I am not very savvy when it comes to posting blogs…I hope I am typing this in the right place!
Its so funny. The other day, I was with my mom in the car. She was all sad because she said she had saved me a newspaper clipping on the DREAM Act, and had forgotten to bring it with her from work. I say its funny, because my mom does not like the fact that I am away from home so much, doing DREAM stuff…yet, she knows how important this cause if to me, that she saves stuff so I can read it.
You all don’t know how many times I get asked why I do all this work for DREAM…a lot! My immediate response is “Why not?” Then I say, ok…we all know how difficult it is to be a student…and all of the struggles that come with it…can I afford tuition, I dont have enough money for books, for gas, for lunch…etc. Now multiply that times 10 or more, and imagine the obtacles that come with being an AB540 student. If we know how difficult it is to be a documented student and then know the fact that there are more students who on top of being students, are AB540…and yet still want to pursue an education…no matter how many more barriers they have to overcome, they still continue achieving their DREAMS. If that is not absolutely admirable and if that does not motivate us to work hard and make sure everyone has the opportunity to pursue an education and have the opportunity to practice the profession they work so hard for…I dont really know what will. Let’s pass the DREAM Act Now!!
April 22, 2009, 6:45 am Immigrant Children in Legal Limbo
By The Editors
(Photo: Stew Milne for The New York Times)
To accompany the final article in a Times series on immigration, Room for Debate examines the situation of young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children with their parents and were raised and educated here. The article on the topic will appear over the weekend.
A series that examines the impact of immigration on American institutions.
.Legislation (called the Dream Act) sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, would give some of these young immigrants a chance to become permanent residents. It would extend to those who have stayed out of trouble, graduated from high school and either finished two years of college or two years of military service, and there would be a six-year conditional status period.
We’ve asked three immigration specialists what to do about this particular immigrant population, which is estimated at one million people. The discussion also includes the perspective of two young immigrants, Prerna and Nick, who were brought to the United States by their parents and who have been here a decade or more. They asked that their last names not be used because they do not have legal papers.
Please join the discussion in the comments section here.
Tamar Jacoby, ImmigrationWorks USA
Mark Krikorian, Center for Immigration Studies
Nick, Dream Act Portal
Prerna, promigrant.org
Hiroshi Motomura, U.C.L.A. law professor
College Board Policy Brief Supports Comprehensive Resolution to Plight of Undocumented Students
‘Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students’ — Why We Need the DREAM Act
04/21/09
NEW YORK — More than 65,000 undocumented students who have lived in the U.S. for five years or more will graduate from high school this spring. For their native-born classmates, graduation represents a rite of passage into adulthood. For too many undocumented students, it’s a dead end. That is the urgent message in a compelling report released today by the College Board at a briefing on Capitol Hill.
In “Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students,” Roberto G. Gonzales, assistant professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Washington in Seattle, makes the case to Congress and the American people that the untenable status of these students is a humanitarian and civil rights issue, as well as an economic one, and debunks the myths that undocumented students limit opportunities for others.
The report contends that the initial investment in the K-12 education of these students, mandated by the Supreme Court in 1982, is lost if we continue to curb their ability to contribute to society after they graduate from high school. Without educating these students to their full potential, the report suggests, we are wasting their talent and imposing economic and emotional costs on undocumented students and on U.S. society as a whole.
These young people, American in identity and spirit, have often attended elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. where they have been encouraged to excel academically by their teachers and parents. While federal law does not prohibit undocumented students from attending college, these students face major obstacles in admissions, access to in-state tuition and access to financial aid. As the U.S. seeks to fill the need for a college-educated workforce, it should not turn its back on youngsters who can strengthen our country’s economic and social well-being.
College Board President Gaston Caperton said, “The College Board is working to remove the barriers to a college education for all students. Undocumented students deserve the same chance to go to college and fully participate in our society as other students. The DREAM Act would provide a way for them to fulfill their dreams and legally contribute to U.S. society. We must not turn our backs on these deserving young people.”
Reintroduced in the 111th Congress, and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen that includes Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the DREAM Act is designed to allow undocumented immigrant youth who were brought to the country as children to obtain legal permanent resident status if they remain in school through high school graduation and go on to college or military service. Estimates suggest that the DREAM Act would provide 360,000 undocumented high school graduates with a legal means to work and secure additional resources for college, and could provide incentives for another 715,000 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 17 to finish high school (to fulfill the act’s eligibility requirements) and pursue postsecondary education.
Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA) said, “The DREAM Act legislation I am co-sponsoring may well reinvigorate public furor over immigration, and will no doubt receive even greater attention with the College Board release of their groundbreaking report, ‘Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students.’ There is cause for clarification, since many concerns are unfounded. In fact, the projected results of this legislation may be surprising to skeptics. The DREAM Act would provide a serious shot in the arm to our struggling economy, and, if it is passed, our educational investments would see substantially better returns. While there is a host of moral reasons why we should help undocumented students legally pursue their dreams in college and beyond, the financial benefits alone seem sufficient to warrant a serious discussion on the merits of the DREAM Act. And at a time when our economy is desperately seeking solace in every possibility of stimulus, the gains here are too inviting to ignore, and these students’ dreams too promising to pass up.”
Antonio Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, said, “The DREAM Act will benefit those deserving students who have met the same rigorous academic requirements as their college-bound peers, but are now denied the financial aid and lower in-state tuition provided to other students. The nation as a whole would benefit from the education of these young people, who will be able to make their fullest contribution as future taxpayers, professionals and leaders in areas of critical importance to the nation’s economy and security.”
Nearly 40 percent of undocumented children live below the federal poverty level, compared to 17 percent of native-born children. Numerous studies demonstrate that legal status brings fiscal, economic and labor-market benefits to individual immigrants, to their families and to society in general. Given the pressures of global migration many countries are experiencing, the problem of unauthorized immigration is not likely to go away. Giving undocumented students a chance to achieve the American Dream will help the United States to realize its goal of a better educated, more competitive workforce.
The College Board
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,600 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns. For further information, visit http://www.collegeboard.com.
Hello.
This is my first time writing in a blog. It is 2:49 in the morning. I can’t sleep….too much on my mind. So what to write?……………I guess I can start off by saying that It’s been a little over a year since my parents got deported (May 7, 2009) and I miss being with them (so close, yet so far type of feeling). I, especially, miss my two year old sister, Aileen. She means the world to me. It’s funny and so BADASS that on mothers day, I talked to Aileen for the first time since last year… she wants candy haha. Life is so hard when any individual, who is not ready, becomes a parent figure overnight. The first couple of months were so hard for my family. Every day I would get into arguments with my younger brothers because they didn’t listen to me and my older brother. It would always be the same thing. My younger brothers just wanted to move to Mexico to be with my parents, but we weren’t going to keep them from getting an education here. No joke, I would cry myself to sleep every night for the first couple of months because it was so hard for me to handle. I couldn’t talk to my older brother about how I was feeling because he was already under a lot of stress. But now, we are doing a lot better because my younger brothers get to see my parents often, since they were born here. It makes me happy to see my brothers happy.
Ahhhhhhh!!!! I just want to scream and let all this frustration out.
A lot to talk about……………..I still have more to write about but…..I’ll just leave it for another day or wait to talk to someone.
I just want to thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart, who are doing everything possible to get the DREAM Act passed.
Harvard President Comes Out for the DREAM Act
Submitted by admin on May 21, 2009 – 7:39 amComments (0).
Students across the country have been pressuring their college officials to go public with their support of the DREAM Act. After UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, University of Arkansas Chancellor Gearhart and UC Berkeley Chancellor Charles Birgeneau declared their support publicly, now President Drew Faust at Harvard has also voiced her support.
Harvard students said they have been lobbying Faust for months on the issue. They held a rally and submitted a petition with 120 signatures, said Harvard junior Kyle de Beausset, one of the organizers.
In recent months, two Harvard students who are in the United States illegally met with Faust in her office to seek her support. Yesterday, one of those students, an 18-year-old former high school valedictorian who has been in the United States since he was 9, said he was thrilled.
“We realized that what we were asking her to do wasn’t an easy thing. The issue of immigration is politically charged,” said the student, who spoke on the condition that his name not be used. “I am and will forever be indebted to this institution.”
Read more at the Boston Globe.
Harvard is supposed to be a sanctuary campus and Cambridge calls itself a sanctuary city even though students like Nur Munir have been detained in recent times.
We hope to get a deeper and first-hand account of Harvard students advocacy on behalf of the DREAM Act from Citizen Orange as soon as he finishes the semester. The buildup to how this support was received is documented here, as well as the advocacy efforts of other students in the Northeast.
Westchester Youth Organizes Support For Immigrants Posted by Westchester.com
Friday, 05 June 2009
White Plains, NY – A Youth-led movement called the Westchester DREAM Act Task Force is organizing a large march and rally in the City of White Plains on Saturday, June 6th at 1pm.
The purpose is to highlight the challenges facing immigrant students and families seeking higher education in the United States and to pressure elected officials to sign on to the D.R.E.A.M. Act, and Comprehsensive Immigration Reform.
The D.R.E.A.M. Act is a piece of federal legislation that would allow immigrant students to stay in the United States to pursue higher education. Students who have attended elementary schools here would be eligible to stay in the United States to pursue higher education. States would be able to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status for these students.
Both Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, along with Congressman Eliot Engel, have already signed onto the D.R.E.A.M. Act, and we are asking Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman John Hall to follow suit. As senator Gillisbrand put it “”America is the only home many of them know, yet they are being denied the opportunity to achieve their full potential. This legislation says that if they work hard and play by the rules, then they will have the opportunity to get a good education and earn their way to legal status.”
The following groups have endorsed this action: Westchester DREAM Act Task Force, WESPAC Foundation, Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association, White Plains Youth Bureau, Centro Hispano, Westchester Hispano, Hudson Valley Community Coalition.
Time for undocumented students’ DREAM to be realized
Congress must pass the DREAM Act to save the futures of tens of thousands of students who excel in college but whose futures dim because they are not in the United States legally. The federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act provides a path to legal residency.
By Kate Riley
Seattle Times editorial columnist
Related
Read more columns by Kate Riley
Washington’s asparagus is cut and cherry harvest is in full swing, but there is another of Washington’s crops that will be left to spoil if Congress doesn’t act soon on the DREAM Act.
Endangered are the thousands of graduates from the state’s high schools, colleges and universities who are not in the United States legally. The federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act provides a path to legal residency for these students brought to the U.S. as children and who have good moral character if they attend two years of college or enlist in the military.
Unless the DREAM Act is passed, these students face a wilting drought of choices and opportunities.
“This is not about a free ride,” said one 22-year-old student, a University of Washington junior majoring in two social sciences and minoring in education. “It’s about getting the opportunity to compete and do something better with your life.” His family moved to Seattle from Mexico City when he was 13. He excelled in school, was admitted to the UW and, under a 6-year-old state law, was better able to afford tuition because he could pay in-state rate. The UW has admitted 553 such students.
Tuesday evening, the co-founder of the Alianza Student Coalition was plotting strategy with more than a dozen other scholars, many in his same boat, at Seattle Central Community College. They are mobilizing to lobby Congress to push their futures into the light.
Children, no matter their immigration status, can legally attend public school from kindergarten through 12th grade. But while classmates are making plans for college, these students without legal status see the shadows begin to creep over their lives, eclipsing their futures.
I looked around the SCCC classroom and thought about the public investment already made in these students’ educations — conservatively, probably more than a million dollars teaching these kids to read, do algebra and physics, critique literature and succeed. Their families have paid taxes while contributing to Washington’s economy, especially agriculture. But these students’ futures run off the cliff — and the investment in them risks being squandered.
“Once they become adolescents, we leave them without access to mechanisms that lead to healthy, successful lives,” said Roberto G. Gonzales, a UW assistant professor who has researched this phenomenon extensively.
On April 21, Gonzales published “Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students,” a paper sponsored by the College Board, which comprises more than 5,600 schools, colleges, universities and other education organizations. The College Board — which runs the SAT program — endorsed the DREAM Act. So has Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust.
Two months ago, Redmond-based Microsoft became one of the first major corporations to endorse the DREAM Act, urging lawmakers to move the legislation forward. Following suit last week were New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the CEOs of 18 New York corporations, including Macy’s, Pfizer, American Express Company and Morgan Stanley.
President Obama long has been a supporter.
In Washington, Gov. Chris Gregoire endorses the measure and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are co-sponsors of the Senate bill.
Many educators support it as well, including the Washington associations of school administrators and board members, the Seattle and Bellevue school boards and the trustee boards of Wenatchee Valley College and Walla Walla Community College.
After meeting these students who have proven themselves, I’m thinking the UW regents and the Seattle Community Colleges board of trustees should jump on board too on behalf of their students.
I have written three times in the past seven years about a young woman who is caught in this dilemma. She recently sent out invitations to her law school graduation.
Without the DREAM Act, what are she and the others going to do?
Kate Riley’s column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is kriley@seattletimes.com
Hello compañeras/os, (FYI to get the letter “ñ” simply type Alt+0241 The numbers must be typed using the right side of the keyboard, away from the letters.)
wow, it’s been a while since the last post. What happened?
Anyways, i’m at home, not doing much. I just want to write/type/say my feelings after giving a testimonial at last night’s event, “Education not Deportation”.
At first I was very nervous. I have never told my story in front of so many people that I did not know. Which, by the way, was a great experience. What made me a bit more nervous was that I had a mic hooked up to me by Marco since he documented the event. I felt two things. One, I felt as if I was a spy that was only there to get some “juicy” information out of the DREAMers. Two, I thought I was “on check” like if I had been saying bad things about OCDT. hahahaha all fun and games. Again, that was the first time I had a mic on me.
Anywho’s” (my way of saying anyways), After Vanessa and Noemi finished their part, I was asked by Noemi to go up and start my testimonial. As I was heading up there, I didn’t feel prepared. I took with me some notes that I had jotted down, to help me with the story (I didn’t use, by the way). But when I was up there, I felt somewhat comfortable. There were some times that I felt like my voice cracked, and it wasn’t till the end that I felt my face getting hot and red. It was a good feeling, knowing that people were listening to my story. yay. hahaha……I felt happy.
uhhh.. that’s all I have to say for now. I will “blog” another time.
May you all continue to live life in peace
With much love
-Adrian-
9 STUDENTS TAKE PART IN PEACEFUL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ACTION
9 STUDENTS TAKE PART IN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ACTION BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION OF WILSHIRE AND VETERAN IN WEST LOS ANGELES
To Push For the Passage Of the Dream Act As A Stand Alone Bill
West Los Angeles Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90024
My name is Maria Garcia . Im a 5th year UCLA student pursuing a degree in biological anthropology. I was born to immigrant parents who always put an emphasis on education. As I stand with other allies; I know I am in the right place. I am here to be in solidarity with every individual who has come out as undocumented and for those who remain in the shadows out of a fear resulting from unjust laws. I am here to fight alongside people who believe in the right to an equal education regardless of one’s status. Students are done with just simply DREAMING we are now taking ACTion. We know our friends and families need the DREAM Act NOW!
My name is Renato Perez I am an immigrant by luck. The love for family friends and humanity is what pushes me and makes me fight stronger. I believe that education is a human right and no human being should be denied that right. Pass the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill now !!!
My name is Yazmin I am an immigrant mujer from from mexico demanding the passage of the DREAM ACT as a stand alone bill!This is a necessary action that im doing with dignity and love for my family, friends, and my undocumented brothers and sisters. We are no longer spectators but actors in our struggle.
My name is Jonathan Bibriesca. My friend and I arrived to the United States at the same time, I was privileged to arrive with residency status.Almost immediately we became best friends, we have shared unforgetable moments and our friendship grew to the point where i begun to consider him a brother. After High School our lives took different roads, I joined the military and he enrolled in college. Then, I started to become aware of his situation and the unnecessary barriers that have been implemented on him because he is undocumented. He has inspired me to pursue higher education , and to advocate for social justice. I am taking part in this civil disobedience because of him and all the beautiful undocumented students who overcome barriers and fight to achieve higher education. I am taking part in this civil dissobediance action because I was raised with the values of reaching out and helping those in need.
My name is Andrea Ortega. I am a 4th year student at the University of California, Los Angeles. I was born to two immigrant parents who came here at the young ages of 5 and 12 years old. I am doing this for my friends and family members who have been victims of a broken immigration system. I am taking part in this civil disobedience in honor of Tam Tran and Cynthia Felix, two inspirational role models that gave so much to the students across the country and who will be with us in spirit. I am doing this in solidarity for the brave 3 students in Arizona who have given their futures so that hundreds and thousands of other students have a chance to one. I am doing this so that students will no longer be terrorized by legislation like SB1070 in Arizona, and not have to go to school in fear that their families are deported back home. I am doing this because I know that it is a small sacrifice to make so that more students are able to pursue their education as I have. I am doing this so that the DREAM Act can be passed as a stand alone bill and become the first step towards a better society that does not discriminate any human being. I am doing this not for me but because legislators have not been able to answer our calls and lobby visits for reform and the DREAM Act. Now is the time for the DREAM Act. This country needs the DREAM ACT now more than ever. Pass the DREAM Act now!
My name is Olavo Michel. I am a citizen, son of immigrants, and UCLA student. But most important of all, I am human. I am here to demonstrate that there are people who stand in solidarity with undocumented immigrants and students across the country. I am taking part in this civil disobedience to contest the privileges I have been awarded at the expense of others. I know of many undocumented students who are much more than deserving of the same rights, privileges, and opportunities that we have had as a result of merely being born here. My undocumented colleagues time and time again have proven their outstanding capabilities through academics, leadership, community engagement, but most important of all, as individuals, much more than some students with “documents.” I am advocating for the passing of the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill as a point of departure in which we, documented and undocumented can stand, live, and work together to contribute to the society we all live in.
My name is Sophia Sandoval. I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. Up until recently, I was ignorant of the crude reality we are living in. I’ve always had undocumented friends, and as a citizen I never realized the true struggle they have. I will never know what it’s like to work hard and not be recognized for it since I have “papers”. I am now more aware and am making a conscious effort to fight for them and do anything I possibly can to right this horrible wrong. It is for you, my friends, that I finally stand up and fight with you. Lets pass the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill now.
My Name is Charlene Gomez. We cannot deem this nation as the land of the free if we continue this attack on children and families for being “immigrants”. My loved ones deserve dignity . I am upholding the legacy of the civil rights movement when many people were denied their human rights, one being the right to an education. I will ensure the passage of the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill.
My name is Mariella Saba I am 22 years old. I am the daughter of migrant parents, of mixed Arabic and Mexican decent, born and raised in East Los Angeles.
I graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2009, where I co-founded Students Informing Now in 2005, a political organization of AB540 students and allies organizing for education and immigration reform for marginalized students, especially those deemed undocumented.I am a poet, theater artist, educator, student, and citizen of the world.I am participating in this civil disobedience because we still live in a world where some humans are deemed legal and others illegal. Because education is a human right and students of color and undocumented students are still fighting for this right. Because the Dream Act as a stand alone bill is necessary and is the least that can be done for undocumented youth. Because my immigrant parents raised me to give, to love, to honor our humanity.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez’s response to my many letters, asking her to co-sponsor DREAM
(Note: She’s given the same response since the first introduction of DREAM, back in 2001. It’s now 2010!)
Dear Ms. Castillo:
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 1751 the American Dream Act. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns and provide you with a legislative update.
As you know, the American Dream Act would restore States’ rights to determine residency requirements for higher education benefits. In addition, this bill would provide a path to U.S. legal residency for students, and military personnel who were brought to the United States before they were 16 years old, and have been in the United States for five years prior to when this bill becomes law. Please be assured that if this bill is brought to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote, I will keep your thoughts in mind.
Although I am not a cosponsor of this bill, I strongly support the purpose of the bill and, as I’ve publically stated, would vote for it if it’s brought to the floor for a vote. I have withheld my co-sponsorship of this bill because it does not address comprehensive immigration reform in its entirety. Simply put, I am unwilling to accept a piecemeal approach that deals with only a fraction of the immigration debate. That said, it is my hope that my colleagues and I put forward and pass comprehensive immigration legislation that includes the Dream Act and targets every aspect of the immigration and the naturalization process.
Throughout my legislative career, I have led the fight to help working families by improving our schools, reducing crime, protecting our seniors, safeguarding our environment, and lowering the tax burden on the middle class. I will continue to fight for these and other issues that affect our district.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts about this important matter with me. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
So everything is crazy right now. We have 40 cosponsor in the Senate and 124 in the House. WOW!!! Do I hear “stand alone”? We are very close. It’s right there. I can feel it. Despite our friends getting arrested after civil disobediences THE DREAM IS COMING… THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE MAKING THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED.
Oh and I move to Northridge August 1st. I’m scared, nervous and excited.
So a couple of weeks ago we had an OCDT and DTLA meeting to strategize on how to push for DREAM (it was a great meeting).And for those of you who were there, got to hear the thoughts that I wrote down. I wrote these thoughts because I started to think about my mother and how much I miss her. So I wrote. For those of you who did not hear it, you can right now. haha. I hope you enjoy it and I dedicate this to the DREAMers and those of you who are reading this.
“To have the chance to look deep into my mother’s eyes,
would be the most wonderful feeling in the world.
But to be able to cry into her arms and feel her kind and gentle soul,
would heal all the pain, doubt, sadness and loneliness that i have
within me.
With every passing day, I’m a bit more tired than the day before.
And although it’s only been 2 years that I’ve been involved with a fight,that many have fought for for about 10 years, A fight that some say is not worth fighting for, It is emotionally and physically draining seeing my mother be put into handcuffs,as if she was a criminal.
2 years ago I started this fight feeling pain and emptiness.
I took a shot into the unknown.
This unknown that I was so afraid of, is a world that gives strength to individuals; it is something much more than physical strength.
This is a strength that can only be described by the individuals
themselves.
Individuals found within IDEAS @ SAC, Orange County DREAM Team, OC DREAM Act Coalition, DREAM Team LA and those throughout the nation.
Individuals who are fighting for what is right, fighting for what is theirs, fighting for the DREAM Act
In this movement I found the strength to speak up, share who I am, make a difference and motivate others.
I’m not sure on the outcome of my fight, but I do know one thing; I will continue fighting for DREAM Act
ok, I’m the bus, on my way to work, while writing this. The reason I’m writing the bus is because my car broke down. I feel ok about it. The thing that bothers me is that it happened in a time that is crucial for me to have one because Immigrant youth and allies will engage on a hunger strike, as long as necessary, to make their DREAMs be heard by Senator Feinstein, asking her to champion the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill by moving it out of the Judiciary Committee. The Strikers are on the corner of Sepulveda and Santa Monica. Since I have no car, I can’t go anytime I want, blah. Anyways, on Wednesday we have the “kick-off” for the Hunger Strike and it was an amazing feeling, knowing that the 10 strikers were going to embark on an amazing journey of not only self discovery but also putting their lives on the line for progressive change. Although, at this moment, I’m not there, my heart and moral support remains with them at the camp site. I also want to add any other DREAMer and all allies
ok, I’m the bus, on my way to work, while writing this. The reason I’m writing the bus is because my car broke down. I feel ok about it. The thing that bothers me is that it happened in a time that is crucial for me to have one because Immigrant youth and allies will engage on a hunger strike, as long as necessary, to make their DREAMs be heard by Senator Feinstein, asking her to champion the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill by moving it out of the Judiciary Committee. The strikers are on the corner of Sepulveda and Santa Monica. The “kick-off” for the Hunger Strike started on Wednesday at about 10:30am with a Press Conference. It was an amazing and powerful feeling. The strikers are now embarking on an incredible journey of self discovery and are putting their lives on the line for progressive change, for the DREAM Act. Although I am not physically with them, at this moment, my heart and moral support remains with them. I also want to point out that the DREAMers and Allies from around the country are doing an amazing work. We are students united that, when DREAM Act passes this year, we will continue the fight for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform. For those who have nothing by negative comments/thoughts/remarks, I want to thank you because you only make us stronger. You keep motivating us to keep fighting for what is right and make a difference…my name is Adrian and I am an undocumented student whose parents were deported May 7, 2008.
A year ago, I had the opportunity to meet one of the most intelligent young men that I have come across at a summer program I was as part of. From speaking with him, it was clear to capture his passion for the biological sciences and aspirations to become a professor. However, little by little I began to understand that his struggles were beyond the imaginable. While I had traveled to the state of Indiana by plane to be part of this program, he had had to make a week- long trip from California to Indiana via train. The trip had been inconvenient and uncomfortable. In addition, while I obtained my monetary stipend via direct deposit, he had to receive his “under the table.” It was clear to his that his experience in this program while academically rewarding, was constantly darkened by the little inconveniences and discomforts that come with being an undocumented student.
Being an undocumented student also hits close to home. I grew up with a young woman my entire life, we basically grew up as sisters. Her mother, who I came to call my aunt, but really had no relation to my family, took care of my three siblings and I during my childhood. And so, over time, we all saw each other as family. My mother had the same expectations for us all, both as individuals and students. Eventually my aunt had to return to Mexico to look after her elderly parents, all while making the ultimate sacrifice- leaving behind her only daughter behind with our family so that she could attain an education. For the next four years my cousin continued to attend high school in the United States and she made amazing progress in her studies. This past June, she graduated with Honors and was accepted to all the universities she applied to. However, three weeks later, she was compelled to return to Mexico with her mother. Despite her accomplishments and thriving dreams, she realized that her options were limited as an undocumented student.
The reality is clear. The struggle is present. But the dedication to pass the Dream Act is even MORE present than ever before. I want to thank every single person involved in this cause for their commitment, sacrifice and love for their fellow brothers and sisters. Our undocumented students deserve the same opportunities to continue pursuing their dreams to then become agents of change in our communities. I have faith that this will all come true. May the fight continue! Let’s stand strong and keep moving forward.
I just got my ipad 2 16GB 3G wifi yesterday with a tan leather Smart Cover and here is my first impressions…
- Dual-core processor
it’s much faster switching between apps, and general browser navigation. Now I don’t have any processor-heavy apps to test it out yet, but so far, so good.
- Small and light
this thing is so much easier to carry around. Some folks were surprised that I was carrying it around with just the cool little cover – no case, no protection. Now I’m not clumsy, so it worked.
- Productivity
All the reasons above will more than likely encourage me to get more things done on my iPad when I would normally wait until I am front of a computer. Even with the iPad and all its sexiness (I’m a tech geek, so my sexy may not be your sexy), the tablet isn’t going to replace a computer. BUT the ability to use it in MORE situations makes it a worthy tool.
I start to customize it for my setting i didn’t like the wallpapers that come with ipad some of them are nice but they doesn’t let you see how the ipad screen is fantastic so I did some search on internet and found this website for “iPad Wallpaper(keywords)” ipadwallpapertoday.com it have some great wallpapers for ipad
So there you have it. You don’t HAVE to take my word for why you should get an iPad…but you should.
3 years ago, my strength as an individual was put to the test…What occured on that day was something that guided my life in the direction it is currently headed…Because of that day, life seems a bit more clear and I have a better understanding of what life has to offer.
May 7, 2008, was the day that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided my family’s home, put my mom in handcuffs, had her get into their white van as if she was a criminal, forced my dad to walk into their detention center to turn himself in and caused the separation of my family. During that time, it was very difficult for my family and I to accept what had happened. There were many arguments between my brothers, sister and I, many nights where I would cry myself to sleep and there were many uncertanties about our future. For my parents, they had to experience something that is very difficult to take in; They were being torn away from their children and driven away, as if they were criminals, to a country in which they had not lived in for many years (but they knew they did nothing wrong to have to go through this). They were being isolated and deprived of the people that they loved (family, relatives and friends).
Despite the hardships that that day brought us, it was a learning experience for all of us. We have managed to work out a system that makes things easier for all of us. My younger brothers get to visit my parents and sister, Aileen (age4), almost every weekend and during school breaks. My older brother, sister (age22) and myself have found things that keep us busy and at ease while we wait for the day that we are all re-united. My older brother has 2 children of his own and is a luchador (mexican wrestler) and sister also has two girls and talks to my parents almost every day. We are doing a lot better today.
As for me, I got involved with an amazing movement (DREAM) that inspires me everyday to continue. I have met many individuals who have taught me great things and made me appreciate life. I have met individuals within the LGBTQ community that express a strength that fuels me every day. Because of them I now understand that it doesn’t matter what your sexual preference is, we all deserve to be loved; it’s a human right. We must fight as one if we want a better tomorrow.
One thing that I have learned these past 3 years, as an “undocumented” individual, is that we must always keep our heads up. Although at times, it seems as if there is not light at the end of the tunnel, we can and will get through this. It is just a matter of keeping optimistic. We can not keep feeding negativity with more negative thoughts because we will prevent ourselves from moving forward. We must not hold grudges towards anyone, we must not hate nor envy. We must accept things that have happened to us and learn how we can turn it into something positive. As an example, I hold no grudges towards the immigration officials who put my mom in handcuffs; I will not waste my energy in hating them rather I will use my energy to make positive change and spread the love that everyone deserves. Those who hate, do not deserve more hate. We must look towards the good things in life while acknowledging the injustices we face and fight to change that.
We must no longer be afraid to learn, breath and live.
I want to thank all of you who have been there for my family and I. Through you, we have been able to heal during these hard times.
I am hunting for a garage door company in Poland (I moved here 3 years ago because of work duties) and was wondering if you know such company. A week ago I discovered a company called Rapi.eu that is located where I live – in Warsaw. Have you heard of them? You can check them out here: [url=http://rapi.eu/]bramy garazowe warszawa[/url]
I am looking for a team of capable individuals who will be ready to advise me on the kind of garage doors that would best suit to my new home. I will add that I do not have a big spending budget mainly because I have already spent a whole lot on the interior of the house (floorboards, furniture, home appliances).
[url=http://frenchpressinstructions.com/]French press instructions[/url]
How to Use a French Press: Step-by-Step
1. Use water that is slightly cooler than boiling.
Bring water to a boil, then wait a minute or two. Or cool the boiling water with a shot of cool or cold water.
Use fresh water that has not been boiled before for the best taste. The reason is because the water we drink (from the tap or bottle) has been aerated and has dissolved gases that make the water taste better. Boiling removes the gases and leaves a “flat” taste. (I’m not 100% convinced of this and am usually too lazy to empty the electric kettle of previously-boiled water. But this advice has been handed down for generations, is often quoted by tea and coffee connoiseurs, and the explanation sounds reasonable.)
Tip: Put a bit of hot water in the empty French press to warm it up. You’ll end up with a hotter final cup.
2. Grind your own coffee beans.
Freshly ground coffee is easily 10 times better than pre-ground coffee. Even non-connoisseurs will instantly notice the significant difference in aroma, flavor and overall awesomeness of the cup of coffee.
Tip: For the best taste, freshly ground coffee is more important than having perfectly sized grounds. So if the cost of a burr grinder is prohibitive, choose to buy whole beans and grind at home with a cheap blade grinder versus buying pre-ground coffee.
3. Use a coarse grind.
You want uniform large pieces so the grinds don’t slip through the mesh filter. But the grind shouldn’t be so large that you can’t extract most of the goodness, making for weak bland coffee.
Tip: Adjust the strength of your brew by adjusting your grind size. I like my coffee strong, so I aim for a finer grind that is just large enough for the mesh.
The DREAM Act has gained significant momentum in recent weeks. In the past month, seven Senators have signed on as cosponsors of the bill. Additionally, Representative Becerra (D-CA) signed on as a cosponsor in the House. This marks another victory for the movement given his position as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a former Chair and current member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. We now currently have 30 cosponsors in the Senate and 103 in the House.
I am not very savvy when it comes to posting blogs…I hope I am typing this in the right place!
Its so funny. The other day, I was with my mom in the car. She was all sad because she said she had saved me a newspaper clipping on the DREAM Act, and had forgotten to bring it with her from work. I say its funny, because my mom does not like the fact that I am away from home so much, doing DREAM stuff…yet, she knows how important this cause if to me, that she saves stuff so I can read it.
You all don’t know how many times I get asked why I do all this work for DREAM…a lot! My immediate response is “Why not?” Then I say, ok…we all know how difficult it is to be a student…and all of the struggles that come with it…can I afford tuition, I dont have enough money for books, for gas, for lunch…etc. Now multiply that times 10 or more, and imagine the obtacles that come with being an AB540 student. If we know how difficult it is to be a documented student and then know the fact that there are more students who on top of being students, are AB540…and yet still want to pursue an education…no matter how many more barriers they have to overcome, they still continue achieving their DREAMS. If that is not absolutely admirable and if that does not motivate us to work hard and make sure everyone has the opportunity to pursue an education and have the opportunity to practice the profession they work so hard for…I dont really know what will. Let’s pass the DREAM Act Now!!
April 22, 2009, 6:45 am Immigrant Children in Legal Limbo
By The Editors
(Photo: Stew Milne for The New York Times)
To accompany the final article in a Times series on immigration, Room for Debate examines the situation of young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children with their parents and were raised and educated here. The article on the topic will appear over the weekend.
A series that examines the impact of immigration on American institutions.
.Legislation (called the Dream Act) sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, would give some of these young immigrants a chance to become permanent residents. It would extend to those who have stayed out of trouble, graduated from high school and either finished two years of college or two years of military service, and there would be a six-year conditional status period.
We’ve asked three immigration specialists what to do about this particular immigrant population, which is estimated at one million people. The discussion also includes the perspective of two young immigrants, Prerna and Nick, who were brought to the United States by their parents and who have been here a decade or more. They asked that their last names not be used because they do not have legal papers.
Please join the discussion in the comments section here.
Tamar Jacoby, ImmigrationWorks USA
Mark Krikorian, Center for Immigration Studies
Nick, Dream Act Portal
Prerna, promigrant.org
Hiroshi Motomura, U.C.L.A. law professor
College Board Policy Brief Supports Comprehensive Resolution to Plight of Undocumented Students
‘Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students’ — Why We Need the DREAM Act
04/21/09
NEW YORK — More than 65,000 undocumented students who have lived in the U.S. for five years or more will graduate from high school this spring. For their native-born classmates, graduation represents a rite of passage into adulthood. For too many undocumented students, it’s a dead end. That is the urgent message in a compelling report released today by the College Board at a briefing on Capitol Hill.
In “Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students,” Roberto G. Gonzales, assistant professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Washington in Seattle, makes the case to Congress and the American people that the untenable status of these students is a humanitarian and civil rights issue, as well as an economic one, and debunks the myths that undocumented students limit opportunities for others.
The report contends that the initial investment in the K-12 education of these students, mandated by the Supreme Court in 1982, is lost if we continue to curb their ability to contribute to society after they graduate from high school. Without educating these students to their full potential, the report suggests, we are wasting their talent and imposing economic and emotional costs on undocumented students and on U.S. society as a whole.
These young people, American in identity and spirit, have often attended elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. where they have been encouraged to excel academically by their teachers and parents. While federal law does not prohibit undocumented students from attending college, these students face major obstacles in admissions, access to in-state tuition and access to financial aid. As the U.S. seeks to fill the need for a college-educated workforce, it should not turn its back on youngsters who can strengthen our country’s economic and social well-being.
College Board President Gaston Caperton said, “The College Board is working to remove the barriers to a college education for all students. Undocumented students deserve the same chance to go to college and fully participate in our society as other students. The DREAM Act would provide a way for them to fulfill their dreams and legally contribute to U.S. society. We must not turn our backs on these deserving young people.”
Reintroduced in the 111th Congress, and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen that includes Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the DREAM Act is designed to allow undocumented immigrant youth who were brought to the country as children to obtain legal permanent resident status if they remain in school through high school graduation and go on to college or military service. Estimates suggest that the DREAM Act would provide 360,000 undocumented high school graduates with a legal means to work and secure additional resources for college, and could provide incentives for another 715,000 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 17 to finish high school (to fulfill the act’s eligibility requirements) and pursue postsecondary education.
Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA) said, “The DREAM Act legislation I am co-sponsoring may well reinvigorate public furor over immigration, and will no doubt receive even greater attention with the College Board release of their groundbreaking report, ‘Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students.’ There is cause for clarification, since many concerns are unfounded. In fact, the projected results of this legislation may be surprising to skeptics. The DREAM Act would provide a serious shot in the arm to our struggling economy, and, if it is passed, our educational investments would see substantially better returns. While there is a host of moral reasons why we should help undocumented students legally pursue their dreams in college and beyond, the financial benefits alone seem sufficient to warrant a serious discussion on the merits of the DREAM Act. And at a time when our economy is desperately seeking solace in every possibility of stimulus, the gains here are too inviting to ignore, and these students’ dreams too promising to pass up.”
Antonio Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, said, “The DREAM Act will benefit those deserving students who have met the same rigorous academic requirements as their college-bound peers, but are now denied the financial aid and lower in-state tuition provided to other students. The nation as a whole would benefit from the education of these young people, who will be able to make their fullest contribution as future taxpayers, professionals and leaders in areas of critical importance to the nation’s economy and security.”
Nearly 40 percent of undocumented children live below the federal poverty level, compared to 17 percent of native-born children. Numerous studies demonstrate that legal status brings fiscal, economic and labor-market benefits to individual immigrants, to their families and to society in general. Given the pressures of global migration many countries are experiencing, the problem of unauthorized immigration is not likely to go away. Giving undocumented students a chance to achieve the American Dream will help the United States to realize its goal of a better educated, more competitive workforce.
For more information, please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/advocacy.
The College Board
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,600 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns. For further information, visit http://www.collegeboard.com.
CONTACT
Jennifer Topiel, The College Board, 212-713-8052, communications@collegeboard.org
Hello.
This is my first time writing in a blog. It is 2:49 in the morning. I can’t sleep….too much on my mind. So what to write?……………I guess I can start off by saying that It’s been a little over a year since my parents got deported (May 7, 2009) and I miss being with them (so close, yet so far type of feeling). I, especially, miss my two year old sister, Aileen. She means the world to me. It’s funny and so BADASS that on mothers day, I talked to Aileen for the first time since last year… she wants candy haha. Life is so hard when any individual, who is not ready, becomes a parent figure overnight. The first couple of months were so hard for my family. Every day I would get into arguments with my younger brothers because they didn’t listen to me and my older brother. It would always be the same thing. My younger brothers just wanted to move to Mexico to be with my parents, but we weren’t going to keep them from getting an education here. No joke, I would cry myself to sleep every night for the first couple of months because it was so hard for me to handle. I couldn’t talk to my older brother about how I was feeling because he was already under a lot of stress. But now, we are doing a lot better because my younger brothers get to see my parents often, since they were born here. It makes me happy to see my brothers happy.
Ahhhhhhh!!!! I just want to scream and let all this frustration out.
A lot to talk about……………..I still have more to write about but…..I’ll just leave it for another day or wait to talk to someone.
I just want to thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart, who are doing everything possible to get the DREAM Act passed.
Much Love and Peace to all.
Harvard President Comes Out for the DREAM Act
Submitted by admin on May 21, 2009 – 7:39 amComments (0).
Students across the country have been pressuring their college officials to go public with their support of the DREAM Act. After UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, University of Arkansas Chancellor Gearhart and UC Berkeley Chancellor Charles Birgeneau declared their support publicly, now President Drew Faust at Harvard has also voiced her support.
Harvard students said they have been lobbying Faust for months on the issue. They held a rally and submitted a petition with 120 signatures, said Harvard junior Kyle de Beausset, one of the organizers.
In recent months, two Harvard students who are in the United States illegally met with Faust in her office to seek her support. Yesterday, one of those students, an 18-year-old former high school valedictorian who has been in the United States since he was 9, said he was thrilled.
“We realized that what we were asking her to do wasn’t an easy thing. The issue of immigration is politically charged,” said the student, who spoke on the condition that his name not be used. “I am and will forever be indebted to this institution.”
Read more at the Boston Globe.
Harvard is supposed to be a sanctuary campus and Cambridge calls itself a sanctuary city even though students like Nur Munir have been detained in recent times.
We hope to get a deeper and first-hand account of Harvard students advocacy on behalf of the DREAM Act from Citizen Orange as soon as he finishes the semester. The buildup to how this support was received is documented here, as well as the advocacy efforts of other students in the Northeast.
http://www.westchester.com/Westchester_News/Community/Westchester_Youth_Organizes_Support_For_Immigrants_2009060511575.html
Westchester Youth Organizes Support For Immigrants Posted by Westchester.com
Friday, 05 June 2009
White Plains, NY – A Youth-led movement called the Westchester DREAM Act Task Force is organizing a large march and rally in the City of White Plains on Saturday, June 6th at 1pm.
The purpose is to highlight the challenges facing immigrant students and families seeking higher education in the United States and to pressure elected officials to sign on to the D.R.E.A.M. Act, and Comprehsensive Immigration Reform.
The D.R.E.A.M. Act is a piece of federal legislation that would allow immigrant students to stay in the United States to pursue higher education. Students who have attended elementary schools here would be eligible to stay in the United States to pursue higher education. States would be able to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status for these students.
Both Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, along with Congressman Eliot Engel, have already signed onto the D.R.E.A.M. Act, and we are asking Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman John Hall to follow suit. As senator Gillisbrand put it “”America is the only home many of them know, yet they are being denied the opportunity to achieve their full potential. This legislation says that if they work hard and play by the rules, then they will have the opportunity to get a good education and earn their way to legal status.”
The following groups have endorsed this action: Westchester DREAM Act Task Force, WESPAC Foundation, Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association, White Plains Youth Bureau, Centro Hispano, Westchester Hispano, Hudson Valley Community Coalition.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009301890_kate05dream.html
Kate Riley / Times staff columnist
Time for undocumented students’ DREAM to be realized
Congress must pass the DREAM Act to save the futures of tens of thousands of students who excel in college but whose futures dim because they are not in the United States legally. The federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act provides a path to legal residency.
By Kate Riley
Seattle Times editorial columnist
Related
Read more columns by Kate Riley
Washington’s asparagus is cut and cherry harvest is in full swing, but there is another of Washington’s crops that will be left to spoil if Congress doesn’t act soon on the DREAM Act.
Endangered are the thousands of graduates from the state’s high schools, colleges and universities who are not in the United States legally. The federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act provides a path to legal residency for these students brought to the U.S. as children and who have good moral character if they attend two years of college or enlist in the military.
Unless the DREAM Act is passed, these students face a wilting drought of choices and opportunities.
“This is not about a free ride,” said one 22-year-old student, a University of Washington junior majoring in two social sciences and minoring in education. “It’s about getting the opportunity to compete and do something better with your life.” His family moved to Seattle from Mexico City when he was 13. He excelled in school, was admitted to the UW and, under a 6-year-old state law, was better able to afford tuition because he could pay in-state rate. The UW has admitted 553 such students.
Tuesday evening, the co-founder of the Alianza Student Coalition was plotting strategy with more than a dozen other scholars, many in his same boat, at Seattle Central Community College. They are mobilizing to lobby Congress to push their futures into the light.
Children, no matter their immigration status, can legally attend public school from kindergarten through 12th grade. But while classmates are making plans for college, these students without legal status see the shadows begin to creep over their lives, eclipsing their futures.
I looked around the SCCC classroom and thought about the public investment already made in these students’ educations — conservatively, probably more than a million dollars teaching these kids to read, do algebra and physics, critique literature and succeed. Their families have paid taxes while contributing to Washington’s economy, especially agriculture. But these students’ futures run off the cliff — and the investment in them risks being squandered.
“Once they become adolescents, we leave them without access to mechanisms that lead to healthy, successful lives,” said Roberto G. Gonzales, a UW assistant professor who has researched this phenomenon extensively.
On April 21, Gonzales published “Young Lives on Hold: The College Dreams of Undocumented Students,” a paper sponsored by the College Board, which comprises more than 5,600 schools, colleges, universities and other education organizations. The College Board — which runs the SAT program — endorsed the DREAM Act. So has Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust.
Two months ago, Redmond-based Microsoft became one of the first major corporations to endorse the DREAM Act, urging lawmakers to move the legislation forward. Following suit last week were New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the CEOs of 18 New York corporations, including Macy’s, Pfizer, American Express Company and Morgan Stanley.
President Obama long has been a supporter.
In Washington, Gov. Chris Gregoire endorses the measure and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are co-sponsors of the Senate bill.
Many educators support it as well, including the Washington associations of school administrators and board members, the Seattle and Bellevue school boards and the trustee boards of Wenatchee Valley College and Walla Walla Community College.
After meeting these students who have proven themselves, I’m thinking the UW regents and the Seattle Community Colleges board of trustees should jump on board too on behalf of their students.
I have written three times in the past seven years about a young woman who is caught in this dilemma. She recently sent out invitations to her law school graduation.
Without the DREAM Act, what are she and the others going to do?
Kate Riley’s column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is kriley@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Hello compañeras/os, (FYI to get the letter “ñ” simply type Alt+0241 The numbers must be typed using the right side of the keyboard, away from the letters.)
wow, it’s been a while since the last post. What happened?
Anyways, i’m at home, not doing much. I just want to write/type/say my feelings after giving a testimonial at last night’s event, “Education not Deportation”.
At first I was very nervous. I have never told my story in front of so many people that I did not know. Which, by the way, was a great experience. What made me a bit more nervous was that I had a mic hooked up to me by Marco since he documented the event. I felt two things. One, I felt as if I was a spy that was only there to get some “juicy” information out of the DREAMers. Two, I thought I was “on check” like if I had been saying bad things about OCDT. hahahaha all fun and games. Again, that was the first time I had a mic on me.
Anywho’s” (my way of saying anyways), After Vanessa and Noemi finished their part, I was asked by Noemi to go up and start my testimonial. As I was heading up there, I didn’t feel prepared. I took with me some notes that I had jotted down, to help me with the story (I didn’t use, by the way). But when I was up there, I felt somewhat comfortable. There were some times that I felt like my voice cracked, and it wasn’t till the end that I felt my face getting hot and red. It was a good feeling, knowing that people were listening to my story. yay. hahaha……I felt happy.
uhhh.. that’s all I have to say for now. I will “blog” another time.
May you all continue to live life in peace
With much love
-Adrian-
For Immediate Release
9 STUDENTS TAKE PART IN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ACTION BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION OF WILSHIRE AND VETERAN IN WEST LOS ANGELES
To Push For the Passage Of the Dream Act As A Stand Alone Bill
West Los Angeles Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90024
My name is Maria Garcia . Im a 5th year UCLA student pursuing a degree in biological anthropology. I was born to immigrant parents who always put an emphasis on education. As I stand with other allies; I know I am in the right place. I am here to be in solidarity with every individual who has come out as undocumented and for those who remain in the shadows out of a fear resulting from unjust laws. I am here to fight alongside people who believe in the right to an equal education regardless of one’s status. Students are done with just simply DREAMING we are now taking ACTion. We know our friends and families need the DREAM Act NOW!
My name is Renato Perez I am an immigrant by luck. The love for family friends and humanity is what pushes me and makes me fight stronger. I believe that education is a human right and no human being should be denied that right. Pass the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill now !!!
My name is Yazmin I am an immigrant mujer from from mexico demanding the passage of the DREAM ACT as a stand alone bill!This is a necessary action that im doing with dignity and love for my family, friends, and my undocumented brothers and sisters. We are no longer spectators but actors in our struggle.
My name is Jonathan Bibriesca. My friend and I arrived to the United States at the same time, I was privileged to arrive with residency status.Almost immediately we became best friends, we have shared unforgetable moments and our friendship grew to the point where i begun to consider him a brother. After High School our lives took different roads, I joined the military and he enrolled in college. Then, I started to become aware of his situation and the unnecessary barriers that have been implemented on him because he is undocumented. He has inspired me to pursue higher education , and to advocate for social justice. I am taking part in this civil disobedience because of him and all the beautiful undocumented students who overcome barriers and fight to achieve higher education. I am taking part in this civil dissobediance action because I was raised with the values of reaching out and helping those in need.
My name is Andrea Ortega. I am a 4th year student at the University of California, Los Angeles. I was born to two immigrant parents who came here at the young ages of 5 and 12 years old. I am doing this for my friends and family members who have been victims of a broken immigration system. I am taking part in this civil disobedience in honor of Tam Tran and Cynthia Felix, two inspirational role models that gave so much to the students across the country and who will be with us in spirit. I am doing this in solidarity for the brave 3 students in Arizona who have given their futures so that hundreds and thousands of other students have a chance to one. I am doing this so that students will no longer be terrorized by legislation like SB1070 in Arizona, and not have to go to school in fear that their families are deported back home. I am doing this because I know that it is a small sacrifice to make so that more students are able to pursue their education as I have. I am doing this so that the DREAM Act can be passed as a stand alone bill and become the first step towards a better society that does not discriminate any human being. I am doing this not for me but because legislators have not been able to answer our calls and lobby visits for reform and the DREAM Act. Now is the time for the DREAM Act. This country needs the DREAM ACT now more than ever. Pass the DREAM Act now!
My name is Olavo Michel. I am a citizen, son of immigrants, and UCLA student. But most important of all, I am human. I am here to demonstrate that there are people who stand in solidarity with undocumented immigrants and students across the country. I am taking part in this civil disobedience to contest the privileges I have been awarded at the expense of others. I know of many undocumented students who are much more than deserving of the same rights, privileges, and opportunities that we have had as a result of merely being born here. My undocumented colleagues time and time again have proven their outstanding capabilities through academics, leadership, community engagement, but most important of all, as individuals, much more than some students with “documents.” I am advocating for the passing of the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill as a point of departure in which we, documented and undocumented can stand, live, and work together to contribute to the society we all live in.
My name is Sophia Sandoval. I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. Up until recently, I was ignorant of the crude reality we are living in. I’ve always had undocumented friends, and as a citizen I never realized the true struggle they have. I will never know what it’s like to work hard and not be recognized for it since I have “papers”. I am now more aware and am making a conscious effort to fight for them and do anything I possibly can to right this horrible wrong. It is for you, my friends, that I finally stand up and fight with you. Lets pass the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill now.
My Name is Charlene Gomez. We cannot deem this nation as the land of the free if we continue this attack on children and families for being “immigrants”. My loved ones deserve dignity . I am upholding the legacy of the civil rights movement when many people were denied their human rights, one being the right to an education. I will ensure the passage of the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill.
My name is Mariella Saba I am 22 years old. I am the daughter of migrant parents, of mixed Arabic and Mexican decent, born and raised in East Los Angeles.
I graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2009, where I co-founded Students Informing Now in 2005, a political organization of AB540 students and allies organizing for education and immigration reform for marginalized students, especially those deemed undocumented.I am a poet, theater artist, educator, student, and citizen of the world.I am participating in this civil disobedience because we still live in a world where some humans are deemed legal and others illegal. Because education is a human right and students of color and undocumented students are still fighting for this right. Because the Dream Act as a stand alone bill is necessary and is the least that can be done for undocumented youth. Because my immigrant parents raised me to give, to love, to honor our humanity.
(Note: She’s given the same response since the first introduction of DREAM, back in 2001. It’s now 2010!)
Dear Ms. Castillo:
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 1751 the American Dream Act. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns and provide you with a legislative update.
As you know, the American Dream Act would restore States’ rights to determine residency requirements for higher education benefits. In addition, this bill would provide a path to U.S. legal residency for students, and military personnel who were brought to the United States before they were 16 years old, and have been in the United States for five years prior to when this bill becomes law. Please be assured that if this bill is brought to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote, I will keep your thoughts in mind.
Although I am not a cosponsor of this bill, I strongly support the purpose of the bill and, as I’ve publically stated, would vote for it if it’s brought to the floor for a vote. I have withheld my co-sponsorship of this bill because it does not address comprehensive immigration reform in its entirety. Simply put, I am unwilling to accept a piecemeal approach that deals with only a fraction of the immigration debate. That said, it is my hope that my colleagues and I put forward and pass comprehensive immigration legislation that includes the Dream Act and targets every aspect of the immigration and the naturalization process.
Throughout my legislative career, I have led the fight to help working families by improving our schools, reducing crime, protecting our seniors, safeguarding our environment, and lowering the tax burden on the middle class. I will continue to fight for these and other issues that affect our district.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts about this important matter with me. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Very Truly Yours,
Loretta Sanchez
Member of Congress
Hello all,
So everything is crazy right now. We have 40 cosponsor in the Senate and 124 in the House. WOW!!! Do I hear “stand alone”? We are very close. It’s right there. I can feel it. Despite our friends getting arrested after civil disobediences THE DREAM IS COMING… THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE MAKING THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED.
Oh and I move to Northridge August 1st. I’m scared, nervous and excited.
So a couple of weeks ago we had an OCDT and DTLA meeting to strategize on how to push for DREAM (it was a great meeting).And for those of you who were there, got to hear the thoughts that I wrote down. I wrote these thoughts because I started to think about my mother and how much I miss her. So I wrote. For those of you who did not hear it, you can right now. haha. I hope you enjoy it and I dedicate this to the DREAMers and those of you who are reading this.
“To have the chance to look deep into my mother’s eyes,
would be the most wonderful feeling in the world.
But to be able to cry into her arms and feel her kind and gentle soul,
would heal all the pain, doubt, sadness and loneliness that i have
within me.
With every passing day, I’m a bit more tired than the day before.
And although it’s only been 2 years that I’ve been involved with a fight,that many have fought for for about 10 years, A fight that some say is not worth fighting for, It is emotionally and physically draining seeing my mother be put into handcuffs,as if she was a criminal.
2 years ago I started this fight feeling pain and emptiness.
I took a shot into the unknown.
This unknown that I was so afraid of, is a world that gives strength to individuals; it is something much more than physical strength.
This is a strength that can only be described by the individuals
themselves.
Individuals found within IDEAS @ SAC, Orange County DREAM Team, OC DREAM Act Coalition, DREAM Team LA and those throughout the nation.
Individuals who are fighting for what is right, fighting for what is theirs, fighting for the DREAM Act
In this movement I found the strength to speak up, share who I am, make a difference and motivate others.
I’m not sure on the outcome of my fight, but I do know one thing; I will continue fighting for DREAM Act
because my DREAM, at this moment,
Is to cry into my mother’s arms.”
Thank you,
Hello all,
ok, I’m the bus, on my way to work, while writing this. The reason I’m writing the bus is because my car broke down. I feel ok about it. The thing that bothers me is that it happened in a time that is crucial for me to have one because Immigrant youth and allies will engage on a hunger strike, as long as necessary, to make their DREAMs be heard by Senator Feinstein, asking her to champion the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill by moving it out of the Judiciary Committee. The Strikers are on the corner of Sepulveda and Santa Monica. Since I have no car, I can’t go anytime I want, blah. Anyways, on Wednesday we have the “kick-off” for the Hunger Strike and it was an amazing feeling, knowing that the 10 strikers were going to embark on an amazing journey of not only self discovery but also putting their lives on the line for progressive change. Although, at this moment, I’m not there, my heart and moral support remains with them at the camp site. I also want to add any other DREAMer and all allies
.Hello all,
ok, I’m the bus, on my way to work, while writing this. The reason I’m writing the bus is because my car broke down. I feel ok about it. The thing that bothers me is that it happened in a time that is crucial for me to have one because Immigrant youth and allies will engage on a hunger strike, as long as necessary, to make their DREAMs be heard by Senator Feinstein, asking her to champion the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill by moving it out of the Judiciary Committee. The strikers are on the corner of Sepulveda and Santa Monica. The “kick-off” for the Hunger Strike started on Wednesday at about 10:30am with a Press Conference. It was an amazing and powerful feeling. The strikers are now embarking on an incredible journey of self discovery and are putting their lives on the line for progressive change, for the DREAM Act. Although I am not physically with them, at this moment, my heart and moral support remains with them. I also want to point out that the DREAMers and Allies from around the country are doing an amazing work. We are students united that, when DREAM Act passes this year, we will continue the fight for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform. For those who have nothing by negative comments/thoughts/remarks, I want to thank you because you only make us stronger. You keep motivating us to keep fighting for what is right and make a difference…my name is Adrian and I am an undocumented student whose parents were deported May 7, 2008.
A year ago, I had the opportunity to meet one of the most intelligent young men that I have come across at a summer program I was as part of. From speaking with him, it was clear to capture his passion for the biological sciences and aspirations to become a professor. However, little by little I began to understand that his struggles were beyond the imaginable. While I had traveled to the state of Indiana by plane to be part of this program, he had had to make a week- long trip from California to Indiana via train. The trip had been inconvenient and uncomfortable. In addition, while I obtained my monetary stipend via direct deposit, he had to receive his “under the table.” It was clear to his that his experience in this program while academically rewarding, was constantly darkened by the little inconveniences and discomforts that come with being an undocumented student.
Being an undocumented student also hits close to home. I grew up with a young woman my entire life, we basically grew up as sisters. Her mother, who I came to call my aunt, but really had no relation to my family, took care of my three siblings and I during my childhood. And so, over time, we all saw each other as family. My mother had the same expectations for us all, both as individuals and students. Eventually my aunt had to return to Mexico to look after her elderly parents, all while making the ultimate sacrifice- leaving behind her only daughter behind with our family so that she could attain an education. For the next four years my cousin continued to attend high school in the United States and she made amazing progress in her studies. This past June, she graduated with Honors and was accepted to all the universities she applied to. However, three weeks later, she was compelled to return to Mexico with her mother. Despite her accomplishments and thriving dreams, she realized that her options were limited as an undocumented student.
The reality is clear. The struggle is present. But the dedication to pass the Dream Act is even MORE present than ever before. I want to thank every single person involved in this cause for their commitment, sacrifice and love for their fellow brothers and sisters. Our undocumented students deserve the same opportunities to continue pursuing their dreams to then become agents of change in our communities. I have faith that this will all come true. May the fight continue! Let’s stand strong and keep moving forward.
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I just got my ipad 2 16GB 3G wifi yesterday with a tan leather Smart Cover and here is my first impressions…
- Dual-core processor
it’s much faster switching between apps, and general browser navigation. Now I don’t have any processor-heavy apps to test it out yet, but so far, so good.
- Small and light
this thing is so much easier to carry around. Some folks were surprised that I was carrying it around with just the cool little cover – no case, no protection. Now I’m not clumsy, so it worked.
- Productivity
All the reasons above will more than likely encourage me to get more things done on my iPad when I would normally wait until I am front of a computer. Even with the iPad and all its sexiness (I’m a tech geek, so my sexy may not be your sexy), the tablet isn’t going to replace a computer. BUT the ability to use it in MORE situations makes it a worthy tool.
I start to customize it for my setting i didn’t like the wallpapers that come with ipad some of them are nice but they doesn’t let you see how the ipad screen is fantastic so I did some search on internet and found this website for “iPad Wallpaper(keywords)” ipadwallpapertoday.com it have some great wallpapers for ipad
So there you have it. You don’t HAVE to take my word for why you should get an iPad…but you should.
THE DAY THAT GAVE ME STRENGTH
3 years ago, my strength as an individual was put to the test…What occured on that day was something that guided my life in the direction it is currently headed…Because of that day, life seems a bit more clear and I have a better understanding of what life has to offer.
May 7, 2008, was the day that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided my family’s home, put my mom in handcuffs, had her get into their white van as if she was a criminal, forced my dad to walk into their detention center to turn himself in and caused the separation of my family. During that time, it was very difficult for my family and I to accept what had happened. There were many arguments between my brothers, sister and I, many nights where I would cry myself to sleep and there were many uncertanties about our future. For my parents, they had to experience something that is very difficult to take in; They were being torn away from their children and driven away, as if they were criminals, to a country in which they had not lived in for many years (but they knew they did nothing wrong to have to go through this). They were being isolated and deprived of the people that they loved (family, relatives and friends).
Despite the hardships that that day brought us, it was a learning experience for all of us. We have managed to work out a system that makes things easier for all of us. My younger brothers get to visit my parents and sister, Aileen (age4), almost every weekend and during school breaks. My older brother, sister (age22) and myself have found things that keep us busy and at ease while we wait for the day that we are all re-united. My older brother has 2 children of his own and is a luchador (mexican wrestler) and sister also has two girls and talks to my parents almost every day. We are doing a lot better today.
As for me, I got involved with an amazing movement (DREAM) that inspires me everyday to continue. I have met many individuals who have taught me great things and made me appreciate life. I have met individuals within the LGBTQ community that express a strength that fuels me every day. Because of them I now understand that it doesn’t matter what your sexual preference is, we all deserve to be loved; it’s a human right. We must fight as one if we want a better tomorrow.
One thing that I have learned these past 3 years, as an “undocumented” individual, is that we must always keep our heads up. Although at times, it seems as if there is not light at the end of the tunnel, we can and will get through this. It is just a matter of keeping optimistic. We can not keep feeding negativity with more negative thoughts because we will prevent ourselves from moving forward. We must not hold grudges towards anyone, we must not hate nor envy. We must accept things that have happened to us and learn how we can turn it into something positive. As an example, I hold no grudges towards the immigration officials who put my mom in handcuffs; I will not waste my energy in hating them rather I will use my energy to make positive change and spread the love that everyone deserves. Those who hate, do not deserve more hate. We must look towards the good things in life while acknowledging the injustices we face and fight to change that.
We must no longer be afraid to learn, breath and live.
I want to thank all of you who have been there for my family and I. Through you, we have been able to heal during these hard times.
I love to come back to istillhaveadream.org everyday
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I am hunting for a garage door company in Poland (I moved here 3 years ago because of work duties) and was wondering if you know such company. A week ago I discovered a company called Rapi.eu that is located where I live – in Warsaw. Have you heard of them? You can check them out here: [url=http://rapi.eu/]bramy garazowe warszawa[/url]
I am looking for a team of capable individuals who will be ready to advise me on the kind of garage doors that would best suit to my new home. I will add that I do not have a big spending budget mainly because I have already spent a whole lot on the interior of the house (floorboards, furniture, home appliances).
What is your opinion with regards to these guys?
Thank you
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How to Use a French Press: Step-by-Step
1. Use water that is slightly cooler than boiling.
Bring water to a boil, then wait a minute or two. Or cool the boiling water with a shot of cool or cold water.
Use fresh water that has not been boiled before for the best taste. The reason is because the water we drink (from the tap or bottle) has been aerated and has dissolved gases that make the water taste better. Boiling removes the gases and leaves a “flat” taste. (I’m not 100% convinced of this and am usually too lazy to empty the electric kettle of previously-boiled water. But this advice has been handed down for generations, is often quoted by tea and coffee connoiseurs, and the explanation sounds reasonable.)
Tip: Put a bit of hot water in the empty French press to warm it up. You’ll end up with a hotter final cup.
2. Grind your own coffee beans.
Freshly ground coffee is easily 10 times better than pre-ground coffee. Even non-connoisseurs will instantly notice the significant difference in aroma, flavor and overall awesomeness of the cup of coffee.
Tip: For the best taste, freshly ground coffee is more important than having perfectly sized grounds. So if the cost of a burr grinder is prohibitive, choose to buy whole beans and grind at home with a cheap blade grinder versus buying pre-ground coffee.
3. Use a coarse grind.
You want uniform large pieces so the grinds don’t slip through the mesh filter. But the grind shouldn’t be so large that you can’t extract most of the goodness, making for weak bland coffee.
Tip: Adjust the strength of your brew by adjusting your grind size. I like my coffee strong, so I aim for a finer grind that is just large enough for the mesh.
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