activities · 21
what they do
direct service · 8
- Arts and Healing Programs Trauma-Informed Counseling for Youth & FamiliesProvides arts and healing workshops, mental health support through group therapy, open mics, and events in schools and the community through its Cultiva program, serving students, Dreamers, and immigrant families since 2016.
- Arts and Healing Programs Mental Wellness WorkshopsOffers arts and healing workshops, group therapy, open mics, and events in schools and communities, including an annual art exhibition, to provide mental health support and creative outlets for students, Dreamers, and immigrant families.
- Higher Education Access Support for Immigrant Students College Preparation & Empowerment ProgramsCreates guides and resources like 'Undocumented Pathways: Applying to Higher Education' and 'Undocumented Pathways Educator Edition' to support immigrant students in accessing higher education, and compiles and shares scholarship lists for Dreamer/DACA students.
- Higher Education Access Support for Immigrant Students College Preparation & Empowerment ProgramsProvides resources and training for immigrant students, educators, and counselors on accessing higher education, including guides for undocumented students, information on in-state tuition, and lists of scholarships for Dreamer/DACA students.
- Higher Education Access Support for Immigrant StudentsCreates and distributes guides and resources, such as 'Undocumented Pathways: Applying to Higher Education' and an 'Educator Edition', to support immigrant students in accessing higher education. Also compiles and shares scholarship lists for Dreamer/DACA students and partners with schools to share resources.
- Immigration Defense and Preparation Planning Legal Orientation for Detained ImmigrantsCompiled a Defense and Preparation Plan with information for individuals facing detention or removal proceedings.
- Legislative Engagement Support Legislative Engagement ToolsAssists individuals in creating accounts for the Arizona legislature's Request to Speak (RTS) system to facilitate civic engagement.
- Legislative Engagement Support Legislative Engagement ToolsHelps individuals create accounts in the Arizona legislature's Request to Speak (RTS) system to facilitate their participation in the legislative process.
advocacy · 4
- Advocacy for In-State Tuition and Scholarships Immigration Policy AdvocacyLed the passage of legislation to secure in-state tuition and college scholarships for Arizona students, regardless of their immigration status, and organizes campaigns to support DACA recipients.
- Advocacy for In-State Tuition and Scholarships Immigration Policy AdvocacyLed the passage of legislation in Arizona to provide in-state tuition and college scholarships for students regardless of immigration status, and conducts training sessions for educators, counselors, and students on implementing this policy.
- Civic Engagement and Policy Advocacy Immigrant Rights Legal Advocacy & Civic MobilizationOrganizes campaigns like Vote4Dream to unite various stakeholders in finding solutions for DACA recipients, and supports students and families through broader civic engagement and policy work, including assisting with the Arizona legislature's Request to Speak system.
- Civic Engagement and Policy Advocacy Immigrant Rights Legal Advocacy & Civic MobilizationOrganizes campaigns like Vote4Dream to unite various stakeholders in finding solutions for DACA recipients, and supports students and families through broader civic engagement and policy work.
capacity building · 9
- Leadership Development and Fellowship Programs Youth Civic Leadership TrainingOperates the Arizona's Future Fellowship, a leadership development program for students regardless of immigration status, which includes monthly cohort trainings and weekly 1:1 coaching, and offers paid fellowships and internships for school credit to develop student hubs.
- Mental Health Best Practices Toolkit DevelopmentDeveloped a Mental Health Best Practices Toolkit to provide culturally responsive tools for educators and mental health practitioners supporting immigrant students and families.
- Mental Health Toolkit DevelopmentDeveloped a Mental Health Best Practices Toolkit to provide culturally responsive tools for educators and mental health practitioners supporting immigrant students and families.
- Student Internships Structured Internship Programs with Hands-On Nonprofit ExperienceOffers paid internship opportunities for high school, college, and university students, both in-state and out-of-state, during various semesters or year-long, providing hands-on experience and skill development.
- Student Leadership and Fellowship Programs Youth Civic Leadership TrainingOperates the Arizona's Future Fellowship, a leadership development program for students regardless of immigration status, which includes monthly cohort trainings and weekly 1:1 coaching, and offers paid fellowships and internships for school credit to develop student hubs at high schools, colleges, and universities across Arizona.
- Workshops and Training for Youth Career Pathways Development & Workforce AlignmentEducates, nurtures, and develops youth through workshops, training, and presentations in partnership with high schools, community colleges, and universities, having provided workshops to over 1000 students in Phoenix and Mesa high schools during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Youth Education and Development Workshops Career Pathways Development & Workforce AlignmentEducates, nurtures, and develops youth through workshops, training, and presentations in partnership with high schools, community colleges, and universities, having provided workshops to over 1000 students in Phoenix and Mesa high schools during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Youth Education and Development Workshops Career Pathways Development & Workforce AlignmentEducates, nurtures, and develops youth through workshops, training, and presentations in partnership with high schools, community colleges, and universities, reaching over 1000 students in Phoenix and Mesa high schools during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Youth Leadership and Internship Programs Youth Civic Leadership TrainingOperates the Arizona's Future Fellowship, a leadership development program for students regardless of immigration status, which includes monthly cohort trainings and weekly 1:1 coaching. Also offers paid internships for high school, college, and university students to develop student hubs and provide hands-on experience.
strategies · 22
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advancing civic engagement and policy advocacy for inclusive systems civic_engagement_and_policy_advocacyAliento engages in civic participation and policy advocacy to ensure that systems and structures are welcoming to all students, regardless of immigration status, by assisting individuals in accessing legislative testimony systems and promoting non-partisan dialogue.
- Building capacity and coalitions through collaborative partnerships collaborative_partnership_modelAliento fosters open collaboration with schools, nonprofit partners, policymakers, faith leaders, and state legislators to build broad coalitions of support and provide professional development, thereby creating sustainable systemic change.
- Building inclusive communities through storytelling and dialogue community_buildingAliento fosters empathetic connection and belonging by creating safe spaces for story sharing, respectful dialogue, and community-building activities that honor diverse identities.
- Centering impacted leadership in organizational governance and programming impacted_leadershipAliento ensures that those most directly affected by immigration policies—undocumented youth and individuals—lead and shape the organization’s work, believing this lived experience is essential to authentic advocacy, program design, and community trust.
- Civic Engagement and Policy Advocacy for Systemic Change civic_engagement_and_policy_advocacyThe organization uses civic engagement, policy advocacy, and direct support for accessing legislative systems to ensure that systems and structures are welcoming to all students regardless of immigration status, aiming to create lasting systemic change.
- Civic engagement and non-partisan policy advocacy civic engagement and policy advocacyAliento fosters civic participation and policy change by supporting legislative testimony, hosting non-partisan dialogues, and advocating for inclusive systems that affirm undocumented students’ rights and access.
- Coalition building and capacity development across sectors coalition building and capacity buildingAliento strengthens broader movements for immigrant inclusion by expanding coalitions and delivering professional development to educators, faith leaders, and legislators to institutionalize supportive practices.
- Collaborative Partnership and Coalition Building collaborative_partnership_modelThe organization fosters progress and sustainable change through open collaboration with schools, nonprofit partners, policymakers, and by building broad coalitions of support, including professional development for educators and trainings with faith leaders, school leaders, and state legislators.
- Collaborative partnership model to expand access and influence collaborative_partnership_modelAliento advances educational equity and policy change by working collectively with schools, nonprofits, faith leaders, and policymakers, leveraging shared resources and expertise to scale impact.
- Cultivating culturally responsive and inclusive environments culturally_responsive_practiceAliento builds safe and inclusive environments by centering respect across diverse identity dimensions and employs culturally responsive tools to build the capacity of educators and mental health practitioners in supporting immigrant communities.
- Culturally Responsive Education and Training culturally_responsive_practiceThe organization employs culturally responsive tools and provides targeted educational guides and training sessions for educators, counselors, and students to overcome systemic barriers, promote awareness of policies, and build capacity in supporting immigrant communities.
- Culturally responsive and trauma-informed support systems trauma_informed_careAliento integrates culturally responsive practices and trauma-informed care into its programming, using arts, healing workshops, and truth-telling spaces to support mental health and resilience among immigrant youth.
- Data-informed programming to enhance student well-being and academic success data-informed programmingAliento designs and refines its programs using data to measure and improve outcomes related to stress reduction, resilience, coping skills, and academic performance among undocumented youth.
- Education access through targeted resources and training education_access_guidesAliento removes systemic barriers to higher education for undocumented students by producing targeted guides and training educators, counselors, and school staff on in-state tuition and college access policies.
- Empowering impacted individuals through leadership and advocacy impacted_leadershipAliento centers the voices and leadership of individuals directly impacted by immigration challenges, empowering youth and fellows to practice self-advocacy and organizing principles within their schools and communities to drive change.
- Fostering healing and well-being through arts and trauma-informed practices trauma_informed_careAliento provides mental health support by utilizing arts and healing workshops, group therapy, and open mics, while embracing truth-telling and working towards reconciliation through open dialogue and collective healing, informed by data to reduce stress and increase resilience.
- Impacted Leadership and Voice Amplification impacted_leadershipThe organization believes that centering and uplifting the voices and leadership of individuals directly impacted by immigration challenges, especially youth, is crucial for effective advocacy and creating meaningful change.
- Inclusive Community Building and Dialogue inclusive_community_buildingThe organization creates safe and inclusive environments by centering respect across diverse identities and fostering understanding and connection through sharing stories and empathetic listening, using non-partisan dialogue and learning events.
- Leadership development and youth organizing for systemic change youth advocacy and organizingAliento builds youth agency and self-advocacy by training undocumented students in leadership, organizing, and storytelling, enabling them to lead campaigns and transform school and community environments.
- Promoting education access and awareness for undocumented students education_access_guidesAliento uses targeted educational guides and training sessions for educators, counselors, and students to help undocumented students overcome systemic barriers and access higher education, particularly regarding in-state tuition policies for Dreamers.
- Student-Centered Leadership Development student_centered_leadershipThe organization employs a student-centered approach, aligning programs with curriculum standards and focusing on intentional leadership development and student engagement to increase youth agency, leadership, and self-advocacy.
- Trauma-Informed Arts and Healing for Mental Wellness trauma_informed_careThe organization utilizes arts and healing workshops, group therapy, and open mics to provide mental health support, embracing truth-telling and healing through open dialogue to reduce stress and anxiety, and increase resilience and coping skills.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Arizona Future Fellowship
Leadership development program for students to practice self-advocacy skills and implement organizing principles within their schools.
Cultiva
Arts & healing program providing workshops and mental health support through group therapy and open mics for students and immigrant families.
In-state Tuition for Dreamers
Educational initiative providing training sessions on Prop. 308 for educators and students regarding in-state tuition eligibility for Dreamers.
relationships · 20
who they work with
- ASU Access Prop 308 Partner — Partnered with Aliento, as indicated by a photo caption.
- Aniles Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Healing Sponsor".
- Arizona State University Partner — Partnered with Aliento, as indicated by a photo caption.
- Eisenhower Center For Innovation Partner — Six-year partnership to work with families, resulting in improvements in students’ academics, school culture, teacher retention, and parent engagement.
- Felix and Erika Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Hope Sponsor".
- Iconico Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Hope Sponsor".
- La Primera Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Hope Sponsor".
- Margot's Scholarship Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Hope Sponsor".
- Megan & Wyatt Toolson Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Healing Sponsor" in honor of Dreamers.
- Michelle Kerrick & David Rousseau Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Healing Sponsor".
- Pearl and Mac Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Joy Sponsor".
- Pharos Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Peace Sponsor".
- Prop. 308 Government — Provides in-state tuition eligibility for Dreamers who meet Arizona residency and education criteria
- The Faber Family Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Love Sponsor".
- Valle del Sol Partner — Partnered with Aliento, as indicated by a photo caption.
- Vanessa and Steve Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Joy Sponsor".
- Zero and Zuko Funder — Sponsored the art gallery event as a "Joy Sponsor".
- nonprofit partners Partner — Works alongside nonprofit partners to expand impact.
- policymakers Partner — Engages with policymakers to influence public conversations and education policy.
- schools Partner — Collaborates with schools in delivering programs and advancing educational access.