Arrival Stories: Erick Huerta

Posted on April 23, 2012 by El Random Hero

5 year old Erick

I remember falling asleep inside my uncle’s car in Michoacán only to wake up in Boyle Heights hours later. Up until then, my mom, two younger sisters and I were living at my great grandma’s ranch. All I remember from the few months we spent there was running all over the place, catching chickens for the occasional molé and swimming in a stream as my mom washed clothes on rocks further up. Staying with family was the best recourse my parents could have taken as we prepared to immigrate to the U.S. My father couldn’t afford to take us all at once of course, thus he went on ahead to find work and secure a place for us to stay until everything was ready. Continue reading →

OC to LA Dream Ride Recap

Posted on March 6, 2012 by El Random Hero

Thank you to everyone who participated in this years ride. It was an amazing experience connecting different movements and individuals together and in sharing passionate energy the entire day. Needless to say that this ride could not have happened without the support of the riders, volunteers and supporting orgs/spaces. Dream Team LA would like to thank Bici LIbre, City of Lights, Solidarity Ink, The Orange County Dream Team, El Centro Cultural de Mexico and the organizing committee for coming together and putting on an amazing event. Be sure to check out more pictures from the ride on our facebook page and if you missed out this year, you can be sure they’ll be another ride next year.

Dream Team Members Garner Online Traction

Posted on February 16, 2012 by El Random Hero

Dream Team LA members Nancy Meza, Carlos Amador and Erick Huerta were all featured for their open editorials and blog post on two different sites. All three members continued the ongoing dialogue of what it means to be young, undocumented while growing up in the United States with their individual contributions.

Both Nancy, along with Erick, contributed to the brand new “Dream Activist Blogging Series” on the Huffington Post, Latino Voices page. In her post, “Immigration Is Not Just An Election Year Issue, It Is A Reality Millions Of Undocumented People In The U.S Have To Face Every Day,” Nancy discusses the need for politicians and multi-million dollar corporations, to be held accountable for their role in driving immigrants from their home countries with unbalanced foreign trade policies, such as NAFTA. Continue reading →

OC to LA Dream Ride 2012

Posted on February 3, 2012 by El Random Hero

Riding in celebration of the passage of the California Dream Act and connecting the immigrant rights movement with the biking community, Dream Act Riders, Dream Team Los Angeles, Orange County Dream Team, El Centro Cultural de Mexico, Solidarity Ink and City of Lights are proud to be sponsoring the OC to LA Dream Ride 2012.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

REGISTRATION IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED. NO LATE APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPT. FOR ANYONE CRASHING THE RIDE, KNOW THAT OUR PRIORITY WILL BE SUPPORTING REGISTERED RIDERS. ANYONE ELSE CRASHING WILL BE ON THEIR OWN, BUT WILL RECEIVE ASSISTANCE/FOOD PROVIDED THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN CARE OF FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

For those that couldn’t be part of the ride, be sure to join us at the kick off press conference in the OC happening at the starting point of the ride at El Centro Cultural de Mexico: 313 M. Birch Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 starting at 8 a.m.

If you need further incentive on being part of tis amazing ride and event, check out all the pics our friend Victor took of the ride.

Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
Set 4
Set 5
Set 6

Dream Team L.A. Member on KPFK

Posted on December 21, 2011 by El Random Hero

Dream Team L.A. member, Mariella Saba, was recently invited to the KPFK studios to discuss and share the work DTLA does in the immigrant rights movement. “Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod,” an early morning show that features daily public affairs, with guest host Hamid Khan, that featured a discussion on the affects Secure Communities has had in communities here in Los Angeles.

Mariellas segment comes in at the 25:40 mark, as she describes some of the first hand effects Scomm has had in families and children in the Pico Union area. During the conversation, Mariella as “how do they make business from our pain?” when the discussion turns to families being separated from each other and placed in detention centers that see individuals as money, rather than humans. The perceptive discussion continues on for 10 minutes as she also shares the need for self care and healing within any movement, its importance and how she has facilitated these elements in DTLA.

Dreamers Profiled in USC Video

Posted on December 7, 2011 by El Random Hero

Jesus Cortez in the classroom

Jesus Cortez and Martha Vazquez are profiled by Jessica Flores, a journalism student, currently at USC for the program, “Impact.” The video highlights the work and everyday struggles both Cortez and Vazquez face, how they exceed, despite being held by back their immigration status and how they are fighting to change all of that. You can view the 20 min segment yourself, here.

Undocu-Media Workshop

Posted on December 6, 2011 by El Random Hero

Dream Team Los Angeles in Collaboration with Dreamers Adrift will be hosting an Undocumedia workshop. This workshop is open to current media makers, both undocumented & allies, and to those who are seriously committed to creating and contributing to their own forms of media .

This workshop will focus on strengthening our media skills ( in multiple platforms of media ) and creating a vision of what and where we want to see undocumented youth media.

Priority will be given to those who are part of a group/organization. Space will also be given to those individuals who are not part of an organization, but want to contribute to the creation of undocumented media.

If you are interested in attending please send the following to undocumedia@gmail.com

Name
Organization ( if you are part of an organization )
What type of media do you create or are interesting in creating ?
What does undocumedia mean to you ?

Space is limited to 30 people, so please submit your information ASAP to secure your attendance to the workshop.

With much love

Dreamers Adrift and Dream Team Los Angeles

Undocumented & Awkward Ep. 4

Posted on December 6, 2011 by El Random Hero

In this episode, of the ongoing serious by dreamers adrift, dreamers find themselves in an office and having to deal with an opinionated co-worker.

CNN en Español profiles Dreamer/Artist Julio Salgado

Posted on November 25, 2011 by El Random Hero

Julio is know in the Dream movement for being an amazing artist, and as a member of dreamers adrift. His art work has been seen all over the country and all over facebook whenever there’s anything Dream related going on. His style is unmistakable, simple and to the point each and every time. Recently, Julio was profiled by CNN en Español, talking about his drawing, the dream act movement and how they’re both intertwined.

Governor Brown Signs AB 131 2nd Half of CA Dream Act

Posted on October 8, 2011 by El Random Hero

Today Governor Brown signed AB 131, the second portion of the California Dream Act, into law and demonstrated California’s leadership in advancing equal access to higher education for all. Undocumented students applaud Governor Brown’s leadership in investing in the next generation of Californians.

The California Dream Act was first introduced on January 11, 2011 by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo, and will allow students that meet the in-state tuition requirements to apply for and receive specified financial aid administered by California’s public colleges and universities. It is estimated that there are over 25,000 undocumented students who graduate every year from California’s high schools. Economic projections for the state of California suggest that by 2025 two of every five jobs will require a college graduate. AB 131 brings California a step closer towards fulfilling this need by allowing undocumented students to continue their education.

“As undocumented students we’ve faced a particularly difficult challenge in financing our education because of our ineligibility to apply for financial aid. The California Dream Act will protect the investment the state of California has made in our education,” said Erick Huerta , a Dream Team Los Angeles member and community college student .

According to a statement released by the Office of Governor Jerry Brown, “The California Department of Finance estimates that 2,500 students will qualify for Cal Grants as a result of AB 131, at a cost of $14.5 million. The overall Cal Grant program is funded at $1.4 billion, meaning that 1 percent of all Cal Grant funds will be potentially impacted by AB 131 when the law goes into effect”

The passage of the California Dream Act sends a strong message of hope to the rest of the country that we will continue to fight for justice until all immigrants are given an equal opportunity to fulfill their dreams.

For more information,
Contact: Nancy Meza
Phone: (424) 785-4013
Email: dreamteamlosangeles@gmail.com

Dream Team L.A.

DreamTeam L.A.

Official Website for Dream Team Los Angeles

Author Archives: El Random Hero