Whitney Martinez

As a first-generation student, Whitney Martinez wasn’t sure what to expect from her college experience. To better prepare herself, Martinez attended the Iowa Edge program in 2018. She arrived ready to learn about university life and left with new friends who would soon help her find her passion for the Association of Latinos Moving Ahead.

Martinez was hesitant to join the Association of Latinos Moving Ahead as a freshman because she was shy. After some encouragement from the friends she made during Iowa Edge, however, she decided to give it a try. There, she found her home on campus.

“Prior to college, I hadn’t really connected with my culture in the way that I have here at the university,” Martinez said. “The respect and support we give each other, it’s really beautiful.”

Martinez is currently vice president of the Association of Latinos Moving Ahead. The student organization is for Latinx students who are looking to connect with their peers and embrace their culture. It also provides students with educational opportunities and skills for post-graduation.

Members would normally meet in-person at the Latino Native American Cultural Center . Because of the pandemic, however, they’ve met over Zoom for the past year.

Martinez said the adjustment was a challenge for members of the group’s executive board. At first, they struggled to create the same sense of community they had in person, but Martinez believes that this has improved overtime.

“Losing that physical space of community was really, really hard,” Martinez said. “I miss laying on a beanbag at the LNACC and seeing everyone in person. But it’s coming up on a year. I feel like I’ve adjusted. I really look forward to sharing our virtual space together.”

Whether in-person or virtual, Martinez said she sees the weekly Association of Latinos Moving Ahead meetings as a safe space, where she can be comfortable being her authentic self.

“I probably wouldn’t have stayed at the university without ALMA honestly,” Martinez said.

Martinez’s passion for Association of Latinos Moving Ahead is clear to her friends. Christopher Vazquez, a third-year English and Creative Writing major, said Martinez uses her position as vice president to ensure that Association of Latinos Moving Ahead members always have a good experience during virtual meetings.

“I think [running a student organization online] is one of the hardest things you can do,” Vazquez said. “One thing ALMA has done so far is having that positive energy. It feels like before when you could go to the LNACC and be able to joke and feel comfortable. They’ve done a good job bringing that energy onto a Zoom setting.”

They met Martinez during Iowa Edge and continued to get to know her through Association of Latinos Moving Ahead.

“I really appreciate her,” Vazquez said. “A lot of people on campus appreciate her work as a student leader.”

Makayla Morales, a third-year Public Health major, also appreciates Martinez’s giving nature.

“I could talk about her all day,” Morales said. “She is the most kind, loving, generous person I know.”

Morales also attended Iowa Edge, but didn’t really get to know Martinez until later in her freshman year. She said she values her as a friend and leader.

“She is always down to do whatever people need her to do, and she goes above and beyond for people she cares about, and that really shows in her ALMA position,” Morales said.