Aliento Features: Nathalya Galvez
Tell us about yourself
Hello everyone; my name is Nathalya Galvez! I am a Junior at Arizona State University studying Political Science and Global Studies. I come from a mixed-status family and have the honor of being born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I am a first-generation college student that loves listening to music, reading, and exercising during my free time!
How did you find out about Aliento? Why did you get involved?
I attended Aliento’s Education Day in early 2022 and immediately wanted to get more involved in the organization. Before joining Aliento, I often felt isolated navigating college as a first-generation student from a mixed-status family. Being involved in Aliento has taught me that our shared experiences unite us in a way that nobody else who has not lived through the trauma would understand. Aliento has helped me discover my voice and the beauty within my culture and embrace all the trauma I endured growing up in Arizona due to anti-immigration laws. My newfound strength gives me the determination to lead with integrity to be a voice for the other Latinas who share the same traumas and doubts.
Why does the work we are doing matter to you?
The work Aliento does matters to me because our continuous efforts have positively impacted undocumented students who dream of pursuing higher education. Education is a human right. Every student should have access to an education regardless of immigration status. Not to mention that our significant work will continue creating opportunities for the future generations of undocumented families. All of the meaningful work I have been a part of has changed my life. I take pride in using my voice and vote to improve the lives of the undocumented community. I hope other education organizations across America can take inspiration from Aliento to fight for refugee and immigrant rights on a broader scale by seeking solutions to improve the immigration system.
How did the Prop 308 campaign impact you?
The Proposition 308 campaign impacted me in various ways; the campaign built my leadership and self-advocacy skills through community outreach, canvassing, and phone banking. Most importantly, the campaign gave me a solid inclination to fight for my community. Although I am not undocumented, the barriers I have witnessed undocumented residents face in Arizona inspired me to fight for a cause bigger than myself. Being able to work on Arizona’s first pro-immigration law is more than an accomplishment. It means having a seat at the table and being one step closer to overcoming the generation barriers our ancestors experienced. The Aliento community has managed to create something from our pains, despite all the regulations against us. Our trauma does not define us; instead, we are what we choose to become with our trauma.
What’s next for you?
As my junior year and Aliento Fellowship end, I plan to continue practicing the self-advocacy skills I learned to continue to fight for justice in my community. This summer, I will be interning at City Hall for the Los Angeles City Council, hoping to gain more experience in California policy legislation. At the same time, I plan to continue to study for the LSAT. In addition, I plan on joining more leadership development programs to build more leadership skills and community engagement. In the future, I plan to use my educational experience to continue fighting for marginalized Latino communities and continue to use my voice and vote to give the undocumented community equal educational opportunities.