UCLA Educational Summit and Immigrant Youth Empowerment Conference

Err, maybe I should have blogged about this when I first got word of it, but I tend to make a note of it so I can remember later, which I don't and do something about it later on. So I'll be headed to UCLA this Friday for this forum. I already called off from work and I'm going to spend the entire day there talking to others about the cause, the future and everything else in between. You have to pre-register though. I got a turkey sandwich :-D Also there's going to be another event, more student focused at the end of the month and again, pre-registration is needed so sign up foo and I'll see you there. That is in the sense that we'll both be at the same even, but chances are you won't know who I am because you don't know what I look like. I'm sneaky like that.


2nd Annual Education Summit Critical Issues for Immigrant and Undocumented Students in the Latina@ Education Pipeline

Friday, May 15, 2009 @ UCLA Followed by a Reception

Pre-Summit Registration Is Required to Reserve a Seat —

Go to http://www.chicano.ucla.edu for more information and to register

The UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) and UC/ACCORD (UC All Campus Consortium on Research for Diversity) are pleased to announce the Fourth Annual UCLA Latina/o Education Summit. Each year this conference brings together scholars, educators, community representatives, policy makers, and students to discuss the critical issues facing Latina/o students at each segment of the education pipeline. Participants explore viable policy recommendations and initiatives that can improve educational opportunity and increase the number of Latina/o students who earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. This year the conference will focus on documented and undocumented immigrant Latina/o students.

Tentative Schedule

Critical Issues in K-12 Schools, Part I: Creating Opportunities for Quality Bilingual Education in California

Ms. Marta Hernandez

Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Continuous Improvement

Ventura County Office of Education

Mr. Raul Alarcon

Lead Teacher, Learning in Two Languages Program

Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School

Critical Issues in K-12 Schools, Part II: Increasing College Awareness for High School Students

Dr. Kris Gutiérrez

Professor, Social Research Methodology

UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies

Ms. Mayra Soriano

Counselor

Bravo Medical Magnet School and Co-author of AB 540 Student Guide

Former UCLA Migrant Program Student Participants

Critical Issues in Postsecondary Education, Part I: California Assembly Bill 540

(AB 540) and the Community College as a Pathway to the University

Mr. Alfred Herrera, MPA

Director, Center for Community College Partnerships

Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Partnerships

UCLA

Dr. Armida Ornelas

Professor, Political Science

East Los Angeles College

East Los Angeles College Students

Participants in the Adelante Freshman Transfer Program

Critical Issues in Postsecondary Education, Part II: AB 540 Students and California Four-year Universities

Dr. William Perez

Assistant Professor, Education

Claremont Graduate University

Dr. Patricia Perez

Assistant Professor, Chicana/o Studies

California State University, Fullerton

UCLA Students

Members of IDEAS (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success)

Reception and Book Signings

Dr. Patricia Gándara, UCLA, and Dr. Frances Contreras, University of Washington

The Latino Education Crisis

UCLA Undergraduate Students

Underground Undergrads

Dr. Alejandra Rincon

Undocumented Immigrants and Higher Education: Si Se Puede!

Contacts

To learn more about us, visit our website or email us. To subscribe to our newsletter, e-mail CSRC Newsletter and include in the body of your message the line (and nothing but the line) SUBSCRIBE CHICANO [first name, last name] (don't enter the brackets, just your name).

REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO MAY 15.

IDEAS at UCLA, Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success, was created in the fall of 2003 to provide a support network for undocumented students at UCLA. IDEAS at UCLA has grown into a full-fledged organization that runs a community service project to increase awareness of the AB540 law, manages fundraisers, awards scholarships to AB540 students, collaborates with similar organizations across the state, and provides a socially-conscious environment for students to engage in open dialogue concerning immigrant issues.

In 2001, the passage of the Assembly Bill 540 into California state law made higher education more accessible to undocumented students by allowing them to pay in-state tuition at California public colleges. Each year 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high schools in the United States with more than 25,000 graduating from California. Unfortunately only five to ten percent of these students pursue higher education. Many undocumented students often fail to apply to college due to their uncertainty about their rights. They erroneously fear that applying to college can get them deported or into legal trouble. Misinformation has led them to believe that college admittance requires proof of legal residency and therefore discourages them from applying. In addition, undocumented students often fail to pursue a college education due to their inability to legally work after they graduate and believe that a college degree is worthless.

These notions are wrong because access to higher education is possible. The ability for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (D.R.E.A.M.) Act to pass has high hopes with the new governmental change. The D.R.E.A.M. Act would allow undocumented students in the United States to obtain a path toward legalization, and hence practice their college degrees. Therefore, as students, you must be prepared by being educated individuals and not lose hope.

The purpose of this letter is to cordially invite you to attend our:

Second Annual
Immigrant Youth Empowerment Conference
“Reaching Our DREAMs through ACTion 2009”
At UCLA
Ackerman Grand Ballroom
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Sunday, May 31, 2009
8am-6pm

The conference is a whole day event which will consist of different workshops that will provide information to benefit you as a student. We will train you on methods of lobbying, activism, and organizing efforts in order to advocate for your educational rights.

By attending our conference you will:
-Gain information and get updated on the AB540 and DREAM Act issues
-Meet different AB540 student organizations
-Take part in the DREAM Act campaign
-Be eligible for the first ever IYEC Scholarship

Please RSVP by MAY 15, 2009 by filling out an application at ideasla.org. If you have any questions please email us at ideas@ucla.edu. We look forward to seeing you at our conference.

Sincerely,

IDEAS at UCLA/ AB-540 Project Directors