Aliento Features: Isabella Granados Eaton
My first time working with Aliento was on an exciting November morning, canvassing for the Aliento Votes campaign against Prop 314. Despite our hard work and the passing of this harmful immigration bill, I learned that civic engagement isn’t a standalone activity but a community-building effort. Even though we lost the battle, we haven’t necessarily lost the war. It just means we need to organize Arizona citizens better and unite them around a common cause to fight for equality and justice. Working with Aliento helped reignite a hope in me I had forgotten existed.
After this event, I took it upon myself to attend as many Aliento events as possible, including the mini E-days that came in the spring. And once I heard about the fellowship, I applied, not expecting to get in, but I was proud that I tried and that I was brave enough to pursue something that mattered to me.
When I saw my acceptance letter into the Aliento Fellowship, I felt a deep sense of empowerment. I was so excited to meet the other fellows and to get involved more with an organization I look up to. Throughout my time in the fellowship, watching my peers grow into the leaders they are today has been an honor, and I am so grateful for the love and support from them and the Aliento team.
Unfortunately, I can’t identify a specific moment at Aliento that I am proud of, as I treasure all our meetings and view my time working with Aliento as precious. Even the hardships I have experienced have profoundly shaped how I perceive myself. With moving schools during my senior year, planning events, and having to work around rising complications during Education Day, my mentors have made sure to applaud my efforts. They have reminded me to not strive for excellence but for effectiveness. With this growth mindset, I’ve seen this strategy come to fruition at every Aliento event. Regardless of size, I always see community members’ faces glistening with hope. Before this fellowship, I used to doubt my ability to lead my peers. Now, I can confidently say I encourage those around me to feel capable of achieving their dreams.
Here at Aliento, students can cultivate their own sense of what leadership looks like through collaborative approaches, such as planning school events, organizing students to lobby legislators, and, most importantly, learning from others’ unique stories. A good leader is someone who can use others’ skills to accomplish a task. An impactful leader observes and understands the strengths of those around them and guides them to tackle an issue together. I am delighted to say that Aliento has shown me that I have grown into someone I can believe in.
In August of 2026, I will be heading off to Grinnell College in Iowa to study sociology and political science. Once I graduate, I plan to return home and inspire others to advocate for their rights and those of the disadvantaged. That way, we as Arizonans can unite to implement effective and impactful change. Individually, there’s so much one can do, but collectively, so much more can be achieved.
