On support group nights at Tu Nidito, you’ll often find Ariella Duarte laughing with children in the Littles and Middles groups, kneeling beside them during an activity, or quietly offering encouragement to a fellow facilitator. Her warmth is immediate and steady — the kind that helps children feel safe without needing many words. Ariella became aware of Tu Nidito after she was personally impacted. In 2020, when she was just 14 years old, her mother, Tiffany Inez Duarte, died. Raised by her single mother in a close, loving home, Ariella suddenly found herself navigating life without her biggest source of comfort.

She was told about Tu Nidito when her mom died and came back years later as a facilitator. Ariella is now a Littles Facilitator on Tuesday 1 and a Middles Facilitator on Tuesday 2. Today, she lives with her aunt and extended family, carrying forward the love her mother gave her. Some of Ariella’s favorite memories are simple ones: weekends spent exploring new food spots, sharing ice cream, window shopping, and talking about everything and nothing at all. “Weekends were our time,” she reflects. “It was our downtime to create memories.” Those ordinary moments are the ones she misses most. Grief shaped Ariella in ways she continues to understand. It also informs how she shows up for the children she serves.

“One thing I’ve learned working with children is to never say, ‘I know how you feel,’” Ariella shares. “I can understand, but we can never truly know exactly how someone feels in that moment. I do know what it feels like to wish you had another chance—another moment to say the things you didn’t get to say.” That insight—compassionate, honest, and developmentally aware—is what makes her such a powerful presence in the group.

Now a double major in Human Development and Family Science and Psychology, Ariella is pursuing a path toward becoming a school counselor. Growing up in a low-income community with a single parent and later experiencing a sudden death sparked her interest in understanding how environmental and life factors shape young people.

“My mom’s death made me interested in school psychology and becoming a school counselor,” she says. “It made me realize how real and unpredictable death is. You never know when it will happen. I know my mom would want me to live fully, and I’m grateful to have family and friends supporting me.” Throughout her academic journey, Ariella has connected with peers who have also experienced death. She encourages others to have hard conversations with loved ones while they can — to say what matters now.

This spring, Ariella deepened her commitment to Tu Nidito by stepping into an internship role. In addition to facilitating groups, she helps prepare materials and spaces for support nights, represented Tu Nidito at the University of Arizona Pre-Health Fair, and works behind the scenes to ensure families feel welcomed and cared for during our group nights. One of the most meaningful experiences for her is Tu Nidito’s annual Día de los Muertos gathering.

Each October, families come together to honor their loved ones — sharing favorite foods, telling stories, and remembering publicly. Ariella chose to share about her mother during the celebration. Afterward, several families approached her to express gratitude for her openness. “It meant so much,” she recalls. “To be able to speak about my mom — and to know it connected with the participants.”

Outside of Tu Nidito, Ariella still finds a connection to her mother in small rituals. She loves putting together puzzles — an activity they once enjoyed together — and now shares that tradition with her four-year-old cousin. She cherishes time with her boyfriend, and she’s endlessly curious about true crime, pop culture, and politics — especially where those worlds intersect. While balancing her volunteer commitment with two jobs at the University of Arizona, she remains consistently present, engaged, curious and always smiling.

Ariella often says that her mom’s death taught her how temporary life can be. That awareness fuels the way she shows up — present, intentional, and compassionate. With her bright smile, thoughtful spirit, and deep empathy, Ariella embodies the heart of Tu Nidito: turning personal grief into connection and support for others.