Reyna Montoya
Founder and CEO, Aliento
A DACAmented social entrepreneur, educator and dancer, Reyna Montoya is the founder and CEO of ALIENTO. She is an alumna of Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Reyna was born in Tijuana, Mexico, 15 minutes from the U.S. and Mexico border, and migrated to Arizona in 2003 fleeing violence. Despite the fear, anxiety, and stress of growing undocumented in Arizona and witnessing her dad go through deportation proceedings, Reyna did not lose hope. That is why she took a leap of faith and decided to create Aliento in 2016 after years of organizing and educating both at the local and national levels.
Through youth-led arts + healing workshops, leadership development, and community organizing, Aliento transforms trauma into hope and action for those most impacted by the harms associated with lacking an immigration status. In less than four years, Aliento has touched the lives of over 25,000 people, of which 15,000 are youth. Under dedicated Reyna's leadership, 1,000 undocumented, DACA, and mixed-status youth have stepped into leadership roles.
Reyna's contributions to the well-being of the undocumented, DACA, and mixed-status community have earned her recognition by Forbes 30 Under 30, the 2019 Phoenix Chamber ATHENA Awards, the Muhammad Ali Center as the 2018 Humanitarian Recipient for Spirituality, 2017 #NBCLatino20, Fast Company among others. She is also a Soros Justice Fellow, an Echoing Green Fellow, a New Profit and Boulder Fund Award Recipient.
Panel Information
Saturday, December 5
1:10 PM EST
The Future is Female … One Nation United
32 million Latinos were eligible to vote in 2020, and they were a key factor in the outcome of the presidential election. Latinas drive household decisions and affect who shows up to the polls in their communities. This conversation will address the key role Latinas had in the presidential elections and what issues drove Latinas to the poll such as affordable and quality healthcare, immigration, and the economy. This panel will also address the growing number of Latinas running for office and participation in elections.
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