Lighting the Path for Future Generations
November 26, 2024
As we approach this season of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for you and our broad community of supporters who have walked alongside our scholars, and helped to propel them toward transformative personal and community change.
Today, we spotlight one of those scholars—Ashley Fortenberry—who has had a full-circle journey since graduating from Alliance’s first school, Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School. After earning her BA from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a Master’s in Education from Loyola Marymount University, Ashley has returned to Alliance as the Manager of Matriculation and Alumni Supports, continuing the work that first inspired her nearly a decade ago.
In the following interview, Ashley shares how Alliance shaped her purpose and fueled her commitment to guiding scholars on their journeys to and through college:
Looking Back: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d understood as a teen?
That it’s okay to reach out and ask for help. Teachers, counselors, and school psychologists are on your team. So often in our community, seeking outside help is looked down on, but support systems exist to empower you and help you achieve everything you’ve set out to accomplish.
The Turning Point: How did Alliance influence the path you chose to pursue?
Alliance did a really good job creating a space that was focused on academics. At other schools, not everyone is there for the same reasons, but Alliance put academics front and center, and that made all the difference for me. Even when it came to applying for college, we were encouraged to apply to a range of colleges, to sit down and compare options, and ask the big questions like, “What’s best for me, my family, and our financial situation?” Without that foundation and guidance, I wouldn’t have taken the path that I did.
Growth and Legacy: How has Alliance changed since you graduated, and what stayed the same?
What a lot of people don’t know is that our very first class started in a little building next to a donut shop on King Blvd and Western Avenue. I was part of the second class, which met in a small church down the street on King and Gramercy. My family and I still live and work in the community, so I drive by those places all the time. Since those two original locations, we’ve grown to 26 schools in all kinds of neighborhoods across LA, each built to provide a safe, supportive learning environment for scholars. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown and how many lives we’ve touched—not just within Alliance, but across communities we serve.
Purpose in Action: If you could make one change–whether practical or legislative–to improve outcomes for scholars today, what would it be?
Scholar-led affinity groups. At Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School, we had the PUMAS—Peers United to Mentor and Support. We helped de-escalate conflicts and other situations between scholars, and that peer-to-peer model really laid the foundation for the work I do today. But my “reach for the stars” answer would be to push for more funding for on-site school counselors, psychologists, and social workers at schools. Mental health and wellness need to be addressed in a more holistic way to ensure scholars truly thrive.
Ashley’s journey reflects the heart of Alliance’s mission—to nurture lifelong learners who lead, transform, and pay it forward. Thank you for empowering the next generation of leaders. Together, we are shaping a brighter future, one scholar at a time.
