In a neighborhood often labeled as the "Forgotten District" of Houston, a youth-led movement is reshaping the civic landscape and redefining what it means to lead, serve, and belong. AliefVotes, founded in 2022, is more than just a civic engagement initiative—it is a powerful force for equity, leadership development, and grassroots activism, built by and for the young people of Alief ISD. Born out of a need to amplify youth voices in a district historically sidelined in civic discourse, Alief Votes has quickly become a model for community-driven leadership across Houston.
District F Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas, who represents Alief, believes the goals of AliefVotes align closely with her own lived experience and vision for the district. “Youth-led engagement and programming have always been a top priority during my time as a council member,” said Thomas. “Growing up in Alief and graduating from our public schools, I know firsthand how often young people are forced to make life decisions based on circumstances outside their control. That’s why I’ve worked to offer another pathway that introduces youth to their personal agency, leadership development, public service, and the power of their voice. AliefVotes is more than a program—it’s a model for youth-led civic engagement across our city. It is where young people aren’t just participants; they are co-creators of the future they want to see in the city they want to live in.”
Indeed, this philosophy is embodied in the voices of the students who power AliefVotes from within. Ngoc Ho, a student and current Alief Votes fellow, shares a powerful testimony about her personal transformation. “Throughout my time in AliefVotes, I’ve learned lessons—not only in interpersonal skills but also in life! One of the biggest lessons is that I’m not alone,” she reflects. For Ngoc, what started as a simple recommendation from a school staff member turned into a pivotal journey of self-discovery. From shy volunteer to aspiring director, Ngoc now confidently leads presentations, partners with local organizations, and advocates for underrepresented communities. “The diversity of Alief is an unprecedented mural of culture,” she adds, “and that’s absolutely shaped who I am and how I view others.”
This sentiment is echoed by fellow Alief ISD student Lander Gonzalez, who found a sense of purpose and leadership through the organization. “The biggest motivator for joining AliefVotes was the opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” he explained. For Lander, the heart of AliefVotes lies in the relationships and community spirit it fosters. “It’s not about the number of hours you put in, but about the connections you build and the support you offer to those around you.” From this foundation, Lander has grown not only as a civic participant but as a confident, mission-driven leader who sees the value in every cultural voice Alief has to offer.
At the helm of the program’s day-to-day operations is Madeline Medrano, an AliefVotes fellow turned program manager who joined the organization and stayed because of the mission. “AliefVotes taught me what leadership really is: helping your community, identifying problems, and implementing solutions,” she shared. Over the past three years, Madeline has held multiple roles and mentored dozens of fellows, guiding projects that span voter registration, disaster relief, and youth policy advocacy. “I once thought leading was easy, but I’ve learned it demands dedication, patience, and discipline,” she said. Her leadership reflects the organization’s core values: empathy, inclusion, and long-term investment in people over titles.
That investment began with someone who has lived Alief's complexities firsthand: Tommy Wan, a UT-Austin student and AliefVotes program director who helped found AliefVotes. “Alief is more than my home in Houston—it’s a powerful mosaic of sari stores, taquerías, African groceries, Iglesias, dim sum spots, and Islamic Masjids lining Bellaire Boulevard,” he said. But behind that vibrancy lies systemic challenges. “Environmental injustices, low-propensity voting, infrastructure needs, civic neglect... we founded AliefVotes to equip students with tools of civic engagement that historically weren’t accessible to them.”
By intentionally designing the organization to be student-led, Wan and his co-founders ensured that AliefVotes wasn't just for young people—it was built by them. And it shows. Whether coordinating volunteer efforts after Hurricane Beryl or hosting multilingual town halls, AliefVotes has rapidly gained recognition for both its grassroots authenticity and tangible impact. The fellows learn everything from public speaking to digital organizing, but more importantly, they learn to trust their own voices.
The future of Alief—and perhaps Houston’s civic engagement model—may very well depend on organizations like AliefVotes. What makes it unique is not only its responsiveness to the community’s needs but the way it nurtures growth in its members.
As Council Member Thomas affirms, “This is what it means to invest in the next generation: we don’t just guide them—we trust them to lead.”
And lead they have. From school auditoriums to city hall chambers, from voter drives to food banks, AliefVotes is proving what’s possible when young people are not merely asked to participate—but are empowered to lead, shape, and transform their communities.