2021 Fellow Focus: Lisa María Rhodes + ALAS
Leadership coach, social worker, educator…2021 Fellow Lisa María Rhodes of ALAS shares more about her #RuthlessForGood journey.
What propelled you into the entrepreneurial space? And what do you enjoy most about being a founder?
Students and students! As a high school teacher, I called students and parents every class they were absent, and quickly witnessed how, living in the mass incarceration capital of the world, our Black boys are constantly subject to profiling and deprived of their rights in court. This motivated me to go back to school for social work and work with Orleans Public Defenders to understand how educators could interrupt this system of injustice. My first client there was a student I had taught for two years prior. It opened my eyes to how much judges respect a simple letter from an involved educator, and more importantly, how that letter could completely alter the course of the case by simply having students’ constitutional rights honored, as they should be for all.
As many unaccompanied minors began arriving in New Orleans and sent my way as the only Spanish speaker at my school, I saw how the school-to-prison and school-to-deportation pipelines are all too similar in depriving students of educational access.
In May 2018 Angela* graduated from George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans. Amidst challenges of starting to learn English three years prior and working 40 hours per week while in school to support herself and her younger sister throughout homelessness, Angela graduated with a 4.5 GPA and won numerous scholastic awards. As an insatiable reader, biology fiend and animal lover, Angela dreams of going to college to study Marine Biology. Despite her obvious triumph in the face of hardship, Angela is not in college. Because she is undocumented, Angela has no access to federal financial aid or in-state tuition, making even community college prices cost-prohibitive.
Through Angela and hundreds of other students, I have seen up close the injustices present in both criminal justice and immigration systems that bar my students from opportunities that they deserve and are fully capable of seizing, if only they had access.
That’s why Lisa María founded ALAS.
*name changed for anonymity
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
I began writing letters to judges for youth in criminal court systems to have their constitutional rights honored and started knocking on attorney doors to convince them to represent students pro bono to access education. We now have over 25 attorneys representing our youth for free. When other educators kept asking how they could support, I began a network at my school that opened up to other local educators specific to supporting immigrant students, something that we had an increasing need for but did not yet have expertise in. Our network now has over 600 local educators.
Together we coordinate to advocate for policy changes, share resources, examine new questions, brainstorm solutions for student situations and support one another’s thinking through new strategies to increase support. Our debut event was a pitch competition. We were rejected the first time we applied. The next cycle we were accepted. Over 100 supporters attended our debut event, consisting of students, families, educators, attorneys, stakeholders and judges.
As a BIPOC founder, Camelback understands that the struggle is constant, what motivates you to get up every day and keep on fighting?
Through every obstacle that comes her way, that’s what my mother, Marta Cecilia has done daily: get up and keep fighting. She has always been a “berraca” as Colombians say, which could be conveyed by fierce, brave, unwavering. She’s determined, strategic and constantly takes time to learn new things. As she gets older, she is growing softer, sweeter, more patient, full of peace and nurturing her faith. It’s inspiring every day to see her journey. The changes she has made in the world around her, and inside of herself keep me motivated to do the same.
I’m determined to see my students, and all youth, have all the same opportunities my mother gave me, to pursue their dreams and share their gifts with the world. That means that every student deserves due process, representation in court, presumption of innocence, affordable bail, college and career access, health care, housing, and more. Our students deserve freedom from deportation, freedom from immigration and criminal legal systems, the arms of mass incarceration that bind up our students’ wings.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
Why did you choose to embark on the Camelback Fellowship? And what do you hope to gain from this experience?
The past Camelback fellows and teammates I have had the pleasure of meeting speak so highly of the family bond created. It is through community that I learn, grow and stay accountable, so I applied for the community and to learn from one another. As a teacher and social worker, I feel confident with partnerships and programming. It’s the entrepreneurship and business pieces that I’m hoping to gain perspective, strategy and vision for, most specifically: board expansion and maximization, strategic planning, communications planning, fundraising, evaluation planning and recruiting, selecting, onboarding and managing our first hire!
For anyone who applied here - or anywhere - and didn’t get in, don’t give up! In 2020 I received 50 rejections from grants and fellowships. Camelback was one of those. We miss all the shots we don’t take, so keep shooting for your dreams; we can do that together!
You can learn more about ➡ Lisa María Rhodes of ALAS .
Get to know more of the 2021 Camelback Fellows👇🏽