Undocumented and Unafraid: Tam Tran, Cinthya Felix, and the immigrant youth movement book review

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Undocumented and Unafraid: Tam Tran, Cinthya Felix, and the immigrant youth movement elegantly captures some of the personal stories and accounts as experienced by those in the Dream Act and undocumented student movement. From the first civil disobedience action by undoc immigrant youth in Arizona, the coining of 'undocumented and unafraid,' to sharing the unprecedented influence Tam and Cinthya left behind, the book captures a rare view of how multifaceted this young movement is.  

Following up on the work first started in the 2008 book, 'underground undergrads,' which featured the stories of different undocumented UCLA students and their personal struggles back when the movement was still growing, UU2 adds to the legacy that this movement is carving as it continues to grow, develop and come into its own. While I never did fully read the entire first book, knowing the folks who put it together, reading parts of it here and there and seeing how it was used as a teaching tool, it's safe to say that this second book directly shows how much progress has been made with in the last few years.

Fourth Annual Latin@ Educational Summit 2009

My ass hurts from sitting, but it was all worth it to be at the Fourth Annual Latin@ Educational Summit @ UCLA today. I tell ya to see soo many educators, students and advocates talking about the Latin@ educational pipe line, predominantly AB 540 students at the community and University level. The summit touched on different aspects of the pipe line starting from the K through 12 levels and how the problems start at the very beginning. To recap more or less, the presentation of K through 12 focused on the development of programs for students who speak English as a second language. The way the system is set up right now hinders students from not only learning, but from becoming fluent in English as well. Test are designed to test students knowledge, but are worded in such a way that some students can't make sense of them.

As a result of these critical issues and others, research and programs are being developed as we speak to help these kids and teachers dealing with these kind of kids in the school system and developing curriculum that will help them assimilate. This part of the summit kinda through me for a loop because I'm not familiar with it. None the less, the info presented was eye opening and helped put things into perspective because the high high school drop out rates are a result of students not being able to learn or grow while in the lower levels of the educational system.

The second half of the summit focused on my part of the educational pipe line, AB 540 students in community colleges and in universities. I wasn't told anything new, except that everyone was given hard facts and numbers about what we already now, community colleges are a key part in AB 540 students education and a stepping stone to the universities. It was great to see and hear that people in attendance wanted to know more about how to train school faculty and counselors in what AB 540 is because so many students get the wrong information, which can cost them. They also talked about the crucial part support groups play in helping students succeed and make through the pipe line. For that reason, more and more schools are starting to create and expand their services so AB 430 students won't have to worry about their status or any other stigmata that comes with it.

There was also a heavy focus on educational programs that help students with the transferring process, filling out applications and scholarships within the support group and safe zones found at the schools. I was taken that students from my college where there talking about the "Adelante" program, which is what I just described and the four students that came gave testimonials about what the program meant to them, how it helped them and how more schools need to have those type of programs at their schools. Members of IDEAS from UCLA did the samething and shared their experiences and the value of the support groups and the network over all. They all gave powerful testimonials that reassured why everyone was there at the summit and why we all do what we do, for the future. Not just ours, but for those who have yet to come.
So over all the summit was kick ass and I'm glad I went. As you can see from this picture, UCLA hooked it up with a baller' ass spread, that included free beer :-) For those of you that couldn't go, you didn't miss out on much because most of the stuff they talked about we already know. Except for the K through 12 info, I didn't learn anything new. They just backed up what we all now with hard data and numbers, which is crucial in making the long term changes in the system. The next one is on the 31 and it's the student one so sign up if you can go. I'll be there and getting up @ 6:30 to catch the bus and get my lazy ass over to UCLA.

P.S. I gave a shout out to all the online bloggers who've I've met and continue to do their part by just blogging and spreading the word. :-)

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

Bruins for the DREAM Act

I gotta say that my hat goes off to every one at UCLA, IDEAS and the Alliance of Dreams. They're holding it down and they're always up to something promoting the DREAM Act. In fact all this week, as you can see from the flier, they're hosting various events through out the week to raise more awareness and remind people of what's at stake. I would have posted this earlier, but school and life got in the way, something we all know about hehehe. Anyway, this is what they're planning for the rest of the week, so if you happen to be at UCLA, stop by and yell "Pass the DREAM Act !!!" I would greatly appreciate it. Or you can yell "Metal up your ass!!!" either one works fine for me. 

5-7 pm: Asian Pacific Islander TEACH IN- Did you know 40% ofundocumented students at UCLA are of Asian descent? Come learn more about how the DREAM Act affects the Asian community and how we can stop the myth that undocumented students are only of Latino descent.

WEDNESDAY:

12-2 pm: SPOKEN WORD/ Storytelling in front of Kerckhoff. Come hear testimonies from allies and undocumented students themselves. ART EXHIBIT in front of Pauley Pavillion.

THURSDAY:

12-1 pm: MOCK GRADUATION and RALLY in front of Kerckhoff- Bring your cap and gown and graduate on the Kerckhoff steps- We will represent how undocumented cannot use their UCLA degrees to get a job- They graduate, and then say "Now What?"

FRIDAY:

MAY 1st MARCH!!!!