AB-540 Workshops For Students By Students!
Please Contact us to schedule an AB-540 workshop in your school
Bring College Recruiters on Campuses not Military!!!
student@issosandiego.org
Congratulations to Everyone who has been Working Hard on the Passage of the Dream Act. It was Passed in the House of Representatives December 8, 2010. And Now it is set for a vote on December 13, 2010. Continue to Make those calls and supporting the Thousands of Dream Students who need your Help!!!
San Diego Dreams, San Diego Acts!
ISSO in Coalition with San Diego Dream Team and Justice Obercoming Boundaries Joins National Day of Action for The Dream Act!
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Kendell Tylee (619) 677-7330 kendell@justicesandiego.org
Gloria Cruz: (310) 717-3205 lzmxprd@aol.com
Lighting Hope and Opportunity for
DREAM ACT Vigil
A part of national vigils in support of the federal DREAM Act
WHAT: Candle-light vigil, and procession at San Diego Mesa College in support of the DREAM Act which is scheduled for a decisive vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, December 8, 2010. So far, vigils will take place concurrently in New York, California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Stockton, Redlands, San Francisco), Michigan, North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – Music, Opening Remarks and Vigil Begins
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Short Program-Music, Poetry, DREAM Student Testimony
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Candle Light Procession- Closing Remarks
WHERE: Enter through Mesa College Drive; left at Mesa College Circle; park in the A Lots by the flagpole. If a truck needs to be closer, please discuss with media contact directly (will be on site at 4 pm). Parking can be reserved for you in Lot A, in front of the Administration Building for media/attendees. No ticketing will occur. (web resource: www.sdmesa.edu/map)
WHO: This vigil is being hosted by Justice Overcoming Boundaries (JOB), a countywide- interfaith community organization, and the San Diego DREAM Team, a coalition of DREAM Act students from College and University Campuses throughout San Diego County.
WHY: On the eve of a very important vote in the House of Representatives on the DREAM Act, organizations in at least eight states have called for a national day of action the evening of Tuesday, December 7, 2010 to step up the pressure and educate the general public about why DREAM Act makes sense to families and the economy.
VISUALS: Candle lights, large American flags, students wearing caps and gowns or university/college gear, posters with words “DREAM Act Now”, “My Future, Your Future”, “I Want to Serve”, and poster highlighting vote in Senate and House. Chants, singing, posters.
SPEAKERS: Dr. Constance Carroll-Chancellor of San Diego Community College District(SDCCD), Peter Zschiesche, SDCCD Trustee, DREAM Students, Rev. Madison Shockley-Pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ, music by Jaime Romo.
For a Full list of Vigils across the Country visit:
http://www.facebook.com/reformimmigrationforamerica?v=app_2344061033#!/reformimmigrationforamerica?v=app_2344061033
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SAN DIEGO DREAMS! SAN DIEGO ACTS!!!
COME AND JOIN ISSO AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS WE MAKE HISTORY IN SAN DIEGO, AS WE LIGHT UP OUR BRIDGES IN SUPPORT OF THE DREAM ACT!
WE DREAM!
WE ACT!
AB-540 Workshops For Students By Students!
Please Contact us to schedule an AB-540 workshop in your school
Bring College Recruiters on Campuses not Military!!!
October - November University Application time!!!
student@issosandiego.org
9 Years in the battle and still going Strong!!!!
The Dream Act is Near!
Act Now! We Are getting Close!
Make them Calls~ Make them Calls English: 866-996-5161
Spanish: 866-961-4293
Call Senators, Be Active!
Join the Movement!
Join San Diego Dream Team on Facebook for the Latest Updates
And Local San Diego Actions!
sd-dreamteam@googlegroups.com
Follow Gloria Cruz Isso on Facebook @ cruz.network.13@gmail.com
Acting Locally, Impacting Nationally, Inspiring Globally!
We Dream
We Act
September 15, 2010
San Diego Dreams
San Diego Acts!
Come Join I.S.S.O. and San Diego Dream Team
Community Awareness Rally at San Diego State University
September 15 at 12:30p.m.
Free Speech Steps, In Front of Aztec Center
(Bring your signs, Cap and Gowns, show your support for the Dream Act)
San Diego Dream Team
-Acting locally, impacting Nationally, inspiring Globally-
For Information about other National events contact www.dreamactivist.org
Come Join I.S.S.O and Students from the San Diego Region To the National Dream Act Event At San Diego State University!
September 23rd, 2009 At 12:00p.m.
Rally
For the Dream Act!
HERE ARE SOME STORIES OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR DECEMBER DREAM ACT CAMPAIGN
WE DREAM WE ACT
Stories about the dream act written by those who it will affect most. Please take the time to read them.
If you have a story you would like to share please email us at student@issosandiego.org or use the contact us form. Thank you.
My Story
My story, (as I have decided to start it) begins at age 15 living in Mexico as a young kid. That kid is now a man who writes this paper hoping it will serve its purpose.
Living on your own when you are a kid is no joke; you will take hits from all flanks, especially the ones you don’t expect. Living in Mexico as a 15 year old, I faced decisions that will most definitely shape my life, and luckily I was able to take the right turns, grip tight from the opportunities, and be able to recognize the treacherous roads. I was only 14 when my parents died, and having the lack of any worthwhile siblings, I became an independent young man, too young, yet independent. Living on my own and having two jobs to barely be able to eat would have been a pretty good load, but you know how it goes, “when you want to be great, pretty good is actually pretty bad”, and I wanted to be great, I still want to, so my decision to go to school was made without hesitation, and I threw a little extra, cycling.
But I’ll tell you what my days were like 6 days a week. 6 am wake up and ride my bike for an hour and change, roughly 20 miles, go directly to work and start my work day at around 8 o’clock, work was an assistant to a gas plumber, it was a tough job if I do say so. This would continue until school started at 4:00 pm, which meant whipping the dirt off my face and rushing to school which ended at 9:30. At ten I had another job, I was a waiter at a pizzeria right next to my morning job, which was only till midnight. Where did I live? in a shack not too distant from work. But my earnings were never ever enough, 100 dollars a month will never be enough, at least not in Mexico. They were enough to keep me standing, but not enough to keep the hunger away every single day. Have you ever eaten the rubbery ends on a chicken leg? you know the part that feels like plastic when you bite into it? Neither had I until those days. It must have been November, and it was a weekend, so I would not be fed at work, and without a cent in my pocket or a bite to eat at home, it would become one of the most important weekends of my life. When you are in this kind of situation and your stomach starts hurting from hunger at 10 am you know you are in for a long one. What to do what to do? Walk the streets and look for anything. I walked and walked without much luck, did I beg? Never, I could die of hunger but I’ll never lose my pride. Found a couple of coins, which bought me a piece of bread, and that is how I went to sleep. The next morning I rushed to work, got an advance on my pay for the week, and immediately went to buy a roasted chicken, I did not stop eating until there were only bones left, the rubbery parts were gone too, and you know what? They have never tasted better. Every time I eat chicken I think about that weekend, and the chicken legs.
Did I learn anything during this period in my life? I learned everything I needed to learn to make it through, and then some. But luckily this didn’t last too long and at age 15 I moved to the United States, with my mind set on a better life. Since then I have encountered many more obstacles, as well as opportunities, which I have taken advantage of, because I want a great life, a life worthwhile, a life worth the work that I’ve put in.
Today I am 22, a student athlete attending a university studying psychology, running track and field with a full tuition scholarship which cost me a lot of training and a few medals. I supporting myself, which is not as fun as it may sound like. My earnings have gone up, I now earn 5 times more than what I used to when I was 14, yet it is barely enough to make it through. I take nothing that I have not earned, I am a successful individual, I work hard every day, and as far as I am concerned I am a great member of my community, yet I am not considered to be a part of this thriving society.
I keep wondering what it is that I am, am I a person without 9 essential digits? A person without a few documents? And will these documents make me better to the eyes of the law? I guess that just being a person that wants to succeed and give back will never be enough. I keep waiting for an answer to that one, I wait and I keep my eyes wide open, because I am running out of time and out of energy, it has been eight years since I started, and it would be great to see a bit of a change. Anyone out there?
The challenges of being an undocumented college student
I am just a human being with an eagerness for intellectual growth. I want to get an education to help my family and help this nation. With education come limitations, this is true for students who lack documentation. Because I lack 9 digits, I cannot legally work, get a driver's license, get financial aid, or get an internship without being asked about a background check. It is not the background check I fear, because my criminal record is quite clear. My fear is that they'll find that I am not supposed to be here. Constantly I am being reminded about my situation. When I apply for scholarships I must make sure they don't ask for proof of legal documentation. How many times have I felt discouraged? How many times have I felt like giving up? To be quite frank, many, many times.... So what keeps me going? What is my motivation? My drive to keep going is other students in my situation. And future college students who also want to strive for their education. My fellow college classmates who are putting their best effort. They have not given up, so my question is, why should I? I have family, friends, and classmates who look up to me, so my decision is that I cannot give up for them and for me, I dream of one day being able to work and serve the United States which I call home. So what do I ask of you? To please support the Dream Act!