Loretto Justice Fellowship End of Year Reflections

It’s the end of the year and the Loretto Justice Fellows have wonderful reflections to share.

From Iris Cano:

Looking back on my time with the Loretto Justice Fellowship, I can confidently say that it was a highly valuable and rewarding experience. The fellowship allowed me to engage with critical social justice issues, particularly in the field of immigration advocacy, where I gained practical skills and insight into the challenges marginalized communities face. The hands-on nature of the work made it easy to see how the skills I was developing were directly tied to real-world impacts.

The Loretto Community is an environment that fosters growth, collaboration and mutual respect. From the beginning, I felt supported by my mentors and fellow Fellows, each of whom contributed their own perspectives and experiences to the work we were doing. The opportunity to learn from such passionate and dedicated individuals has helped me grow professionally and personally, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such a dynamic team.

For anyone considering the Loretto Justice Fellowship, I would highly recommend it to those interested in social justice work. It offers not only valuable experience but also the chance to be part of a community of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to making a difference. The skills, relationships and insights gained from this experience are sure to be impactful for anyone committed to working toward social change.

From Alondra Rodriguez:

The 2024-2025 Loretto Justice Fellowship program has been a transformative experience that has profoundly shaped my perspective, skills and commitment to social justice. Through this program, I have gained invaluable insights and experiences that have contributed to my personal growth and development. I’m grateful for my fellow peers, Annie, my supervisor and Kelly Center for Hunger Relief team for making my first Master of Social Work Program internship an amazing learning environment. It is memorable for me to look back at the social justice work we’ve done in the community.

I have grown through a broadened perspective on systemic injustices. By engaging with marginalized communities and learning about the complex issues they face, I have developed a deeper understanding of the structural barriers that perpetuate inequality. This newfound awareness has not only informed my worldview, but also instilled in me a sense of responsibility to address these injustices. The Loretto Justice Fellowship has provided a supportive community where I can share my thoughts, feelings and experiences with others who are passionate about social justice and mental health. These relationships have enriched my life, fostered a sense of belonging and encouraged me to continue working toward positive change. This hands-on experience has taught me the importance of taking action and has equipped me with the tools necessary to make a meaningful impact in my community. Also, I have gained a deeper understanding of my personal values, biases and privileges. This self-awareness has enabled me to approach social justice work with a greater sense of humility and empathy. 

Closing this beautiful chapter, I will start a new one to keep connected with my Fellows. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and look forward to continuing my work toward social justice in the future.

Jose Gomez:

Jose Gomez, Loretto Justice Fellow at Ciudad Nueva reflects on the three ways he experienced growth through his Loretto Justice Fellowship program experience:

1. Deeper Understanding of Systemic Injustice:

Through working directly with marginalized communities, I’ve gained a clearer, more personal understanding of how systemic inequalities—whether in immigration, housing, or education—affect people’s daily lives. I’ve learned to see social issues not just as policy challenges, but as deeply human realities that require both compassion and action.

2. Expanded Commitment to Advocacy and Justice:

My sense of commitment to use my voice and abilities to promote justice, particularly in conjunction with others whose voices are frequently ignored, was strengthened by my participation in the Fellowship.

3. Growth in Cultural Humility and Relationship-Building:

I’ve learned to approach communities with humility by listening to them first rather than assuming I know what’s best from working in diverse, ranging intercultural environments. Building real relationships and trust is the basis of any justice work, I’ve discovered, and solutions must originate within the community rather than being imposed from without.

Chelsea Le Vey:

A Year of Service and Self-Reflection

The past few months have brought me farther than I ever could have imagined, both personally and professionally, and I owe it all to the Loretto Justice Fellowship. This fellowship found me when I was at a low point and also quite lost in both my career and myself. One day I decided to contact Annie for the first time and schedule an informal meeting prior to me applying just to get a feel for the program. From the minute we met it felt like she was someone that had been purposefully put into my path to guide me toward this journey. 

At the beginning of the Fellowship, I had set some intentions for my time at my placement organization such as being more active and involved in the work and learning as much as I could. In terms of the of the cohort of Fellows, I have to admit that I didn’t have high expectations of us connecting, only because I usually find it quite hard to connect with my peers. However, the co-creative space that Annie and this program facilitated for us was incredible and I felt that we were all able to bond and connect over not only our individual battles for social justice but as people as well. 

In regards to my internship I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience not only for the work I’ve gotten to do and the knowledge I’ve gained but for all of the amazing people I’ve met here and who have supported me since day one. I have encouraged many of my peers to look into this Fellowship program as I believe that serving the greater community in this way teaches vital life lessons that one can carry with them the rest of their lives. This entire experience has instilled new passions within me and the vision to pursue social justice my way on my terms because no matter where we live, where we are from or what we choose to do we all have the ability to create positive change and make the world a better place. 

Christy Busuladzic:

As I reflect on the past year as a Loretto Justice Fellow, the first word that comes to mind is gratitude. I am grateful for the many special connections made. I am grateful for the ongoing continuous support by Annie and my fellows. I am grateful for the social justice we participated in together and will continue to. I am grateful for our community and the unity I have seen and been a part of. As I get ready to graduate with the highest of honors from the UTEP BSW program and start my new full-time job as a case manager with the Fresh Start Program at Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, I am grateful for my life and living in the moment. I cannot express enough that I would not have made it right here without all of you. This is not goodbye; this is just the beginning!!

Araceli Iglesias:

This semester of internship has brought many unforeseen changes and challenges. Due to the administration change that came into effect literally the first day back into the semester, much of our work with vulnerable populations has been limited, challenged, and even politically scrutinized. Almost all of the Fellows have experienced an unexpected change or a sense of uncertainty in our internship placements due to our current political climate. It has been quite challenging having to keep up with the news everyday and seeing the terrible ways in which the populations we work with are being treated. 

The greatest way that this has impacted my internship work is that our local shelters that housed migrating families have mostly all closed. This has not only cut off our direct work with this population in need, but it has also been hard to witness the disappointment in my community, having to close their doors out of lack of support, funding, and fear/worry. 

Though this has been a season of discouragement and lots of challenges, I have been able to see a glimmer of hope through it all. The resilience of my community has shined through in this difficult period. The unity, strength, and determination of El Paso was seen in the vigil for migrant rights that was held in the city in support of human rights. Being able to participate in this vigil for migrant rights gave me an outlet to use all my disappointment and frustration and turn it into a sense of determination, and it reminded me that we are not alone in this fight. Being side by side with the shelter leaders, pastors, and thousands of others reminded me that this pursuance of justice never ends, no matter what circumstances try to shut us down. And of course, my Loretto Justice Fellows and Annie have been a shining light of friendship, laughter, and self care throughout this semester. They have been a place where I can drop my worries for a little while and destress, laugh, make great memories, and just offer support and love to one another. What I am taking from this semester is that community is where our cups are filled, so that we can go out into the world and give to those in need, pouring from a place of hope. 

Anamaria Solis:

The Loretto Justice Fellowship helped me envision a future in social justice and a place for myself in policy work. It taught me that social workers deserve a seat at the tables where decisions are made. Because of Loretto’s investment in me, what once felt out of reach and too daunting to pursue as a lifelong career now feels possible.

Three takeaways remain with me. A childhood love of education resurfaced, especially during a presentation on current border policies as part of Abara’s border encounters. Through Abara and the Loretto Link annual meeting, storytelling emerged as a calm yet powerful force for shaping understanding and building connection. Living and working on the border underscored the urgency of challenging harmful narratives about communities like mine.

El Paso is often framed as a crisis, yet its truth is found in resilience and welcome. My home is a refuge, defined not by deterrence or fear, but by everyday acts of care, calls with local nonprofits to coordinate efforts in serving migrants and El Pasoans, and a strong commitment to being a place of sanctuary. Our power lies in open arms, shared joy, radical love, and the collective spirit of the borderland.

The hardest day of my internship was during an asylum narrative interview, where I helped create a written account of a family’s journey and reasons for leaving their home country. This was just a few days after the inauguration. For the first time in over two years of working in shelters, when we asked migrants how they were feeling, many answered with uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. Before, the most common response had been a sense of safety, escaping violence and persecution. Now, they asked about being deported without cause or legal justification, and there was nothing I could say to ease their fears. My hope for a better world (The American ideals I hold dear) were becoming harder to grasp. After a five-hour interview with an asylum seeker, hearing what ten years of systemic persecution felt like, and seeing it mirrored in the news, I felt overwhelmed. I walked around the grocery store, lost in thought, trying to make sense of everything.

In my field, it often feels like I’m falling backward into a harsh, unrelenting reality. Loretto cannot singlehandedly dismantle the systems it operates within, but it offers something vital: a cushion, a sense of belonging, and a deep connection to the legacy of those who came before me. The women I’ve met through Loretto, from the sisters and co-members to the Loretto Link members, are a bright light in my work. Loretto allows me to hold space for the women who fought these same battles without guidance, who carved their own paths in a world that offered few examples of women in social justice work. Their wisdom and grace remind me that my fight matters and being around them strengthens and nurtures it.

The Loretto Justice Fellowship has been my north star. The relationships I built, with the Fellows, Loretto staff, and Abara team, have challenged me to grow, invited deep reflection, and offered the kind of support that sustains. The Fellowship has been a true gift. I carry it with me, not just as an experience, but as a commitment, to one day mentor young people in my own community through the lens of social justice.

Diana Acosta:

Gather & Grow

I didn’t come to change the world—
just to show up, give what I could,
and maybe learn along the way.

And I did.
From quiet coffees to long-day laughter,
from pauses in sunlit corners
to stories shared between gatherings.

I remembered who I was—
a daughter of strong women,
rooted in culture, in love,
in community that shows up.

I met others—
like me, and not—
all walking together,
wearing the Loretto name with pride.

We worked, we danced,
we cried, we listened.
And in each other,
we found home.

That year didn’t just pass—
it shaped me.
Taught me how to serve,
how to show up with heart.

This isn’t the end—
just a song I carry forward.