The Power Within
2020-2021 Aliento ECFI Fellows Art Gallery

This is Aliento’s second year with their partnership with Eisenhower Center for Innovation. Things looked a little different with the program being fully virtual this year, yet we still managed to get art supplies to 17 of our fellows! These fellows were recruited based on their commitment to growth, leadership, and healing.

We held monthly virtual workshops where the fellows explored different topics including identity, gratitude, and agency while practicing bravery and vulnerability. We also worked in partnership with students, teachers, and staff where we co-created social-emotional learning practices to enhance school culture of social-emotional development. We are so proud of everything they have created and wanted to share a small piece of their journey with the rest of our community. Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Aliento ECFI Fellows!

About our Partner ECFI

Eisenhower Center For Innovation is a K-6 neighborhood school serving 450 students from a variety of families and cultures. Our teachers and staff are dedicated to creating a community of learners and supporting whole-child development. This looks like placing equal priority on engaging, technology-infused academic instruction, social-emotional development, and restorative justice practices in the daily student experience at school. Our Eisenhower family is committed to values that include: acceptance, compassion, creativity, diversity, growth mindset, joy, perseverance, respect, resilience, responsibility, service, and tolerance. We are inspired by the strength of our families and invested in the future success of all of our students!

A special shout out to Ms. Weston whose dedication to her students and collective healing helped make this year a success! We were so lucky to have you as part of our team

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Abril Tellez Corta

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite things to do is go swimming, paint, and spend time with my family and my friends
Favorite thing(s) about me: Having to express my feelings and the people that I get to know and be friends with.
Stronger Together
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My pieces are about how we can’t do things alone we always need help someway and it is better to do things with people you trust and love.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned to not be afraid, explore other options, and accept myself as I am.
Camila Ramos

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Play with my brother and sister.
Favorite thing(s) about me: I am funny, creative and I like making new friends.
Education Is Your Weapon
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: It's about if you want to solve a problem you can use education.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned no matter what, we are one.
Aylin Viva-Deleon

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: I like to draw in my free time. I also like to spend time with my little brother.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite things about being me are that I'm Mexican American and I'm bilingual.
Emotions
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My piece is about the different emotions we go through such as sadness, anger, scared, and happiness.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned that it's okay if you're not good at art, but to have the courage to still do it, and you don’t have to be perfect with your art.
Melanie Altamirano

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: I like to listen to music, eat food, and spend time with my friends and family.
Favorite thing(s) about me: That I'm weird, cool, different, bilingual, funny, Mexican, and friendly.
Feelings
Art Medium: Acrylic on paper
About the piece: Sadness.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned about emotions, painting, and having Mexican parents is powerful.
Yuridia Peña Farias

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite thing to do is listening to music and watch Netflix.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite thing about me is that I can speak two languages.
Untitled
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My piece is about how looking at the sunset makes me happy.
What I learned at Aliento: What I learned in Aliento is to draw things you like and respect each other.
Camila Ramos

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Play with my brother and sister.
Favorite thing(s) about me: I am funny, creative, and I like making new friends.
Leave the Past
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: It's about what happens in sadness and leaving it.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned no matter what, we are one.
Rigo Aviles

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: I like to play soccer.
Favorite thing(s) about me: Sometimes I can do things for myself.
Desert
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: I like the desert. I went to Sedona and that's why I painted the painting.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned to be nice.
Isabella Garcia

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: One of my favorite things to do is draw. I also like to sing.
Favorite thing(s) about me: What I really like about me is that I don't give up. I also like that I don't let people push me down.
The Stars
Art Medium: Colored pencil on paper
About the piece: It's basically where I would want to be. It just seems like a comfortable place to be, so I drew someone there.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned to be more creative and express myself in art.
Jaqueline Valencia

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite thing to do is sketch and swim.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite things about me is that I'm talented, smart and I'm a Chicana.
Ocean
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My piece is about dreaming.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned that you should be proud of who you are.
Karely Encinas

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Sleep and draw.
Favorite thing(s) about me: That I get to do what I want to do.
My Flag
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My piece represents the Mexican flag with the colors mixed together🇲🇽 .
What I learned at Aliento: That there is kindness in some people.
Miguel Avalos

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Listen to music (Ariana Grande).
Favorite thing(s) about me: My music taste.
The Equality of Mankind
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: Equality.
What I learned at Aliento: How to be confident
Abril Tellez Corta

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite things to do is go swimming, paint, and spend time with my family and my friends.
Favorite thing(s) about me: Having to express my feelings and the people that I get to know and be friends with.
Treasures
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My pieces are about doing things together. You can never do things alone even if you want to, you will always need help, and together is the best and always with the people you trust.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned to not be afraid, explore other options, and accept myself as I am.
Leslie Uribe

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Hold my guinea pigs, make art, call my friends, and go shopping with my mom and dad.
Favorite thing(s) about me: Everything about me.
My Life as a Superhero
Art Medium: Pencil on paper
About the piece: Me as a superhero.
What I learned at Aliento: That courage over talent is good.
Leonel Sebastian Andrade

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite things to do is watch anime and play soccer.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite thing about me is that I'm bilingual, I have long hair, and I’m friendly to others.
Naruto
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My piece is about a young boy training to be a ninja.
What I learned at Aliento: Don't judge a book by its cover and care for others.
Melanie Altamirano

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: I like to listen to music, eat food and spend time with my friends and family.
Favorite thing(s) about me: That I'm weird, cool, different, bilingual, funny, Mexican, and friendly.
Me
Art Medium: Pen and pencil on paper
About the piece: It’s about me.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned about emotions, paint, and having Mexican parents is powerful.
Leslie Uribe

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Hold my guinea pigs, make art, call my friends, and go shopping with my mom and dad.
Favorite thing(s) about me: Everything about me.
This Is Me
Art Medium: Marker and pencil on paper
About the piece: Me.
What I learned at Aliento: That courage over talent is good.
Eli Urquidez

Grade Level: 4th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Gaming.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My intelligence and my gaming skills.
My Family
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My family.
What I learned at Aliento: Courage over talent.
Mariela Garcia

Grade Level: 6th grade
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite thing to do is hang out with friends.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite things about me are having people around me to love and support me through stuff.
I Love My Mom
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: It is how much I appreciate her and love her.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned about not judging others and keeping stuff to ourselves.
Amalia A. Hernandez

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Make hats, make jewelry, do arts & crafts.
Favorite thing(s) about me: I am a good drawer and a good maker and an inventor of jewelry.
The Feelings Tree
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: My ups and downs in life and what things are about me and what my struggles are.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned how to be confident and I also learned how to not be shy and share little by little about myself.
Juan Carrera

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Play Fortnight, draw Pokemon characters, and skateboard outside with friends.
Favorite thing(s) about me: That I spend a lot of time with my family.
Calming
Art Medium: Acrylic and pencil on paper
About the piece: Strategies for when you get mad and things to do when you get bored.
What I learned at Aliento: That you can take depth breaths. Stop and tell the teacher. Count to 5.
Isabella Garcia

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: I really like to sing, sometimes I make drawings from the melody. I also like to draw a lot.
Favorite thing(s) about me: That I am me and that I don't let others tell me who I am.
Presidential Election
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
What I learned at Aliento: I learned how to use creativity. I also learned how to express myself in art.
Amalia A. Hernandez

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Make hats, make jewelry, and do arts & crafts.
Favorite thing(s) about me: I am a good drawer and a good maker and inventor at jewelry.
America
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: It’s about the election and what my family felt about it.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned how to be confident and I also learned how to not be shy and share little by little about myself.
Eli Urquidez

Grade Level: 4th
Favorite thing(s) to do: Gaming.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My intelligence and my gaming skills.
The Cure
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: The cure to COVID.
What I learned at Aliento: Courage over talent.
Demitri Corrales

Grade Level: 5th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite things are to learn about martial arts and video games. I like to learn about the different kinds of martial arts there are, and how they got started. I like video games because they are fun and entertaining.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite things about me are that I am helpful. I like to help people when I can like if they’re putting stuff away I’ll help them out. I also like that as I get older I get to learn more and more about stuff that I like and things I don’t know about yet.
Waves of the Colors
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
About the piece: It’s about the colors in art that you can use.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned more about art than before, maybe it's not for me, but I feel like I could be creative while being myself.
Mariela Garcia

Grade Level: 6th
Favorite thing(s) to do: My favorite thing to do is hang out with friends.
Favorite thing(s) about me: My favorite things about me are having people around me to love and support me through stuff.
YouTube Intro Piece
Art Medium: Written script
About the piece: My piece is an introduction of how I would introduce myself on a YouTuber’s channel and I would talk about who has inspired me.
What I learned at Aliento: I learned about not judging others and keeping stuff to ourselves.