Continue reading »]]> We have never felt safe in our community with the presence of NYPD and ICE and their joint programs.  I personally never felt safe around cops ever since witnessing my friends being stopped and frisked for no apparent reason.  We are all victims of the institutionalized racism and the prison industrial complex.  This week alone NYPD has shot and killed 3 black men. Ridiculous right?  The  Physical abuse and the causalities by NYPD has been detrimental to our communities; makes you question “Whose next? Me?”

Watching the news made me think of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)‘s  Know Your Rights  resources.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE STOPPED BY THE POLICE

•  Stay calm and in control of your words, body language and emotions.
• If asked about your immigration status?  You do not have to answer.
• Provide them with any ID you have on you. If they do not accept your ID, stay calm if they take you to the precinct.
• Don’t get into an argument with the police.
• [1] Never bad-mouth a police officer.
• [1] Remember, anything you say or do can be used against you.
•  Keep your hands where the police can see them.
•  Don’t run.
•  Don’t touch any police officer.
•  Don’t resist even if you believe you are innocent.
• [1] If you complain at the scene, or tell the police they’re wrong, do so in a non-confrontational way that will not intensify the scene.
•  Do not make any statements regarding the incident.
• [1] If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer immediately.
• Have an emergency contact ( family member; friend, organization)on you.
• Remember officers’ badge numbers, patrol car numbers and physical descriptions.
•  Write down everything you remember ASAP.
• Try to find witnesses and their names and phone numbers.
• If you are injured, take photos of the injuries as soon as possible, but make sure you get medical attention first. Ask for copies of your medical treatment files.

To continue reading….  — >KNOW YOUR RIGHT’s If You Are Stopped by the Police

They are also available in:

•  What to Do If You’re Stopped by the Police (English) (text version)
• Que Hacer Si Te Para La Policia (Espanol) (versión texto)

For more Resources   —>Other Know Your Right’s material

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Feelings of depression and worthlessness clouded up Joaquin Luna’s mind, an undocumented youth from Texas who committed suicide last year. In a country where undocumented youth are treated like less than equals but still strive to prove their self-worth everyday, many of them fall prey to depression and suicidal thoughts after feeling trapped and alone. One of these youth is Yanelli Hernandez Serrano.

Yanelli came to the United States at the age of 13. At the age of 13 I had to worry about finishing my homework and the cute boy in my class; however, these were not Yanelli’s worries. She made the journey to the U.S. alone and without family. She became independent at a young age and worked hard to provide a life for herself, doing whatever she had to do to survive. Imagine having to fend for yourself at the tneder age of 13 years old. Imagine working in a factory for over 7 years while your dreams of continuing your education continue to elude you. Imagine carrying such a heavy weight of responsibility on your shoulders. While most of us can only imagine, these are the facts of ….continue reading here!

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Join us on Tuesday, March 6th for the New York DREAM Act Albany day and demand that our state government act! It is now up to the State of NY to provide dignity and recognition for all its promising and deserving young people.

The NYSYLC will be having buses leaving from NYC, if you’re interested please REGISTER HERE: http://bit.ly/nydaalbanyaction

Every year thousands of undocumented youth graduate from New York high schools and face an uncertain future because of their immigration status. For years the federal government has failed our communities by refusing to pass the DREAM Act. This has left undocumented youth in NY without any form of relief. As a state with one of the largest immigrant populations, NY should be at the forefront of progressive immigration policies, pushing back on the tide of national and local anti-immigrant policies.

The NYSYLC will be having buses leaving from NYC, if you’re interested please REGISTER HERE: http://bit.ly/nydaalbanyaction

If you are interested in coming to the Albany Day of action and live outside of NYC please go ahead and REGISTER, we will be contacting you to make arrangements.

PLEASE SPONSOR A RIDER BY MAKING A DONATION HERE.

Location and time is to be announced soon.

Continue reading »]]> coming out publicly about ones immigration status is an empowering step for many undocumented individuals.

Why?

Because the simple act of stating something that society instructs to be kept hidden is an act of revolution.
Because once something we all have in common is stated out loud we create unity among people sharing the same struggle.
Because finding this unity or support system is important to those who feel alone.
Connecting our struggles and identities is where a movement is born.

I’ve come out of the shadows undocumented and unafraid for over 2 years now. On tv, the radio, news papers, blog posts and t-shirts. Two of the biggest events in which I stated my status were organized for the National Coming Out Day in March. One sunny morning in 2010 I stood in front of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building right here in New York and stated that I am undocumented. In March 2011 I stood in the middle of a circle in Union Square and told all the onlookers. However, when writing and sharing my story of self I never told anyone that I was molested as a child by someone I know.

In high school we were asked to submit a personal statement along with our college applications…an essay about ourselves which described a struggle we faced that empowered us in a certain way. I didn’t embrace my undocumented identity as much back then so I decided to write about being molested and how it had changed me. This is something big and I cannot hide the fact that it happened; it has shaped who I am. I didn’t want to be secretive about it and I know that being quiet about something this huge doesn’t mean it makes it go away…so I wanted to embrace it. I wanted to share this huge fact about myself because I know I am not the only one. By writing my piece I had hoped to reach other girls who like me were once in the same situation. I wanted to get over this huge fear of intimacy. I had hoped that writing it out would mean I wouldn’t have nightmares anymore. However, one of my high school teachers told me to never tell anyone about what happened, “you should try to write about something that won’t be embarrassing to speak about when interviewed by college staff. This is not an appropriate topic” and just like that she convinced me to keep quiet about something that is intertwined with my sense of self.

Similarly, I read and hear about folks coming out as:
parent and undocumented
student and undocumented
working while undocumented
unemployed and undocumented
queer and undocumented

But I’ve never been able to say that I survived molestation and am also undocumented because I didn’t understand how both were connected. I didn’t understand how one issue balanced with the other. I didn’t understand that my inability to ask for help when the abuse was happening was intertwined with the threats I heard of having ICE called, of having my family separated. I didn’t understand that by sharing this story I could reach other individuals who may be living this every day and don’t ask for help because they think it isn’t there.

Why bring one topic as controversial as sexual molestation into the already controversial issue that is immigration?

I get it now.

Because one may not agree with my fight for immigrant rights, but by seeing another side to my story they’ll understand that I’m just as much of a human as anyone else.

Because I’ve stated my immigration status and I seem brave and courageous, even though another aspect of me is still scared and embarrassed.

Because to fully promote empowerment we must practice it.

Because we are all survivors of something and there is nothing to be quiet about.

Coming out isn’t just one identity. It is about finding strength and courage within all of our struggles. Coming out about any obstacle we have faced, and embracing it, is where we empower ourselves and aren’t ashamed about it anymore. Sure, talking about my immigration status is controversial enough as it is but folks needs to understand that this isn’t the only problem I am facing.

Yes, I am undocumented but that isn’t the only aspect about me that matters. And so, one of my resolutions for 2012 was to embrace all of me equally. I am not a 2D person, but 3D even 4D with different facades to my identity, different struggles, different stories that go untold because many believe that this is only a one issue movement. When it’s not. By connecting all of our stories, struggles and realizing that there is unity in oppression we are able to really move forward. Our existence is combined with many other things.

Continue reading »]]> As the year comes to an end we want to highlight and recap some of our accomplishments and memories of 2011.
It was been a year of tears, hugs and laughter. We hope that 2012 is a year of change.
Your monetary and time donations have kept us running. Thank you for standing by us and supporting us.

Love,
The New York State Youth Leadership Council

Continue reading »]]> Fierce Leaders,

We want to take this moment to send our very best wishes to you and your family during the holiday season and the start of a New Year is around the corner. At the NYS Youth Leadership Council, we want to thank you for all your time, help and the donations you contributed throughout the year in order to keep our organzitaion running. As the first and only undocumented youth led organization, we know that without your help, we would not have had a successful year. Please consider donating in order to keep us running and to bring many more programs to the undocumented youth we servce. A small amount of money brings us closer to our target goal that needs to be met by the end of 2011 in order to start planning for 2012. 

Click Here To Donate.

The undocumented youth movement is growing and every day there are other youths who we are empowering to take charge of their own life. We continue to firmly believe in being “Undocumented, Unafraid and Unapologetic.”

Some highlights from the 2011 year:

• We started campaigning for the NY DREAM Act that would benefit our undocumented youth. Find out more about the NY Dream Act.
• We held 3 college clinics througout the city to assist high school students apply for college, and are planning many more!
• We started our 1st high school/college mentoring program for undocumented youth and are starting the 2nd cycle now! Check out the video by our mentors and mentees here.
• We started work on our Education Not Deportation campaigns and have successfully stopped the deportation of undocumented youth, including Nadia Habib and her mother.
• We were able to offer 8 scholarships to 8 students in order to further their college education.
• We have had a sucessful blog that feautures guest bloggers and the Ask Angy page. Have a question? Send it to her!
• … and so much more!!!  Click Here To Donate.

(From Left to Right: Scholarship Ceremony Aug. 2011, Coming Out Of The Shadows March 2011, Stop Nadia's Deportation Sept. 2011)

This and so much more are some of the achievements the YLC has had. We could not have gotten to where we are today without your help. No donation is too small and every little helps to keep these services and more running. There are still a few days left before the end of the year, and all donations are tax-deductible.

Click Here To Donate.

Thank you in advance for all your help and may the New Year be surrounded by friends and family.

With thanks,

The New York State Youth Leadership Council

Continue reading »]]> Now I am 24 years old,
back then I was only 12 yrs old.
My mother decided to get me a Tourist Visa in order to visit DIisney World.
I came with my grandmother and there was no Disney land. It was New York City
I landed a cold February. I’ll never forget.
2 months later My youngest brother got sick and so my Grandmother went to his rescue back to our homeland….
I had to stay behind with a single promise, “I’ll be back in 2 weeks, behave.”

I had to stay with an Uncle who I barely knew. As the years went by I got to really know him up to the point in which I wished I had never met him in the first place.

I tend to block bad memories from coming back and I’m starting to believe that this is how I survived my teenage years, living with a verbally abusive and alcoholic Uncle. I do not hate him, but I have no respect towards him; from brushing my teeth with a toilet brush to making me give him my entire paycheck because, “you have to help me”. Now that I look at it; it was not help…I was supporting him. How could I be so smart in school and so dumb at home? He’s my Uncle and he was the only known thing I had in this foreign country full of English speakers.

I just want you to know that I graduated from High School in the honor roll crew. I have a flying GPA of 3.9 in College. I bet you would never guess that this charming girl, the bright, helpful, good and “normal” girl is not what you think she is. She did not call Mama every other day, she did not eat on a regular daily basis, she couldn’t afford to buy notebooks so she would rip off the left over pages from last years supplies and recycled that. No branded clothing, no fancy pens or pencils, no “wow I’m so proud of you” from her parents only from the teachers. Yeah that girl with the bright future was just left behind with no passport and an expired visa at 12 years old.

I had to grow some “balls” along the way, but I was still naive. I felt a lot of fear and loneliness growing up in a corner of the Bronx County in New York City.

See, things aren’t always what they seem and each story is different. I hope that through my blog you will understand that better. Now that you’ve got the facts straight, let us get to know each other and let me say what I have kept behind closed doors all these years. I kept it hidden behind curtains because I was ashamed. I want to make this silent dream scream because today is the day. No more hiding. If I survived (and continue to do so) then anyone can.

Sincerely,
GGMOM