Aliento Features: Fatima Lopez Gutierrez
Hi! My name is Fatima Lopez Gutierrez, and I am a first-generation student at Arizona State University. I am currently studying Family & Human Development & Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies with the hopes of having a career in the legal field someday. I am also a proud daughter of immigrant parents who came over from Michoacan, Mexico. The sacrifices both my parents and my older siblings have had to make throughout their lives are a huge driving force for why I do what I do and why I try to support others from similar backgrounds. I enjoy being able to serve as an advocate for the communities I am a part of and those that surround me. In my free time, I love reading, going to concerts, and spending time with my friends.
I first heard about Aliento during my freshman year at ASU. One of the very first events on campus I ever attended was actually an Aliento Arts and Healing event. I remember automatically feeling welcomed by everyone there. The friendly environment pulled me in, and so I continued to attend events. At every event I attended, I was amazed at how students were so passionate about advocating for the community—especially the fellows who were always willing to step in and help out whenever asked. I spent most of Education Day (E-Day 2024) around Lizbeth Espinoza, an alumni fellow from the 4th cohort. While walking to the Capitol, someone asked her if she could facilitate a meeting, and even though she wasn’t planning on doing so originally, she automatically agreed. I remember her saying something about me taking on a facilitator role in the next E-day, which made me so nervous. I remember asking her about the fellowship and automatically feeling inclined to apply. I’m so thankful to not only her but also other students from Aliento who have inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and apply for opportunities such as this fellowship.
The first half of the fellowship was centered around the Aliento Votes campaign, during which we spent countless hours educating voters about Proposition 314 and the harm it could bring to our families and friends. I had the opportunity to present to most of my classes at ASU about the campaign and the work Aliento does. I got to see people having an eye-opening moment when I would explain to them the implications of Prop. 314 for members of our community. Due to my area of study and the spaces I am a part of, most of those around me are aware of how these anti-immigrant laws impact people. However, there are so many people out there who don’t have a direct connection to someone in the immigrant community who, although they may care, simply aren’t aware of the realities so many people in the state/country face.
Although those 4 months of the campaign were tough, it was very moving to see so many members of the community give up their free time to advocate for their loved ones. I got the opportunity to work with so many driven and powerful people who used their voices to advocate for their families, friends, peers, and the overall community as a whole. On election day, we woke up super early, showed up to the polls at 6 am, and stayed until 10 pm, making sure people heard what we had to say. Although it feels impossible to change people’s minds about immigration matters, getting through to a couple of hundred people made a difference. Although the results were not what we were looking forward to, knowing that we got people to change their minds and look at things differently was still a win and something to be proud of. For me, the most special part of that campaign was giving people the space to share their stories and to be surrounded by a community that will always be there to stick up for them.
Immigration is a tough subject, especially when the issues tied to it hit close to home. It’s really difficult to see so many injustices impacting our communities; however, throughout history, there have always been people fighting for a better tomorrow. Just like the people in the past have set pathways for us, we have to keep paving those pathways for those who come after us. The work we do matters to me because it impacts real people, including children who should never have to live in fear or feel like they can’t accomplish all their dreams. I want to be able to look back at my life and know that I did all I could to defend my community.
Whenever I think of “policy”, I think about SB1070. I grew up hearing about it, and now that I am in college, I’ve learned a lot more about the history of its implementation and its implications. Although the law was passed back in 2010, the fear it caused still lingers in our communities to this day. New laws such as Prop. 314 is reopening the wounds for many Arizona families who fear being separated from their loved ones. One of my most vivid memories from when I was younger was during SB1070 times during Scottsdale’s yearly parade. Joe Arpaio, who’s known for his harsh immigration enforcement and policing, drove through during the parade. I remember those around me going silent, in complete fear. I re-lived that experience a few years ago when I.C.E. took part in the parade. Looking back at these experiences now, I can’t help but wonder what that said about the community I live in and if those participants were any sort of representation of how my city viewed immigration. It saddens me that these policies and their implementation have incited so much fear in those around me. What’s even more disheartening is that this isn’t just about the past but is still very prevalent today. However, I am no longer a little girl watching that fear and not able to do anything about it. I’m an adult with the power to vote and with a voice to educate others on why these issues are so important.
I’m proud of everything our cohort has been a part of and contributed to in the last year. However, I’m super proud of our rally in support of Dreamers at ASU that the ASU fellows, the Aliento team, and the Aliento at ASU Hub coordinated. Within the span of a day, we garnered over 5,000 signatures in support of Dreamers at ASU, and over 1,000 people signed up and attended our peaceful rally. I remember turning around to see all the people chanting at the top of their lungs and just crying because of how much support was being shown. I learned how there are always people who will stick up for what's right, and also how important it is to fight against injustices with peace and love instead of hatred and anger. There might be moments when we feel alone and like there are not enough people in support of the cause. However, there are more supporters than we realize. Sometimes, they just need a little push to come out of the shadows and speak up a little louder. At the same time, it’s important to continue creating these spaces for people to come together and show love and support for one another. I truly can’t express how inspiring that day was. It was one of those “I really love my school” moments, thanks to the ASU community and the Aliento team.
For those who join the fellowship, don’t forget to live in the moment and enjoy every minute of the fellowship. Make sure to ask questions and use every opportunity as a learning experience. There’s always something new to learn and a new skill to add to your list. Most importantly, always remember your why, hold it close to your heart, and use your story as fuel to keep pushing forward—the work Aliento does and your contribution matter so much.
I’ll be entering my senior year at Arizona State University soon and will be graduating with two degrees within the next year. I’m currently looking at volunteer/internship opportunities to gain more experience working with immigrant communities and families. I’ll be spending the next few months focused on studying for the LSAT as I’m planning on applying to Law school in the near future and someday work in the immigration or family law field. I’m excited to keep learning and gaining skills that will help me best serve the communities I want to work with in the future.
