Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this message finds you well. For some of you, it’s been a little while since we last connected—but please know I’ve been thinking of you and hope that life has been kind to you and your loved ones.

I’m reaching out to share some exciting personal news—and a heartfelt request.

After years of admiring and learning from friends who participated in the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Latina Leadership Institute (LLI), I finally took the leap and applied. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the program, and I knew competition would be fierce. With the support and encouragement of a close friend who went through the program last year—and who even wrote a letter of recommendation for me—I completed the lengthy application process just in time.

To my surprise and joy, I was accepted! Out of many applicants, I was selected as one of 41 women to join the largest LLI cohort to date.

Being accepted into the program was my first major hurdle. Now, I’m working to overcome the next one—covering the cost. The total required investment is $1,400: $400 for Chamber dues and $1,000 for tuition. I’ve already taken out a loan to pay the dues because I truly believe this program is a critical step forward in my personal and professional journey.

I applied for a scholarship through the Association of Junior Leagues International, which would have covered the full amount. They are the umbrella organization to the Junior League of San Antonio, where I’ve been an active member since 2017. Unfortunately, I wasn’t selected. Only five women were chosen from a global pool of applicants, and while it was disappointing, I know the competition was incredibly strong.

My workplace—a United Methodist Church Conference office—is unable to financially support this opportunity due to ongoing budget cuts. Like many of you, I live paycheck to paycheck, and unexpected life events have made things even more difficult. In March, I was in a car accident, and my car was totaled. Without rental coverage in my insurance, I’ve been relying on rideshares and rentals to get to work.

Despite all this, I’m not giving up. I know this leadership program can be life-changing—I've seen it firsthand. I’m hopeful that with God’s help, the generosity of my loved ones, and some extra effort on my part (I’m decluttering and selling items where I can), I’ll be able to come up with the tuition amount.

Would you be willing to help me reach my goal by contributing toward the $1,000 tuition?

Any amount—large or small—would mean the world to me and bring me one step closer to staying in this program that I’ve dreamed of joining for years. I know times are hard, so if you’re unable to give financially, I would still be incredibly grateful for your prayers and encouragement.

Tuition is due in full by May 28th, so time is short. If you’re able to give and would like other options, I can provide payment methods (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal—whatever works best for you). Feel free to reach out directly if you have ideas, resources, or just want to reconnect.

Thank you for being a part of my journey—even if we haven’t spoken in a while. This was hard to write because asking for help isn’t easy for me, but I know the growth and opportunity ahead are worth it. I’d truly love to hear how you’re doing, and if there’s anything I can be praying about for you, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

With love and gratitude,

Nicole Alabi