Will you be there?? Let us know

1. Call us at 212-627-2227 ext 248 to let us know your coming!

2. Email Angy at angy@nysylc.org

   

“CARIBBEAN ONE wants to make sure our voices are heard by our leaders.  Our 2010 efforts include identifying critical issues like immigration and education reform, the DREAM Act that creates a pathway to residency of the children of illegal immigrants, reconstruction aid for Haiti, the creation of a national AIDS plan, and an end to all discrimination.”

Excellent.  We agree.  If you’re feeling empowered today, shoot them an email at info@caribbeanone.org and tell them THANKS for supporting the DREAM Act.

Fun fact: First African American woman to serve in Congress, Shirley Chisholm, is of Barbadian parents (Barbados).

What actions have happened so far?

-Chicago (IYJL): March and rally
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=302658652469
Contact: Tania Unzueta

-Massachusetts (Harvard): Hear the stories of our undocumented peers
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=341198067251&ref=ss
Contact: Kyle de Beausset

What actions will be happening this week?

-Los Angeles (Dream Team LA): Rally
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=391061167213
Contact: Lizbeth Mateo, Cyndi Bendezu

-New York (New York State Youth Leadership Council): Rally
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=364662218657
Contact: Martin, Angy

-Florida (Students Working for Equal Rights): Protest
http://www.facebook.com/index.php?#!/event.php?eid=354206688811
Contact:

-Rhode Island (Brown University): Papers Screening/Coming Out Testimonies
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=350322568774&ref=mf
Contact: Tam Tran

-Kansas/Missouri (KS/MO Dream Alliance): Rally
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=370579188492&ref=nf
Contact:

What did the press release for this week talk about?
http://www.dreamactivist.org/press-release-empowered-youth-country-declare-undocumented-status-worth-america/

What kind of press coverage has there been surrounding National Coming Out Undocumented?

WI: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_85e36678-2d63-11df-89c3-001cc4c002e0.html
WI: http://www.kenoshanews.com/home/out_of_the_shadows_7546652.html
IL: http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=40575
IL: (Chicago Public Radio)http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=40589
IL: http://news.jornal.us/article-4636.Chicagoan-Youths-and-Community-Groups-Joins-the-March-for-Immigration-reform.html
IL: (Chicago Tribune) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illegal-immigrants-march-20100310,0,7872478.story
IL: (Chicago Tribune) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-schmich-0310-20100309,0,604645.column
IL: (Taiwan News) http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1200514?=eng_news
IL: (Boston Herald/AP) http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/20100310illegal_immigrant_youth_hold_coming_out_day/srvc=home&position=recent
IL: (Chicago Breaking News Center) http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/03/immigrant-groups-marching-from-west-side-downtown.html
IL: (Video: Chicago WGN News) http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-immigration-rallies-in-chicago-mar10,0,3432344.story
IL: (Blog: Gapers Block) http://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2010/03/10/undocumented-youth-ready-to-come-out/
IL: (Daily Herald/AP) http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=365140&src=143
IL: (Party for Socialism and Liberation) http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13817&news_iv_ctrl=1030
IL: (Latin American Herald Tribune) http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=353532&CategoryId=12395
IL: (Progress Illinois) http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2010/03/11/immigrant-youth-durbin-time-now-take-lead
IL: (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/us/politics/12immig.html?scp=1&sq=coming%20out%20undocumented&st=cse
IL: (People’s World): http://www.peoplesworld.org/undocumented-and-unafraid-youth-rally-for-immigration-reform/
IL: (Blog: The Deportees Wife) Today I Love Chicago the Way I Love New York: http://thedeporteeswife.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/today-i-love-chicago-the-way-i-love-new-york/
IL: (Blog: Curious In Chicago) Immigrant Students: http://curiousinchicago.wordpress.com/youngimmigrants/
All: (Blog: Vivir Latino) http://vivirlatino.com/2010/03/10/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are-national-coming-out-of-the-shadows-day.php

That’s all nice, but can I see or hear some examples?

-Gabe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_piUSirhE&feature=autofb
-IYJL: http://www.iyjl.org/?p=522
-IYJL: http://www.peterholderness.com/iyjl/index.html

-Washington State Youth: http://www.dreamactivist.org/wda/

I’ve decided to participate. Now where can I get some guidance and what are my next steps?

Register: http://www.dreamactivist.org/comeoutreport/

Guide: http://www.dreamactivist.org/comeout/

My Name Is…And I Am Undocumented – I love this! Do you have examples?

Brian: http://www.dreamactivist.org/brian-undocumented/
Aura: http://www.dreamactivist.org/aura-undocumented/

Kemi: http://www.dreamactivist.org/kemi-undocumented/

Are there any graphics or images I can use to show my support?

http://www.dreamactivist.org/fbpic/

What other writings are there surrounding the idea of coming out?

Beating your coming out fears (Maria): http://www.dreamactivist.org/beating-coming-fears/
The Benefits of Coming out – Together (Flavia): http://www.dreamactivist.org/coming-ucla/
10 Reasons to be Out and Proud (Prerna): http://www.dreamactivist.org/10-reasons-proud-undocumented-immigrant/
Embracing Undocumented Identities (Andrea – via RISE) http://www.dreamactivist.org/embracing-undocumented-identities/
11/27 Never Forget (Matias): http://www.dreamactivist.org/embracing-undocumented-identities/
A Reflection on my Coming Out (Andrea): http://www.dreamactivist.org/reflection-coming/
Coming Out Works (Matias): http://www.dreamactivist.org/coming-works-story-harrisonburg/

Coming Out Undocumented, An Evolution (Kemi): http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/coming_out_undocumented_an_evolution_2

We Are Coming Out for Our Sister (Matias & Facundo): http://www.dreamactivist.org/coming-sister-selfdeported-dreamer/

Trail of Dreams: Walking into the Light (Carlos, Gaby, Felipe, & Juan):

http://www.dreamactivist.org/trail-dreams-walking-light/

Where can I get more updates like this as the week progresses?

Right here! We’ll be updating this post every night as events happen and more media is created, so keep checking back.

NIU is one of the few schools in Illinois that offer scholarships to DREAM Act eligible youth. While community organizations, like KRCC and DREAM Action (not the NIU affiliate) have been fund raising for scholarships for quite some time as well. Still, there can never be enough!

DREAM Action NIU wants you to know that:

DREAM Action NIU understands the obstacles some students face in respect to attaining higher education and we motivate all youth to pursue their educational endeavors because we know that a college education is attainable by everyone. We are proud to offer our first scholarship for NIU students in financial need for the 2010 – 2011 school year.

Help us to reach our goal of raising $3,000 in funds by joining us in a night of dancing, performances, prizes and food at our Culture Night benefit taking place Friday, March 19 at Conexión Comunidad (637 N. 11th Street) in DeKalb!

Opening performances by Back of the Yards Mexican Folkloric Dance Troupe & Chicago break dance crew!

Food from Burrito Loco, Cortes Candy & La Salsa!

Raffle!

Voter Registration!

Music from DJ Jesse “El Grandote” from 106.7 FM La Kalle!

*Text the word “DREAM” to 42363 to join La Kalle’s text club and receive a special offer!!!*

This event is sponsored by the Latino Resource Center, 106.7 FM La Kalle radio station & TCF Bank.

TICKETS ARE ONLY $5 WITH STUDENT ID/ $10 WITHOUT ID AND CAN BE PURCHASED FROM ANY DREAM ACTION MEMBER OR AT THE DOOR!

Location: Conexión Comunidad – 637 N. 11th Street
Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM. Starts at 6:00PM ends at 9:00 PM
Cost: $5 with student ID / $10 without student ID

All proceeds go to the Dream Action NIU scholarship fund.
To view the scholarship, please visit www.niu.edu/lrc

Check out the facebook event!

Part 1

Part 2

Question? Concerns? Contact Yasmeen at yvillasenor323@gmail.com

DREAM Action is certainly putting the “Act” and “action” in the DREAM. Good Luck DREAM Action NIU and good luck to the deserving DREAMer!

Quite funny considering that in a bold move during a joint session of Congress a couple of months back, Rep. Wilson uttered the words “YOU LIE!” to Obama himself. But what happens when the Trail of Dreams visit Joe Wilson’s office and ask about his stance on the Dream Act?

Reports are coming via my email from the Trail of Dreams as to their visit Joe Wilson’s office. Apparently his staff had little to no knowledge about the Dream Act but were, to say the least, very sympathetic to the cause.

Will Joe Wilson shout “YOU LIE” to the Democrats in the House if the Dream Act comes to a vote? Why shout “YOU LIE” when clearly he has yet to understand important pieces of immigration legislation? Will Joe Wilson co-sponsor the Dream Act now that his staff (and hopefully he) know the truth and benefits of it?

Too many questions. Not many answers. But we can clearly see that there are a lot of misconceptions, especially from folks who know “very little” about immigration policy and about the DREAM Act. Hopefully we can sway even more conservative, or on-the-fence votes, and explain to them the common sense that is the Dream Act. Yes, I am looking at you Alan Boyd and George LeMieux.

Do you have a Representative or Senator that opposes or sits on the fence?

Don’t wait for them to vote against us, go talk to them and educate them!

Not only is important to be out and about as a Dream Act student, but also to be counted in the census!

Here at DreamActivist we can’t stress enough the importance of participating in the census. Not only is it an important form to be filled out every ten years, but it’s also, short, simple, and should be completed by all. Don’t forget the “good moral standing” requirement for the Dream Act!

Our friends over at USSA have compiled facts, figures, and made it a simple for all students to understand. Now I know you guys must be thinking: Wait this is a federal form? That the government will see? Heck, there is not way I am telling them about my status, and much less where I reside!

Well, if you’re sitting in the comfort of your home, or on the bus reading this, then don’t take it from us! Take it from the big man himself:

“[Senator] Reid said information on the forms will not be shared with any agencies, like law enforcement or immigration officials”.

Don’t believe him? Well take a second to read over a piece of USSA’s census page:

It’s Confidential!
By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn to protect confidentiality.

Are you a student? Are you a Dream Act student? No need to fear, participate, be active. After all you are fighting to stay in the only country you have know as home, right?  Be a better citizen than a lot of Americans, and fill out your census form.

In the state of Washington, over 65 undocumented students from the Washington Dream Act Coalition (WDAC) came out of the shadows through a video montage calling for Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray to take the lead for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

“Stepping out of the shadows has been a very liberating experience for me,” said Marc, an undocumented graduate of the University of Washington and member of the WDAC. “I will no longer lie and make up stories to my friends to hide my immigration status,” he added. “Hopefully, others will follow our example and together we can finally bring real change to this broken immigration system.”

Though comprehensive immigration reform looms in the background as the next big issue for the Obama administration, due to the prolonged health care debate and the upcoming midterm elections, the window of opportunity to pass reform this year is slowly closing. “United We Dream, We Stand, and We Come out of the shadows” Alonso Chehade, a UW Alumni best known for his fight against deportation and a grassroots organizer for the WDAC, stated in an e-mail.

The Washington Dream Act Coalition was recently founded by several undocumented student leaders from the state of Washington in an effort to raise awareness and build support to achieve the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the Dream Act.

Check out this video, brought to you by the Washington Dream Act Coalition: Washington Dreamers

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Undocumented students from coast to coast will announce their status and identity publicly this week.  In “coming out” to their peers, these students hope to raise awareness of the broken immigration system and encourage Congress to repair it.

“Despite their having grown up in the United States, this country’s immigration system has prohibited tens of thousands of ambitious young people from achieving their dreams of becoming teachers, doctors, lawyers, and civic leaders,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.  ”Congress has allowed this self-imposed brain drain to continue for far too long.  It’s time for these young leaders to be allowed to contribute their full potential to U.S. society.”

In celebration of coming-out week, staff members of the National Immigration Law Center have shared or reshared their own stories of living without documentation. Staff Attorney Nora Preciado’s story was featured last year on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”.

Added Hincapié, “Staff members of the National Immigration Law Center show that, given the chance, these students will greatly impact our society.  We cannot allow another generation’s talents go to waste.  Elected officials must consider the fate of these young people when determining how best to fix our broken immigration system.”

“Coming-out Week” is organized in partnership with the United We Dream Network, a national youth?led network devoted to achieving equal access to higher education for all people, regardless of immigration status. For more information about activities, rallies, and events near you, visit www.dreamactivist.org

To learn more about how you can advance the rights of low-income immigrants and their families, visit www.nilc.org.

We know that we promised to upload one story everyday for Coming Out Week and apparently you all expected us to do it on weekends too. But we were in New Jersey facilitating a training and didn’t have time …. so we’re going to make it up to you by posting TWO stories every day!

Here is Valeria’s:

As I walked to the subway this morning, I saw a woman in a yellow coat walking in the same direction. She had a coffee in one hand, a paperback book in the other and a purse which seemed to have weighed a bunch since it was making her right shoulder slouch a bit more than the left. Something very familiar about this lady intrigued me, but I simply shrugged my shoulders and continued walking to the 1 downtown train station that I have been taking every day for the past seven months.

Coincidentally enough, the lady in the yellow coat was sitting directly in front of me as the train had come to the station. I put my drink down, looked inside my heavy purse to find that I had forgotten my current novel at home. I had absolutely nothing to do for the next 45 minutes of my life other than wander my eyes aimlessly around in hope of something interesting to catch my sight.

I closed my eyes and memories filled my head as fast as the speed of the train.

…

I thought of my dad the day before we came to the United States from Colombia trying to ease my tears away by telling me about all the new amazing opportunities my upcoming life had in store for me. That’s something he’s always been good at- making the hardest situations never reflected in his face, by only displaying pure confidence through his eyes. As we landed in New York in January of 1998, my small seven year old body could barely stand the cold, but as always, my parents were there giving me protection to stay warm.

Scholastically, I was the same as my peers .Within two years in the country, I was put into a regular speaking English classroom. By 5^th grade, I was president of the student council. I really started to believe all those stories my dad had told me. I had friends, a supporting family and an undeniably successful future ahead- or so I believed.

Never did I pay close attention to the fact that my family and I were undocumented. My dad worked with my uncle at a shoe store and my mom was a housewife, so to me, I was like the other kids. When my family decided to move to Miami, Florida after 6^th grade, I knew that it had to do a lot with my dad’s job. We moved to make ends meet as he began to work for himself, always coming home with a smile on his face; quickly turned upside down once he and my mom would close the door and talk about money and immigration while my older sister and I just listened.

High school was the peak for me, as it is for many undocumented students. By senior year, even though I had been accepted into the school of my choice with 75% of paid tuition, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to attend. I wasn’t an eligible resident and all my trophies, awards, recognitions, my time as class president and speaking at my graduation became no more than just a faded memory.

All my friends thought I had my whole future ahead of me, when I had no clue where my college career fell in place and instead I was the one feeling jealous of them and I blamed my parents for it. I saw my only choice was to move back to New York because I read of the in-state tuition within one year and I simply saw no other choice.

I thought of the past seven months and how they have been a completely mind and life changing experience. I am now enrolled in a community college taking day by day as it comes. I began to write to numerous organizations and miraculously got a response from the New York State Youth Leadership Council who is engaged in raising awareness for immigrant youth by promoting the DREAM act. This organization has brought back the confidence I lost the day I got my high school diploma.

I remember watching an All-Stars production (another organization I volunteer in) called The Task and hearing someone say “if we always hide who we are, do we become what we’re not?” That line has stuck to me since that day and one thing that I would never want to do is become a different person than who I am today, which is why I am showing my true personality. The stubbornness I once had has faded, the struggles my family has faced have only made me stronger  and I want nothing more than to change the perspective of those who think that we undocumented students don’t deserve to further our education.

…

The train came to a halt, making me blink my eyes to reassure my present reality. It was my stop and I suddenly got up to walk out as the lady in the yellow coat shot me a quick glance which made me realize that in her, I saw me. I saw the hope and the confidence that encourages me that someday, I’ll be able to fulfill all my dreams because in the end, when we are on one train wanting to go to a particular destination, it is very difficult to derail. You take your own train in the path of life, and no one could take that away from you- not even the barriers that stand against us.

In the state of Washington, over 65 undocumented students from the Washington Dream Act Coalition (WDAC) came out of the shadows through a video montage calling for Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray to take the lead for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

“Stepping out of the shadows has been a very liberating experience for me,” said Marc, an undocumented graduate of the University of Washington and member of the WDAC. “I will no longer lie and make up stories to my friends to hide my immigration status,” he added. “Hopefully, others will follow our example and together we can finally bring real change to this broken immigration system.”