¡Hola Familia, Friends, and Supporters!

First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to review my fundraiser.

I am completely thrilled to share that I was 1 of 65 accepted into the prestigious Lyndon B. Johnson Women’s Campaign School at the University of Texas at Austin. The LBJ Women’s Campaign School is a hands-on, rigorous, seven-month long, non-partisan training program for women interested in running for office or managing political campaigns. As many of you know, I have no desire to run for office, but I rather enjoy doing the work to help get great folks elected and this transformative experience will better equip me to do just that.

For those that don’t know me, I’m a mother of four, a daughter of immigrants, a wife of nearly 20 years, and a teacher that left the classroom in 2020. Before leaving the classroom, but more so since, I have consistently used my voice for my students and their families, my colleagues, my children, my parents, and myself. Leaving the classroom was extremely difficult, but I found a new passion and ways to serve my students and their families by dedicating my time to get folks elected that would keep the interests of my students, and all students, at heart and in mind when in office. I have volunteered on more campaigns than I can count from local school board to county offices, and most recently I worked for a state party on their coordinated campaign for a U.S. Senatorial race.

As a believer in the power of community, advocacy, and keeping to the whole my sister’s keeper, my life’s work has always been to ensure that everyone feels safe, loved, wanted, valued, seen, heard, and empowered and the right elected official in office can do just that. As kids, we’re told we can change the world, and I intend to do that- one election at a time.

To better get to know me, here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." -Mother Teresa

"There is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it." -Amanda Gorman

“You can’t save the world, if you can’t pay the rent!” -Nancy Bocskor

With that last quote in mind, the day I was notified of my acceptance, I was also laid off from work (talk about highs and lows in one day huh?!), a role I was recently hired into, but I quickly grew to love with all my heart, because I was consistently serving the community as the Public Relations and Voter Outreach Coordinator for my local county party. While I qualified for scholarships and grants to cover all tuition expenses ($5,000), I still have out of pocket costs for travel, hotel, food, and parking that will roughly come out to $1,800, but since GoFundMe takes nearly 3% of the total raised + $0.30 for each dollar, I am trying to raise $2,000. No gift is too small, $6 buys 2 gallons of gas. And if you are unable to gift at this time, I completely understand. Please consider sharing my GoFundMe with others.

The thought of not being able to participate in this amazing program due to lack of funds adds additional stress, during an already stressful time, so I humbly ask for your help in making this exciting opportunity the next step in not my journey, but our journey, as I commit to bring everything that I learn back to my community, to continue to work and fight for the people and causes that will bring positive impact and better drive equitable change.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking my ask into consideration. Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for helping me turn passion into action!

¡Juntos podemos!

Marisela Aramino