advocate for immigrant students, families, and futures. Facilitating meetings with students and representatives was meaningful because we shared real stories to combat false narratives and harmful rhetoric surrounding immigration. It is a priority of mine that lawmakers know the importance of preserving educational resources for all students regardless of immigration status and the positive impact policies like driver's licenses for all can have on families in Arizona. The conversations we had with the lawmakers gave me hope. This was something I thought I would never find, but listening to my peers talk about their journey through education as Dreamers with lawmakers made me realize that change is possible, and what is driving that change is making our stories known. I used my experience at E-Day to fuel my actions during this year's Mini E-Days. Sharing my story with lawmakers empowered me to continue working for a better future where no individual is impacted by their immigration status. I was raised by immigrants, and I grew up with immigrants. I know how they have struggled while pursuing better lives, and if I can do something to protect their futures, I will continue to advocate for them until they are no longer afraid to drive in their neighborhoods and study in their classrooms.

I am proud of everything I have been able to accomplish throughout my time in the fellowship. I have learned so much about how to advocate and why it is important that we do it. From phone banking and canvassing at ASU to the Arts and Healing workshops we held, I am proud of myself for growing into someone who can lead a team of students to advocate for our immigrant community. One particular moment that has impacted my leadership journey was the rally held by Aliento @ ASU in solidarity with immigrant students on campus. In response to College Republicans United’s tabling event calling for ASU students to learn how to report peers they believe to be undocumented to I.C.E., Aliento @ ASU held a solidarity rally in support of our immigrant student population and for CRU to be held accountable for violating the student code of conduct. It was an event that was demanding and challenged me as a leader to take action and encourage my peers to gather in support. The E-Board team, along with Abril and Reyna, wrote a statement to ASU, and through collaboration, we garnered over 5,000 signatures from students, alumni, faculty, and community members who supported the protection of the educational rights of all students. In a single day, we planned out the event, and with support from so many individuals, we held a peaceful rally with 700+ in attendance that called for ASU to take action. This event taught me the importance of being resourceful, adapting, leading with compassion, and taking initiative.

The Arizona’s Future Fellowship program prepares you for a year of community advocacy in diverse settings. The fellowship will get you out of your comfort zone and give you experience in the preparation, execution, and outreach of events on your campus. It is a rewarding experience to see students find a place in the Aliento community and take part in events created to empower them. I have made new friendships while growing as a leader in every sense of the word. I would advise anyone looking to apply for the fellowship to understand their “why.” Why are you applying for the fellowship? Why is advocacy for the immigrant community important to you, and what impact are you hoping to make? Lastly, I would advise anyone looking to join the fellowship that it is important to approach everything you do with a positive mindset. Advocacy can be tough, and you might find yourself feeling discouraged at times, and that is why it is important to look on the bright side and approach things with an open heart.

The Aliento fellowship has filled my Junior year at Arizona State University with educational and leadership development opportunities. I will be taking the skills in advocacy I have gained through the fellowship and applying them anywhere I find myself. This summer, I will further my leadership skills through the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University to study the intersectionality between statistics and policy. I am eager to continue educating myself and developing as a leader so that I can continuously become someone prepared to lead and advocate for the Latino and immigrant communities.