Building Legacy, Emerging Latina Leaders: Nalleli Cobo
How did your advocacy journey begin? I became an activist at just nine years old before I even knew what activism was. I was simply doing what I felt needed to be done. It wasn’t until I was 11 that I even learned the word “activist.” I started noticing how parents in my community would stop each other on the street, to ask “How is your child’s asthma?” instead of “How was your child’s soccer game?” The air we breathed was filled with toxic emissions, when drilling for oil, it smells like rotten eggs. But the oil and gas well in my neighborhood masked the smell with more chemicals, making my community smell like artificial guava, cherries, citrus—even chocolate. My activism was born out of survival. I grew up just 30 feet from an active oil and gas well that severely impacted my health from nosebleeds, to asthma, to cancer, I have had it all and fight everyday so my story ends with me.
Which women have inspired or motivated you? My mom is my greatest inspiration—she is the true definition of strength and resilience. I always say that if I can be even 1% of the woman she is, I will be more than enough. Another woman I have always looked up to is Dolores Huerta. When I was a little girl, my mom and grandma would tell me stories about her incredible work and dedication to justice. Whenever I face what feels like a dead end, I remind myself of her powerful words: Sí se puede.
What is your vision of the future for Latinas? I dream of a world where Latinas are seen as more than just a diversity checkbox—a world where our stories in film and media are authentic, empowering, and truly representative of who we are. I dream of a world free from environmental racism, where everyone has the right to clean air, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, religion, or zip code. A world where equity, justice, and dignity are not privileges, but guarantees for all.
