Activism and Self-Discovery

On September 17, students from Marlborough’s affinity group OLE (Organized Latina Exchange) hosted Diana Tellefson Torres for an All-School Meeting (ASM) in honor of Latino Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the direct contributions of Latino communities to the United States. Student leaders from OLE opened the program by emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space to both uplift Latino culture and acknowledge the real challenges immigrant families face today. As Natalia M. ’26 noted, “Our goal is to create a safe space for our community while also bringing attention to the struggles, the experiences, and the successes of the Latino community.”

Moderated by a panel of OLE student leaders, the group interviewed Ms. Tellefson Torres, founder of the United Farm Workers Foundation and Lattice Impact Consulting, whose career has been devoted to labor rights, immigrant and refugee advocacy, rural equity, food security, and electoral mobilization. Ms. Tellefson Torres shared her personal journey into activism, beginning with her upbringing in an immigrant family and her early professional experiences working as a teacher, where she was able to support Spanish-speaking parents in advocating for themselves in East Palo Alto, California. She recalled being drawn to advocacy after witnessing farmworkers laboring ten hours a day, six days a week for minimum wages: “I was very shocked at the fact that there was a population of people that were treated differently at work, and especially that it was the people who were providing us with our food.”

Her story illustrated how unexpected experiences can redirect one’s life path. Though she originally intended to pursue medicine, Ms. Tellefson Torres pivoted and ultimately spent 20 years working with the United Farm Workers, where she helped build countless programs and launch the UFW Foundation. She reminded students that believing in yourself and being persistent are vital in activism. She told students, “You might not know how to do everything in any given moment, but if you push yourself hard enough, you can do amazing things.”

Lucia S. ’27 posed a question about the realities facing immigrant communities today, particularly the impact of ICE raids, deportations, and the recent Supreme Court ruling. Ms. Tellefson Torres described how fear permeates Latino families’ daily lives, with some even afraid to go out to shop for groceries, but she encouraged students with a call to action: “Stay informed, stand up, talk to your elected officials about what you believe in.”

Daniella A. ’27 then asked Ms. Tellefson Torres to delve into Latino representation in media and storytelling, noting how it may contribute to stereotypes and the ways in which it fails to capture the richness and diversity of Latino experiences. Ms. Tellefson Torres pointed out that while Latinos contribute meaningfully across a wide range of professions, Latino portrayals in mainstream media lack that broad spectrum of representation. She noted how this can affect self-perception and societal views. Ms. Tellefson Torres urged students to push for broader representation and opportunities in education, media, and leadership. She also expressed the hope she finds in places like Marlborough, where education is exposing students to endless possibilities for themselves, adding “I feel we have a responsibility to ensure that opportunities in education are being provided to all individuals, and access to programs that help people explore different fields and careers.”

Closing the ASM, Rita W. ’27 encouraged her peers to continue learning and sharing these stories beyond just this one ASM. She thoughtfully tied this reminder back to Marlborough’s core value, and theme for the year: Champion Inclusion—we embrace our differences and seek commonalities, broadening our understanding of, and deepening our compassion for one another.