Continue reading »]]> Our Community First Scholarship, is a program created to reward community participation before attending college. This scholarship is provided every year for individuals who will attend college for first time in 2012. This program has two components: a 300-500 word essay and a community service verification form. There is no cost to apply for this scholarship and it is sponsored by Union Settlement FCU.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be:

• college-bound high-school seniors attending college for the first time in Spring or Fall 2012.
• Applicants will be judged based upon their academic achievements, extracurricular and community activities and the quality of their written essays.
• Credit Union membership is not required to apply.

The amount of our scholarships are two of $500.00 sponsored by Union Settlement FCU.

Please take time to review the application before you submit it and if you have any questions regarding the
scholarship, email: aportada@unionsett.org

2012 Scholarship Application Here

Continue reading »]]> “Angy, why do you even watch that show?”
“You’re killing your brain cells!”
“Did you know that every time you watch it… a book commits suicide?”

To be honest, I do not understand why I watch Jersey Shore; maybe it’s Snooki’s poof but I can’t seem to look away. The housemates are now on season 5 of this reality show. Season 4 was filmed in Italy. Their concerns during the time spent in Italy were:

- Not being able to make coffee fast enough because Italy has antique coffee makers

- Deena having a pregnancy scare and trying to find a pharmacy in Italy

- Mike hitting his head too hard into the wall and being injured because they’re too hard

- Snooki hitting a cop car because streets in Italy are so hard to drive in

- Italy not having a good enough club like New Jersey’s Karma

- Drama and distance causing relationship problems

- Not being able to tan because Italy doesn’t have a place to do so

- Being stuck under a couch

- Overall, having a really bad time in Italy that drinking at work and falling asleep during a tour of Italy is a must.

Last night I was catching up on the new season’s episodes and all I had on my mind was privilege. Here’s a group of individuals complaining throughout season 4 about Italy not meeting their expectations of drunken as well as sober fun. I’ve been wanting to go to Italy since I was in high school; this is the main reason why I took Italian as my foreign language class instead of any other. I told everyone around me that I wanted to visit Venice some day and eat authentic zeppoles. While that dream may be a little far from me right now, it’ll always be on my list of places-to-see some day.
This whole situation with the Jersey Shore cast annoys me and saddens me at the same time.

Many times I sit back and observe conversations with friends or interactions on facebook with a similar mentality. Now that it’s a new year you have folks complaining that the FAFSA forms are too long and a hassle to fill out. Some are on school breaks and of course there are pictures being uploaded at the beach in another country enjoying a drink or visiting family. You have folks complaining that the vacation is almost over and school will be starting soon. Complaining that they have to commute back to their dorm soon. Complaining that they have too many hours of work this week and can’t go out with friends enough. Complaining that they didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas. Complaining, complaining, complaining. I even make attempts to stay away from facebook more during school breaks because of all this. I want to slap some sense into all of them and check their privilege; however, if they don’t acknowledge it themselves there is no point in me trying to force it. Like my mother always says, “Dios le da pan al que no tiene dientes” which translated means, “God gives bread to those who don’t have teeth”.

It’s not that I am bothered by other’s good fortune. If you have the money to fly out to other countries..do it! I know I would!
It just bothers me when folks refuse to see struggle beyond their own because they think you can just pull yourself up by your bootstraps
when people refuse to check their privilege and/or take full advantage of the opportunities they have
when these same people refuse to donate at least $10 to a scholarship fund or help fund-raise for it
when they provide us, undocumented youth, with reasons why they can’t be involved
In Jersey Shore terms, Snooki worries about her poof not being big enough instead of worrying that her scholarship fund has too much money left over and not enough applicants (this is an example, she doesn’t have a scholarship fund, see what I mean?)

Continue reading »]]> Documents I have…
*British Birth Certificate
*Wedding License
*My Child’s Birth certificate.

My parents brought me to the states when I was 5 years old. My father was arrested and deported back to England for domestic violence when I was about 8 years old.

I grew up thinking I was an American citizen. When I was in highschool I was required to take a PET (Pre Employment Training) class, part of the class required my SSN. Being a child of only 17 almost 18, I had no idea what a SSN even WAS! I lived in a small town with no desire to learn how to drive yet or a reason too. Julia was working two jobs at the time the school was wanting this, so it was difficult to get in touch with her to sort this out. She had told me to tell the school BHS, that I don’t have one because I was born in England. I still remember the nonchalant manner she informed me of this. I didn’t think much of it at the time.

The school thought I was nuts! I didn’t understand why. I had no reason to question my mother. Well, as it turns out the school asked me to leave. I was suddenly “a liability for them” since I was turning 18 and soon to be considered an adult.

I left with the intention of getting my GED and moving on to collage. I had already picked my courses and planned my life out. Surprise! No SSN or government issued ID, no GED… no GED no collage.

Around this same time I had met Arthur. My first partner. I had moved in with him around the same time Julia moved to Virginia. He had tried to help me get my immigration adjustment started as well as setting up a drivers licence/photo ID. We knew so little back then. In fact we were just talking about that last week, haha. Catch 22′s and dead ends seemed to be everywhere from the very begging. Still I had my love and my pets that I wasn’t willing to give up, let alone my friends.

Needless to say, Arthur and I didn’t work out. 5 years into the relationship and we were ready to move on.

Then I met Justin, my husband. We planned on being in a long term relationship regardless. So we planed on getting an I-130. He came with me to file for it and we were told we should wait for the FOIA to show how I came into the states. I am still waiting for it.

My husband lost his mind and started abusing me when I got pregnant. I had no choice but to file a restraining order. When I told my immigration attorney what had happened and why I can’t pay for the fees anymore, I was dropped because when Justin came to one of my meetings it caused “a conflict of interest”.

Now I have a child, can’t work, can’t rent. I had to move in with a man I don’t even like. He is forcing me to be in a relationship with him since I can’t be I=independent, but it is clean and safe for my child. I am so unhappy and I keep reaching out. I am alone and help doesn’t exist. No one understands, worst of all yesterday I passed a newspaper USA Today. On the front page it stated, “now it will be even MORE difficult for illegal aliens to establish themselves”.

I would love to be independent and not HAVE to be with a man.

~L~

Continue reading »]]> Personally, I am not undocumented, but I am in love with someone who is undocumented. We will be together for 3 years in March of 2012. We have a beautiful son together, that we love dearly. Everyday is a struggle seeing my fiance afraid to live life because of all the immigration drama going on. We plan to get married soon, and fight to keep our family together.

In March of 2011, Manuel and I were living in an apartment complex with our 10 month old son. We got into a argument that bothered the neighbors and they decided to call the police. The police knocked on our door and wanted to see my fiance. They arrested him on “domestic charges” that NEVER took place. I remember them taking him out of our apartment. All of us crying, knowing there is a chance we will never be able to see each other again. He never laid a hand on me. I was told because someone else called, the state of Kansas was pressing charges. I did not sign any papers stating Manuel harmed me in any way. They put a hold on him, and waited for immigration in Kansas City, MO to pick him up. Our nightmare had came to life.

He supports our family, he is the only thing our son and I have here in the U.S. He is waiting for Immigration court in June 2012 to hear if he is being deported back to Mexico, away from his family. Manuel simply came to the United States to live a better life and the support his mother and two younger brothers in a small poor state in Mexico. He has never hurt anyone and he loves it here so much. Every day we worry when we will have to say our goodbyes and be separated by borders, in different countries.

Questions run through my mind everyday, What would I do if he was taken from us? Where would our son and I go? How will I support us. I work a full-time job and I am also looking into going to school. What would I tell our son? I remember calling immigration asking if I could marry him and if he would be able to stay. The answer was, “go to Mexico”. They want me to leave my country and take my family to a country I don’t know. A country that has no jobs to help me support our family? All I could think of was, “are you serious?” I feel that everything is a lie; we are told we are in the land of the free. Freedom is what “undocumented immigrants” come here looking for, yet there is none.

How can we allow families to be torn apart, children who are undocumented are scared to go to school simply because they are not documented? No one will know how many times I have cried over our situation, actually not only our situation, but everyone’s situation. I pray that God will open the eyes of those who have created and supported these terrible immigration laws.

Everyone deserves a chance to better their lives.

-J

Continue reading »]]> Undocumented Youth Urges for NY DREAM Act at Legislative Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Contact: Daniela 646-472-9565

New York, NY- The NYS Assembly Higher Education and Governmental Operations Committees will hold a hearing on NYS DREAM Legislation on Friday, December 9th. At this hearing, several organizations will testify on various bills that seek to extend financial aid opportunities for higher education to undocumented youth in New York.

The NYSYLC expresses its gratitude to the Higher Education and Government Operations committees for holding the hearing on the New York DREAM Act. As the organization that spearheaded the campaign for the New York DREAM Act since its introduction in March 2011, we are pleased to see the legislative and organizational support that the bill has gathered. Undocumented youth arrived to New York as children and wish to contribute back to their communities and state, yet they face many obstacles due to their immigration status.

At this time when states like Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina are deterring undocumented immigrants from obtaining an education, New York has to stand up and enact legislation that will provide real relief to undocumented youth. It is not sufficient to pass ineffective and immaterial bills, such as a privately-funded program, in which undocumented youth will continue to depend on the decisions of a political-appointed commission and private fundraising. This kind of solution is a weak attempt at opening opportunities of higher education to undocumented youth. We need real solutions that will provide the relief that undocumented youth have been waiting and fighting for. We urge our elected officials to enact legislation that provides public-funded financial aid, which will allow them to attend college, and IDs which are a vital necessity for the daily activities of any New Yorker.

Who: Undocumented youth, supporters, and advocates
What: Press conference at 11am on the steps of City Hall (250 Broadway), and Assembly Hearing at 12pm. Take the trains N, R to City Hall; 4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall; 2,3 to Park Place stop. Map
When: Friday, December 9th, 2011
Why: New York undocumented youth need real and effective legislative change that will provide them access to TAP and IDs to contribute to the greatness of our state

Continue reading »]]> Quien Soy
Escrito Por Angy

Soy piel conquistada
Cultura dominada
Tierra robada
Sangre contaminada
Niñez abusada
Activista cansada
Estudiante desilucionada

Soy sueño reciclado
Olor a campo olvidado
Un poder escondido
El temor perdido
De nuevo eh nacido
Persiguiendo mi destino

Soy luz en la oscuridad
Corriendo de tanta maldad
En un pais que promete libertad
Presa por querer una mejor realidad

Soy innocentes detenidos
Padres madres deportados
Abuelas abuelos separados
Tios tias llorando
A un hijo matado
A una hija an violado
Por un mejor futuro
La frontera cruzaron
Nadie lo publico
Como si nunca sucedio

Soy el periodico botado
El televisor apagado
Todos an olvidado
Confiando en un gobierno corrupto
Imbeciles que dicen cuentos
Nos tratan como juegos
Por poder, tierra, petrolio y dinero
Reuso ser historia del pasado

Soy las lagrimas de mi madre
Deseando y buscando ser libre
Los sueños que no quizo mi padre
Los recuerdos que dejo mi abue

Nacida y criada Colombiana
Me dicen Americana
Aunque soy indocumentada
Voz inmigrante gritando por ayuda
Trabajando como una esclava
Tratando de realizar una meta

Continue reading »]]> I came upon the NYSYLC website when I was doing research about students who are like me, undocumented. I’m so glad I found this website because now I know that I’m not the only one feeling this way. Others are fighting for the same dream.

I was born in Ecuador and came here at the age of 5. My mother had me at a young age and came to this country so I could have a better future. I faced numerous of difficulties and challenges, yet these circumstances have allowed me to grow as a person and become stronger.

Since my mother didn’t speak english very well, I had to translate everything for her and do everything on my own. I didn’t really mind because it only made me extraordinarily independent. My immigration status didn’t affect me until I turned 16. That is when I came to the realization that I would not be able to do the certain things that my friends could. The simple things like getting a driver’s license, travel or receive financial aid for college. That is when I told myself that I would not give up or stop believing.

Entering my junior year of high school I had a goal and it was to be the best student that I could be. I worked hard to get my grades up and finished the year with the best grades that I have ever gotten. Now I’m 17 years old and a senior in high school. I’m trying to apply to college and hope to pursue my dream of obtaining higher education. I want to be able to give back to this country because I feel like it is my home. I want to become a nurse and help others in any way that I can.

This journey has been difficult and it will only get more challenging. However, I have faith that every single undocumented individual will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Bernice Johnson Reagon once said, “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” All these challenges we face will be worthwhile in the end. Angy’s videos and the different blog posts on this website have shown me that I’m not alone.

Sincerely,
Brigitte N