ALTA Testimonial Spotlight
We work to make a difference.
“My involvement at ALTA also helped me to advance all the way to the final stage of the Fulbright Fellowship competition.”
I began my work with ALTA through a summer fellowship with the California Climate Action Corps. Prior to taking on this role, I had never been given the opportunity to work with a community organization that takes on such a wide range of responsibilities and leadership roles within the community. ALTA provided me with leadership positions in realms of social justice, food security, education, and community organization. The mentorship I received from Nia and other leaders of ALTA not only enhanced my ability to lead in these spaces, it also enhanced my ability to fulfill a professional role while learning how to set boundaries in both my personal and professional life. I feel I most benefited from Nia’s lessons on asset-based community development, a community organization strategy that I was able to implement during my summer fellowship and later introduce to over a hundred Smittcamp Family Honors College scholars upon my return to school in the fall. My involvement at ALTA also helped me to advance all the way to the final stage of the Fulbright Fellowship competition, where I have been selected as an alternate to conduct research on micro-plastics and their effects on environmental and human health in Reykjavik, Iceland for the 2022-23 academic year. I have never received as much knowledge and fulfillment from a job as I did with my role in ALTA. This organization truly puts in work to bring innovative ideas to fruition, ideas which are making immediate and significant improvements in the lives of families throughout the city of Fresno.