Lisa Maria Rhodes never expected to become an educator. But her experience as a Breakthrough Miami Teaching Fellow changed her trajectory. Teaching alongside peers and mentors gave her practical skills and a clear understanding of how to support young people.
That experience set her on a path to become a teacher, where she began to see how broader systems were shaping her students’ lives. That realization led her into advocacy and program leadership, supporting young people navigating immigration and legal challenges.
Today, Lisa is founder and Executive Director of ALAS, a New Orleans-based organization rooted in mentorship and advocacy, inspired by her time at Breakthrough and the belief it gave her in what she could accomplish.