Aliento Features: Angel Palazuelos
Last summer, seven talented and brilliant students joined our team as Aliento Fellows. Throughout the year, they’ve been featured on our Aliento Voices, social media, local and national news, and they’ve been active members of the Aliento Team. They’ve worked extremely hard throughout the academic school year, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the future. Although their time as Aliento Fellows has come to an end, we want to highlight and honor their dedication to the organization by featuring them on our blog.
This week, meet Angel Palazuelos!
1. Introduce yourself!
Hey everyone, my name is Angel Palazuelos, I am eighteen years of age, and I am a graduating senior at Metro Tech High School. I was born in Culiacan Sinaloa, Mexico, and immigrated to Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of four.
2. How did you hear about Aliento, and why did you choose Aliento?
I first heard about Aliento during the summer of my junior year when participating in the ISH (Immigrant Scholarship Hustle) Program. Precisely during that time, I was interning for Puente Human Rights Movement and coming back from a program at Harvard University. Since my senior year was about to begin, the damaged reality of being undocumented transcended past my regular pain.
Angel and Denise (Another Aliento Fellow) with Education + Policy Director, Jose Patiño
I learned about Aliento when Jose Patiño presented Aliento’s mission and their unwavering commitment to undocumented students. The truth is, being undocumented is puzzling, frustrating, and heartachingly difficult. Being undocumented is knowing that despite doing everything right, you will never be ‘qualified.’ I chose Aliento because I do not want future generations to endure my pain.
3. What are some of the things you’ve learned as a fellow? Why was it important?
As a fellow, not only did I grasp a better understanding of interpreting the political climate and government policy, I learned to lead with love and courage. I learned the power of vulnerability and telling my personal story as an enticement for meaningful change in my community.
Angel along side his classmates from Metro Tech at Education Day 2020
Through first-hand experiences at the capitol and various interactions with officials, I became better at expressing my reality and communicating complex ideas. Aliento helped me transform what I thought was my biggest ‘weakness:’ being undocumented, into my most emboldening quality. It is the source of my strength. It is what makes me, me.
4. What are some moments within the fellowship that you are most proud of?
Throughout the fellowship, I was able to introduce a problem that I deeply care about to my friends and family. They were able to see a different side of me that they had never seen before: a more frustrated, passionate Angel. They voluntarily walked, learned, and spoke alongside me.
Angel at the Training for Education Day 2020
They supported me in every event, like in Education Day, the day we all boldly became leaders and exposed our hearts for a cause bigger than us all. I am thankful to have been part of a team that cares and loves with an intensity that I have never seen before. Together, we defied all odds and even managed to continue building community amid a global pandemic.
5. Besides Aliento, what else were you involved with at school? What did you?
At Metro Tech High School, I started a scholarship drive during my junior year of high school that lasted around three months. I was a part of the Engineering CTE Program, where I was certified and gained experience with engineering programs like SolidWorks and AutoCAD. I was the President of the Spanish Honor Society, a club of over 150+ members where we fundraised and organized events revolving around our cultura. Some sports I played were volleyball, baseball, and cross-country. I also participated in clubs like the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Mathematics Honor Society, and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA).
6. Would you recommend the fellowship? Why?
Absolutely. Being an Aliento fellow, now an alumnus has opened my mind to a world of possibilities. My experiences changed how I perceive not only the world but myself as well. Being a fellow allowed me to navigate in a passionate journey of self-discovery and enlightenment, all while being in the front lines of social change-making.
Angel at a Aliento Fellowship meeting
The fellowship, in itself, is a jack-of-all-trades. We learned valuable information about government, laws, and policies; we became better, leaders, speakers, organizers, lobbyists -- we became better people. For some of us, continually stepping out of our comfort zone and demanding more from ourselves, ignited tremendous personal growth.
Angel along side Maria (Another Aliento Fellow) at Spring Break at the Capitol
Together, the fellows and I, whether it was analyzing legal jargon or monitoring body movement, became enhanced critical thinkers. My Aliento family is always there for me; they helped me understand that before being an athlete, activist, and student, we are people, and we need to take care of ourselves. I will always be grateful to the fellowship for allowing me to take part in something truly amazing and expand my network. One of the best gifts Aliento grants its fellows is not their extensive web of resources, but rather the constant blessing of being surrounded by beautiful people: true friends who will last a lifetime. As corny as it may sound.
7. What’s next for you?
You are looking at a Metro Tech High School Graduate!!! I am also on my way to be a student at the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University. I was blessed to receive scholarships that eventually added up to cover the cost of tuition and living. I plan to major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in Political Sciences, the end goal being law school. This is not the last time you will be seeing me as I plan to continue being involved with Aliento until we win in-state tuition and the battle after that.
Photo by Ash Ponders for New York Times
Angels fellowship was funded partly by contributions from community members. You could help fund the next Angel for our third Fellowship Cohort in 2020-2021! $4,000 will allow us to fund one fellow. If you believe in Aliento and the work that we are doing, please consider making a donation to help fund the next cohort of fellows for 2020-21!