Leadership Development and Growth Opportunities - Support ALMA!

Above: 25-26 AY ALMA Co-Chairs, Nessa (left) & Isabela (right). 

ALMA (Aprendizaje, Liderazgo, Motivación y Autoestima) is a bold new initiative under Cornell’s Latinx Student Empowerment program, designed to cultivate leadership, creativity, and community through intentional programming and mentorship. When individuals feel supported and equipped, they lead with confidence, and they transform the spaces they touch.

Above: ALMA board members during their bi-weekly meetings.

 Your gift powers programs that go beyond inspiration, they deliver skills, guidance, and networks. Through leadership circles, storytelling workshops, speaker events, and a creative showcase, participants gain the confidence to lead and the connections to thrive. Guided by experienced staff with expertise in public policy, advocacy, and institutional leadership, ALMA ensures students learn not only how to speak up, but how to navigate systems and influence change.

 Above: ALMA 25-26 AY Co-Chair, Nessa, presenting on their leadership development program for the Laidlaw Scholars program.

Networking is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. ALMA creates spaces where emerging leaders connect with faculty, alumni, and community partners, building relationships that open doors to internships, policy fellowships, and professional opportunities. Every dollar you give directly supports program materials, guest speakers, travel stipends, and event logistics, so cost never stands between a student and a transformative experience.

Above: ALMA member 24-25 AY, Kimberly, receiving the Perkins Prize Award for their sorority, Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. Tom Perkins (far left), Vice-President of Student and Campus Life, Dr. Ryan Lombardi (far right).

Why ALMA, why now?
Cornell’s student community thrives on programs that foster belonging and leadership. ALMA was launched by a dedicated student board and staff team with the support of a grant from the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW)* to create programming that elevates voices and builds confidence. Each member of the ALMA board is a proven campus leader, holding key positions and bringing a depth of experience to every event and series. This initiative responds to a clear need: students are asking for spaces that strengthen leadership, visibility, and connection. Your support ensures these opportunities don’t just exist; they flourish!

Above: ALMA board members at a reception with guest speakers for the Gender Equity Resource Center's Real Talk. Guest speakers: Danya Contreras ’13 (bottom, far right) and Michelle Reiss ’20 (top, far right).

What your gift makes possible

1) Leadership & mentorship
 Intimate leadership circles, peer mentorship, and skills labs focused on public speaking, advocacy, and leading with confidence, all coordinated by a team that guides student organizations and fosters growth across campus.

2) Storytelling & visibility
 Workshops and a creative showcase that amplify student voices and celebrate diverse perspectives, creating visibility and inspiring dialogue across the Cornell community.

3) Community & belonging
 Open events that connect participants with campus networks and collaborative programs, building bridges through shared experiences and fostering a sense of belonging.

4) Access & opportunity
 Travel stipends for conferences and speaker engagements, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent students from accessing leadership development and transformative opportunities.

Above: ALMA 24-25 AY Co-Chairs, Alejandra ’25 (left) & Kassandra ’25 (right) at the Presidents Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) Symposium.  

Who we serve
 Undergraduates are at the heart of ALMA’s mission, with open, public events that also welcome alumni, faculty, staff, and the broader Cornell community. Programs are hosted in partnership with the Latinx Student Empowerment office and across campus networks—creating a ripple effect of collaboration and shared growth.

Above: ALMA 25-26 AY Co-Chair, Isabela, hosting a dinner (Taste of Perú) with Contigo Perú, a student organization at Cornell University. 

Our $7,500 goal is just the beginning foundation to launch this vision. It is not a limit, but a first step toward something greater: expanded leadership retreats, more travel stipends, and deeper mentorship opportunities. When you give beyond the base goal, you help us break barriers, not build them. You create momentum that carries participants further than we imagined.

Above: Study with ALMA: A highly anticipated event featuring preliminary exam prep and thoughtful care packages.

Give today to help us cultivate leadership, creativity, and community.
 Together, we’ll ensure every individual who shows up with a dream leaves with the skills, guidance, and connections to lead with purpose, and the confidence to change the world.

Above: Graduating Cornell students taking their graduation photos provided by the Latinx Student Empowerment Office.

Above: Co-chair Nessa (left) hosting the La Asociación Latina Premios (Award Ceremony).

Above: ALMA 24-25 AY Co-chair, Kassandra '25  (bottom left) cooking for a community event. 

*Membership PCCW is open to all alumni regardless of identity.

As a registered student organization, we are committed to equal access to all of our programs and do not discriminate based on any protected identity status.