Aliento Features: Angélica César
Meet Angélica César! She was born in California and raised in Mexico City with her mom and sister. They would later move to Arizona to seek a better life and educational opportunities. She is a graduating Senior at ASU, double majoring in Political Science and Transborder Studies with a certificate in Civic Education.
Angélica is also another one of our amazing fellows here at Aliento where she organized with the Arizona’s Future, an awareness campaign for Tuition Equity for all Arizona HS graduates regardless of immigration status.
“As someone who grew up in a mixed status family, I always wished I had a space where my experiences where validated and understood without judgment.”
Why Aliento?
I heard about Aliento through an email blast from my college advisor! The organization’s mission immediately caught my attention. As someone who grew up in a mixed status family, I always wished I had a space where my experiences where validated and understood without judgment. I was overjoyed to apply because, as a student at ASU, I know the importance of ensuring everyone who wants to pursue a higher ed has equitable access to it, regardless of status. Beyond that, I witnessed the struggles my family members and close friends, who are DACAmented or undocumented, in continuing their education and that served as the motivation for my involvement. I wanted to be part of the team & community driving solutions!
What are some of the things you’ve learned as a fellow? Why was it important
Being a fellow has taught me the importance of vulnerability, integrity, and courage as a student-leader. It has also taught me to be a critical thinker and inspired me to lead with curiosity when interacting with folks who don’t share my background, perspectives, and political interests. I’ve learned and directly applied skills related to community organizing, policy research, legislative advocacy and public speaking!
I would 100% recommend this fellowship to anybody who is ready to be challenged in the best way possible! The direct mentorship and development we received as fellows empowered me to grow past my comfort zone and take on difficult tasks all while feeling supported by an amazing community.
On January 23rd, 250 students, educators and allies from across the valley showed up at the Arizona Capitol for Education Day to speak with both Democrats and Republicans about the importance of tuition equity! It was an amazing turn out, and it has because of the amazing organizing of Angélica and the rest of the fellows.
At ASU, Angélica helped create Aliento @ ASU and served as President for the spring 2019 semester! Aliento @ ASU is a student organization invested in the leadership development + healing of undocu, DACA, mixed-status students and ally engagement @ ASU's Tempe campus. Led by students for students!
We are so proud of Angélica and her dedication to the fellowship. On April 2019, Angélica and the other leadership of Aliento @ ASU team addressed the ASU USGT Senate to pass a resolution to support DACA + Undocumented students access to instate tuition and merit-based scholarships!
Beyond Aliento, she is Director of Events for the Pre-Law Society at ASU, Junior Fellow for the School of Politics and Global Studies, and recently designed her own research project surrounding climate change resilience + vulnerability through ASU’s Latino Community Lab.
In the fall, I will be a Legislative Intern on Capitol Hill through CHCI! I’m looking forward to spending a semester in D.C., bringing my learnings back to AZ in the spring, graduating with my two degrees (#slightflex), and continuing my work on in-state advocacy post-graduation.
