Dream Team LA...

...not to be confused with L.A. Dream Team! LOL JK!!! anywho, for those who (like me) have been wondering why we don't have an actual Dream Act group here in L.A., you're questions have been answered!!! Finally we have what is called the Dream Team L.A., a group that will focus on finding strategies to push government to pass immigration reform and execute those strategies! We met for the first time to begin to form what will be known as the Dream Team L.A. I am sooo excited to be a part of this group. We talked about what our short term goals are, our long term goals, and our strategies. I was mostly thrilled to see the turnout - not only the numbers but the demographics and the bond that joins us all together, which is a very strong common goal that will hopefully soon be met.

all in all, yesterday was a good meeting, a great start! I cannot wait to see what the Dream Team L.A. will become! One thing is for sure...we are here now! Stronger than ever and super pumped! This is just the beginning...

you MUST attend...

the 2nd annual Immigrant Youth Empowerment Conference:"Reaching our DREAMs through ACTion 2009" on Sunday May 31st, 2009!

RSVP deadline is this friday, May 15th, so hurry hurry hurry! RSVP here.

Remember that now is the time for us to come together and let our voices be heard!!!!

XOXO

and we're back where we started...

...ugh. it's just one of those days where i feel like no matter how hard i work it's still not enough. we went to see my an immigration lawyer for my mom yesterday to see what options we have to stop her deportation. it turns out that just to re-open the case and start with the lowest court (the board of appeals, i think) we need to give $1750. up until that point i was like ok, well that's not TOO bad right? he continued by saying that after that it would go to the next court (im not too sure what court that is, with all the stress i am feeling right now my brain is not 100% functional) which would mean another $8000 roughly....WHAT?!?!?!? are you kidding me?!??! how can we ever come up with a sum like that...my mom is a single parent working for a wage that is not all that great....a wage that we have to stretch sooo much just make ends meet...and the ends still don't fully meet...my income is barely enough to help those ends meet even if its only by the slightest touch...at that point i was convinced that some miracle had to happen but that if we worked extremely hard we could do it....then he explained that this was just for the purpose of "buying time". because she already has a deportation we are just buying more time to see if a reform passes... although my brother petitioned for her about 2 years ago she doesn't qualify for her residency because she is missing the 245-i. but to make matters worse after that second court we would have to appeal to the 9th circuit....that's, drum roll pleaseee.....another $8000 ladies and gentlemen! i am convinced that we will need a miracle to happen for us to EVER have that kind of money....not to mention that this doesn't guarantee anything....we are just BUYING TIME remember?

this whole process would earn her another 2 years....2.5 if were lucky...and only if a reform were to pass would she ever have even the slightest chance to become legal in the United States.

sad huh? and very very UNFAIR.

i am on the hunt for a second job and praying to God that he makes something happen...

Calling all DREAMERS...

I realize that I haven't blogged in a while now, but it's only because I have been busy working on a very cool project that you all can take part in! I am working on a short Dreamer Documentary. I think that the more we get our stories out there the higher the chances are of the DREAM ACT passing...

I will begin interviewing people in the coming weeks and would like you all to consider being an interviewee! This will not only be fun but also it will put your voice out there and reach a mass audience. Please let me know if you are interested as soon as possible so that we can schedule something.

It is time we make a difference!

XOXO.

you can email me @ nancyaandrade@yahoo.com