Volunteering is pushing one Rising Star in Longmont to success

One of Longmont’s young leaders, Astrid Villalobos, was given the Rising Star Award by the Colorado Community College System. The award — sponsored by the State Student Advisory Council — recognizes students who work to increase the quality of engagement on their college campus.

“I didn’t expect the award at all and I definitely see it as an achievement. I think about all the people that have supported me along the way. Without them I wouldn’t have it, so it's also for them, because of them,” Villalobos said.

Villalobos is the co-chair of Longmont’s Chamber Student Network, or CSN, active in the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County and a member of the Everybody’s Business Club at Front Range Community College, or FRCC. She was a participant in the Latinx Excellence Achievement Development Scholars, or LEADS, program. She also works as a Sustainability Program Assistant at the city of Longmont.

“I had a big aha! moment in the LEADS program. I got the right tools to understand where we stand as Latinx, and understand the struggle of our community. I was inspired and had to immerse myself in it,” Villalobos said.

Villalobos moved to Longmont, from Mexico,, when she was a young child. She grew up as an undocumented immigrant but applied and received documentation of residency in the U.S before starting high school. That meant leaving the country and going to Mexico for a summer while she waited for her residency so that she could reenter. 

After returning to the United States, “I noticed a lot of disadvantages and challenges faced by first-generation and immigrant students, especially if English wasn’t their first language,” Villalobos said.

The struggles the Latinx community faces have impacted Villalobos’ life, particularly when it comes to support and resources for business owners and students.

At 22, Villalobos is studying Political Science at FRCC. After another year at the local community college she plans to finish , where she’s studying Political Science, with a plan to finish her degree at Metropolitan State University and potentially pursue a law degree.

Villalobos learned early on the benefits of networking through volunteering, which she has done since high school. 

“I learned that having conversations and building these connections opens up so many doors. Even when I was little, I would hang out at the cash register at my parents’ business and talk to all the customers,” Villalobos said.

Chris McGilvray, board president of the Longmont Chamber of Commerce and a professor at FRCC, spoke highly of Villalobos and her award recognition. “I’m proud of her, and the work that she does for the community.”

McGilvray advises the Chamber Student Network, but explained that students like Villalobos are the driving force behind it. They identify their own leadership, determine priorities, even draft their own by-laws for the organization. It was on his recommendation as her teacher that Villalobos joined the CSN.

“I remember signing up for the Chamber Student Network, and I got there early and observed the leadership meeting. I was so inspired by these students taking the lead,” Villalobos said.

Alex Rodriguez, co-chair of the CSN and president of the Everybody’s Business Club, recalled meeting Villalobos in an Intro to Business class at FRCC. While it has only been two years since Rodriguez has met Villalobos, he said she has grown from a shy student with difficulties speaking in front of a class to taking on numerous leadership roles.

“Astrid is the perfect example of what can be accomplished when you put in the effort. I’m proud of the role she plays within our organizations and the community at large, and I’m confident we’ll be seeing more great things from Astrid in the future,” Rodriguez said.

"I got the pleasure of meeting Astrid at a CSN orientation where I was able to see how engaged she was in her community. Through the friendship we developed, I was inspired to become more involved in my community by joining academic clubs and community volunteer opportunities,” said Estefany Martinez Cardenas, another CSN youth leader.  “I couldn’t think of anyone better than Astrid to receive this award, as she does so much for her family, friends and her community. Congratulations Astrid we are all so proud of you and the work you do!" 

Working to improve social equity for the Latinx community is a continuous effort for Villalobos. 

In December of 2020, Villalobos worked as an interpreter to eliminate language barriers for Spanish-speaking businesses trying to apply for the city of Longmont’s Boost Longmont Business Grants. The funding for those grants was set aside by Longmont through the CARES Act signed into law by US Congress on March 27, 2020.

“Longmont is a community that is trying to recognize and learn from past mistakes, and open up more opportunities for diverse voices, including the Latinx community,” she said.“There is all this work that still needs to be done, you have to get out and volunteer, do the work that matters to you,” she said.