D.R.E.A.M. Act Week 2009

Humanizing the Immigrant Experience: A Student Panel
Sat, Dec 5th, 2:00 PM
Wilder 101

To wrap up D.R.E.A.M Act week, La Alianza Latina and Asian American Alliance are sponsoring an undocumented students panel. The following undocumented American students will share their stories, struggles, thoughts, and ideas:

Rigoberto Padilla:

Rigo is a third year at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He previously attended Harold Washington College, where he received his Associate’s Degree (AA). He has been working on his campaign with the Immigrant Youth Justice League of which he is member and co-founder of, supported by a number of organizations including the ICIRR. As of January of this year, he has been facing deportation back to Mexico, a country that he has never returned to since leaving at the age of 6

Reyna

Reyna is a first year student at the University of Illinois. She’s been part of the US educational system since 2000 when she and her family arrived. Aware of her immigration status for many years, during her struggle to pay college tuition she met Rigoberto. Together they formed the Immigrant Youth Justice League, whose goal is to empower undocumented youth, and give them a space where they can share their stories and at the same time organize around different issues. Their main focus currently is Rigo’s deportation. For the past month, the League has been holding meetings and organizing students city-wide, in colleges, high schools, and other youth organizations to rally against his deportation.

Irreri

Irreri graduated from the University of Illinois in May of 2009 with a BA in Gender and Women Studies. In 2006 she was part of the Chicago Land Student Network for immigrant rights and in 2006 and 2007 she helped form UIC Students For Immigrant Rights, as well as a Rapid Response Network that put together a Know Your Rights Workshop in order to inform students what to do when ICE comes to their work, place, or home. As of October Irreri is part of the Immigrant Youth Justice League, as well as an Art Collective called Arte Y Realidad, regularly holding free art workshops with the Chicago community.

Moderated by Eric Estes, MRC Director for Oberlin College

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Brown Bag Lunch Faculty Panel
Fri, Dec 4, 12:15 PM
Wilder 101

As part of D.R.E.A.M. Act week, La Alianza Latina and the Asian American Alliance are facilitating a lunchtime faculty panel, featuring the following professors representing their respective departments:

Steve Volk - History, Latin American Studies

Shelley Lee - CAST, History

Rick Baldoz - Sociology

The panel will analyze the meaning of the D.R.E.A.M. Act from variety of view points, inspiring audience members to think critically about this legislation and its potential impact on U.S. society if passed, as well as giving an opportunity to ask questions about these effects.

*Students are welcome to bring a bagged lunch

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Know Your Rights Workshop
Thurs Dec 3, 4:30 PM
Wilder 115

Do you know about the D.R.E.A.M. Act and what it means for students in America? Do you know your rights? Attend this student-run workshop and learn not only about the D.R.E.A.M. Act, but also the complications and implications of being an immigrant student in the US.

Workshop led by Viviana Gentry ‘11, Cindy Camacho ‘11, and Jackie Garcia-Mejia ‘10

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Papers: The Movie
Wed Dec 2, 7:00 PM
Craig Auditorium, Oberlin Science Center

‘Papers’ is the story of undocumented youth and the challenges they face as they turn 18 without legal status.

There are approximately 2 million undocumented children living in the U.S. who were born outside the U.S. and raised in this country. These are young people who were educated in American schools, hold American values, know only the U.S. as home and yet risk deportation to countries they may not even remember.

65,000 undocumented students graduate every year from high school without “papers” and the door to their future slams shut. It is against the law for them to work or drive. It is difficult, if not impossible in some states, to attend college or university. Currently, there is no path to citizenship for these young people.

Click on the link for more info:
http://www.papersthemovie.com/

“Papers” featured on CNN