2019 Immigrant Justice Fellowship Kick-Off
In February 2019, the Dream Resource Center (DRC) kicked off the second year of the Immigrant Justice Fellowship (IJF), our California-wide rapid-response fellowship for immigrant youth! During the kick-off, fellows gathered to build community, participate in trainings, and prepare for the rapid-response work they are now leading for the next seven months across the state of California. This year, the DRC partnered with the following fellows and organizations:
Fellow: Adanna Ilori
Organization: Sacramento Immigration Coalition
Region: Sacramento
Fellow: Brenda Gutierrez Ramirez
Organization: Resilience OC
Region: Orange County
Fellow: Kristina Olea
Organization: Faith in the Valley (Kern County)
Region: Central Valley
Fellow: Mario Perez
Organization: Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice
Region: Inland Empire
Fellow: Mayra Pelagio
Organization: Santa Clara Rapid Response Network
Region: Silicon Valley
Fellow: Maythe Alderete Gonzalez
Organization: Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition
Region: Los Angeles
Learn more about our 2019 Immigrant Justice Fellows.
Here’s a look at five highlights from the kick-off:
1) The DRC led a plenary titled, “From the Frontlines: Lessons Learned from Rapid Response.” The plenary engaged DRC partners and IJF alumni in a powerful discussion regarding rapid-response work in California, such as the current landscape, best practices and strategies, and reflections from grassroots organizers.
Plenary participants:
- Vanessa Alderete, Deputy Director of Constituent Services for U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (Left)
- Jennaya Dunlap, Deportation Defense Coordinator for the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (Middle)
- Ana Ramirez, OC Rapid Response Coordinator for Resilience OC & IJF Alumna (Right)
2) The fellows participated in the 23rd Annual UCLA Health Care Symposium, “Immigration & Health: Status, Access, and Bridging the Disparity.” The symposium explored the intersection of immigration and the healthcare system and how to improve access to healthcare for immigrants. Watch the video below for what the fellows learned about immigration and health!
3) UCLA alumna and immigrant rights leader Yadira Hernandez led an interactive deportation defense training for the fellows. The training was grounded in her own successful campaign to get her father released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after he was detained for a traffic violation in Nevada.
Yadira speaking to the fellows about her father’s detainment.
4) The DRC engaged experts in the immigrant rights field in order to discuss California immigration policies as well as provide skill-based trainings on communications, storytelling, public speaking, self-care, and community wellness.
Fellows engaged during a communications training.
5) Throughout the kick-off, the fellows engaged in conversations with one another on how to take what they learned back to their communities. The fellows plan to share resources with one another and develop community presentations throughout the fellowship.
Mayra Pelagio and Adanna Ilori discussing what they learned.
Learn more about the Immigrant Justice Fellowship!
