Bee(ing) Strong Together: Rosie and Halle's Leadership Journey

Rosie Peralta never imagined she would become a community leader. She came to the Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) as a mother frustrated that her children's school wasn't meeting their needs. She wasn't looking to start a nonprofit or organize community events. She simply wanted to solve a problem.

"I just wanted to fix an issue," Rosie recalls. A WLI instructor saw something Rosie didn't yet recognize in herself—leadership potential. "WLI will help guide you," Rosie remembers being told. Through WLI Fundamentals and Workshops, Rosie discovered that leadership begins with caring enough to speak up. She learned to "be strong" by finding her own voice, inspiring her niece, Halle, to begin her own leadership journey. In 2025, the two enrolled together in WLI's Startups program, where they learned how to transform their passion into a sustainable nonprofit organization.

Growing Leaders Together

Together, they turned their shared passion into a mission to serve others. Rosie and Halle brought complementary strengths to the program. Rosie had learned to advocate through lived experience and persistence. Halle brought creativity, fresh ideas, and a passion for serving the people around her. Together, they transformed those strengths into meaningful action.

Their shared vision became Bee Strong Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the financial, cultural, and language barriers that often prevent underserved families from accessing lifesaving healthcare.

For Rosie and Halle, "Bee Strong" represents more than resilience. It reflects the belief that communities, like a hive, become stronger when everyone contributes and supports one another.

Their work has produced tangible results. They have mentored students advocating for changes in school policies, teaching them that leadership often means returning with stronger ideas after an initial rejection. They also host pop-up events that bring critical services directly to neighborhoods.

Through these efforts, Rosie and Halle have expanded access to preventive healthcare, including helping 24 women schedule mammogram appointments during a single community event.

Meeting People Where They Are

Rather than waiting for people to find resources, Bee Strong brings resources directly into neighborhoods. The organization hosts community events, workshops, and health education programs while connecting residents with free mammograms, vaccinations, screenings, and other preventive services. Their outreach focuses especially on families who face financial challenges, language barriers, or limited access to healthcare.

Rosie also mentors young people who want to improve their schools and communities, encouraging them not to give up when change is slow.

"If you're a leader, you come last to all your team members," Halle says, describing the philosophy that guides both their work and the volunteers they lead. Rosie and Halle continue finding creative partnerships with other nonprofits so that local families continue receiving support.

Leadership That Multiplies

For Rosie, WLI transformed the way she saw herself—not simply as a concerned parent, but as someone capable of creating lasting change.

For Halle, WLI provided the practical tools to transform creativity into sustainable community leadership. They credit WLI with providing the fundraising, networking, and organizational skills that helped Bee Strong grow.

Rosie and Halle's journey demonstrates that leadership is rarely a solo effort. It grows through families, mentors, neighbors, and communities willing to invest in one another.

As Halle puts it, "I feel like that's the most important part... making sure that other people feel like they can lead in their life as well."

This profile was researched and written by University of Utah student Jennifer Aguilar based on interviews conducted as part of the WLI Alumni Profile Series. The series explores how WLI graduates apply leadership skills developed through the Westside Leadership Institute to strengthen their communities. The project is led by Dr. Stacy Harwood and supported by funding from the College of Architecture + Planning Research Incentive Seed Grant Program and the University Neighborhood Partners Community Scholar in Residence Program at the University of Utah.