Aliento Features: Noelia Flores

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, my name is Noelia Flores. I attend Mountain View High School and am in the Class of 2025. I am the daughter of immigrants and the second oldest of six siblings born and raised in Mesa, AZ. I love reading, volunteering in my community, and participating in my school's music program.

How did you find out about Aliento?

I found out about Aliento through my sister Xiomara. She had been a part of the 2022-2023 cohort, and it really pushed me to get involved after seeing the impact she made during her time as a Fellow. I wanted to do the same for my family, community, and others. My first encounter with Aliento was E-Day in 2023 with the Latino Student Club. We talked to legislators and even got recognized on the floor for Point of Privilege. Being recognized by name at Education Day on the floor made me feel seen and heard by the legislators we met with

Why does the work we are doing matter to you?

One of Aliento’s policy priorities that I care the most about is Driver’s Licenses for All. This is because I have been able to witness firsthand how much it truly affects your everyday lives not to have a driver's license, and it instills unnecessary fear and trauma to not only the driver but their family as well. As a daughter of undocumented parents, I still feel fear every single time my parents get into the car to do their basic life necessities. Our community still fears getting pulled over and facing unjust treatment because of our status or even our color.

What moments from the fellowship are you most proud of?

A moment I am proud of from this fellowship is having stepped up to speak at the Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement panel as the only High School Student. It is truly something I never saw myself doing because before starting the fellowship, I had a fear of public speaking and wasn't as educated as I am fortunate enough to be right now. Having finished the fellowship, I have learned that you are never too small to make a change because even as only one person, the impact you can make is extreme. Something as small as educating others on these problems can help make a positive difference. I have learned leadership skills such as public speaking, speaking to the media, finding my voice, and just being educated all throughout. I applied these skills throughout the fellowship by being able to lead meetings on E-Day, being willing to speak about these issues to panels, and being able to help educate others on issues that are happening in their own communities and how to help.

How did Education Day impact you?

Education Day impacted me a lot this year because I saw some vulnerability from fellow students and heard so many stories from others. It truly made me realize that I am not alone in these struggles and that everyone’s feelings were heard and validated, both by other people's stories and by the legislators we spoke with. 

What is a moment from the fellowship outside of E-day that really impacted you?

A moment from the fellowship that impacted me was the events we held and being able to bring that awareness to my school community with less cultural diversity. It is easier to feel like you are alone in a school like mine, and I was able to be a part of showing others that they weren’t alone. One of those events was an Arts and Healing Workshop that I was fortunate enough to host at my school alongside Regina, a Mountain View Fellow. We asked the students to reflect on their thoughts or a past moment that had left a lasting emotion or feeling and to write down those emotions on a canvas. We later asked them to paint a brighter and more positive image there. This brought awareness to the emotions they might have been suppressing as a community, and this impacted me because it shows how normalized it is in the Hispanic community not to show any emotions. We provided that space where they could let go and process those emotions as a group to challenge this norm.

How would you describe this fellowship to someone who is looking to apply?

The Fellowship is a program designed for potential young leaders. It provides a platform to receive training and resources to share your voice. Joining the fellowship also means entering a welcoming community of other individuals who are passionate about making a change in the immigrant community. Do not be afraid to be heard. Take all the opportunities you can because you never know when you will get them again. No story is too little or too big. Don’t let others make you feel less than just because of your family's status.

What’s next for you?

I will be starting my senior year at Mountain View and my first year at EVIT, a trade program during High School, where I practice cosmetology. I plan to go to college after graduating in 2025 and hope to double major in Business and Political Sciences to continue my advocacy journey.