All ACES for DREAMers -- A Winning Hand for Undocumented Students
Mon, 8 February, 2016 at 3:16 pm
All ACES for DREAMers -- A Winning Hand for Undocumented Students
Since Fall 2012, the DREAMERs Task Force
has been organizing to support undocumented students at Cañada College. Our
mission is to ensure access to higher education for all students, regardless of
immigration status. Our ultimate goal: establish a permanent Undocumented
Student Center at Cañada, both a public face for DREAMers with resources and
information to assist those students, and also a community-building center for
students who face stigma and fear of discovery / deportation.
Last year the DREAMers Task Force became
a sub-committee of the Academic Committee for Equity and Success (ACES), and
since that time we have accomplished a lot in our pursuit of equity for
undocumented students. We have built a vibrant community of students, faculty,
and staff; hosted exciting events, including an art workshop with local artist
and activist Favianna Rodriguez; and provided free legal assistance to
dozens of DACA-eligible students.
Last semester, thanks to support
from ACES, Task Force members visited other campuses in the Bay Area with
Undocumented Student Centers to learn about best practices. The Undocumented
Student Program at UC Berkeley inspired us to dream big. Their program began
with one part time director, but now includes four full-time staff members:
director, counselor, mental health provider and immigration attorney. The
student leaders who run HEFAS (Higher Education for AB540 Students) at De Anza
College taught us about the importance of empowering students as
decision-makers and visionaries at every step along the way.
This semester, we invite you to
join us as we work on a variety of fronts to implement our vision:
·
EOPS is reaching out to over 300 students who are currently
registered as AB540 to offer support and grow our community.
·
BTO is working with specific student peer mentors to provide
targeted mentoring and leadership development to student DREAMers.
·
The Learning Center and Building 9 staff are working to create a
physical location for our Undocumented Student Center and distribute
information across campus
·
The DREAMers Student Club is planning creative workshops for
storytelling and community building
·
Our ACES Inquiry Group is working to collect student stories,
assess our campus climate, and survey our students to learn more about their
experience so that we can serve them better, build community and improve campus
climate.
“All-In”
Here are ten ways to
help support undocumented students on campus this semester:
1.
Join the DREAMers Task Force. Next meeting: 3-4:30 PM Thurs. Feb.
25 in 9-307.
2.
Join the ACES Inquiry project and consider helping us implement
our DREAMers Inquiry Project this semester. (email [email protected])
3.
Invite the DREAMers Student Club to come to your class and recruit
new student members. Or, make an announcement about the next club meeting.
(email [email protected])
4.
Encourage students to engage in peer mentoring / BTO & make
sure they know there is support for ALL students.
5.
Refer students to [email protected],
to learn more about programs and services that they may be eligible for,
including: financial aid and scholarships, free immigration legal assistance,
DACA, AB540 and the California Dream Act.
6.
Develop curriculum relevant to the lives and experiences of
immigrant students (we can help!). (You can help too! Let us know if
you’re already doing this so that we can share ideas.)
7.
Post a “Migration is Beautiful” Butterfly sticker or “I am an
Unafraid Educator” poster on your door or in your office or work area.
8.
Donate to our DREAMers Program or Scholarship funds.
10. Learn more:
“Dreaming Big: What Community Colleges Can Do to Help Undocumented Youth
Achieve Their Potential” http://cccie.org/images/stories/pdf/dreaming_big_cccie_report.pdf
To take action / For more
information, email us at: [email protected] or contact ACES: http://new.www.orangel.shop/aces/contactus.php
Posted in: ACES, Featured, Dreamers