When education's under attack, don't light a candle

At 8pm on March 13, 2012, members attending the 2012 NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education annual conference in Phoenix, AZ, including leaders from ScholarshipsA-Z were asked to light candles at a Candlelight Vigil for Social Justice.  Meant to bring awareness about social injustices in AZ, specifically those that target LGBTQ and immigrant families, this event only attracted approximately 5% of the entire population attending the conference (250+ out of 4,700).  As a result, this "act of kindness" became a paternalistic and passive move in a community that primarily creates change through action, not vigils.  Fortunately for NASPA, there was at least one moment of inspiration when the chairs of the GLBT and Latino/a Knowledge Communities spoke out against Arizona's oppressive legislation.  Leaders like Dr. Michelle Espino (University of Georgia) and Dr. Juan Guardia (Florida State University),  brought TRUTH to the otherwise passive and politically correct event by impacting the hearts and minds of everyone in attendance with their words and promises for action.


When education's under attack, what do you do?  Fight back!  With candles? NO, with action.


Because while we were lighting candles, the Maricopa County Sheriff was organizing yet another workplace raid to detain and deport more hardworking members of our community who happen to be undocumented.  

Candles = silence = inaction = injustice 

- Matt
Director, ScholarshipsA-Z

Soon to Become Law in Arizona - 2011

The Arizona Interfaith Network just released its final report to show which anti-immigrant bills will become law in AZ in the next 90 days. Here's what passed:

50th Arizona Legislature, First Regular Session

(As of 4/29/2011)

Summary: The Legislature adjourned Sine Die on April 20. Here are the three anti-immigrant bills that passed the House and Senate and were signed by the Governor. These bills become effective 90 days after the Legislature adjourned.

All of the other anti-immigrant bills failed to pass both the House & Senate.

SB 1406: Interstate Compact; Border Fence (Smith R-Dist. 23)

Creates an interstate compact that allows the Governor to enter into an agreement with other states to allow for the construction and maintenance of a fence along the Arizona-Mexico border.

Signed by Governor 4/28/11

SB 1465: valid identification; consular cards; prohibition

Prohibits the acceptance of the Matricula Consular Identification Card issued by the Mexican Consulate as a form of identification. Currently a number of Arizona cities and counties accept the card, the result of actions taken by AIN organizations seven or eight years ago.

Signed by Governor on 4/28/11

HB 2102 license eligibility; authorized presence (Kavanagh)

Requires government-issued ID to obtain a fingerprint card and proof of legal status and a photo ID to work in the service industry.

Signed by Governor on 4/28/11

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Because of the constant pressure put on our legislators by immigrant families and allies throughout AZ, many of the 20+ proposed bills were defeated in either the AZ House or Senate. We must continue working together.

- Matt M.

Co-Director of ScholarshipsA-Z

COLORLINES says, "ScholarshipsA-Z Teaches Us How to Fight Back"

We are humbled to know that Rinku Sen (pictured left), President and Executive Director of the Applied Research Center (ARC) and Publisher of Colorlines.com is inspired by the work of ScholarshipsA-Z and other youth leaders working to improve communities across AZ. She wrote about it in her most recent post on Colorlines.com.

Last week, Rinku Sen spoke at the University of Arizona and YWCA of Tucson, and shared personal stories about her own struggles to get involved in racial justice work. Her wisdom and honesty inspired many of us to keep fighting for justice in Arizona. She was powerful and profound and the members of our ScholarshipsA-Z team who had the chance to meet her are forever touched and grateful for her strength.

After reading her piece in Colorlines.com, here's a reaction from a ScholarshipsA-Z's board member:

"When reading the article, the truth was that plenty of emotions came to me. I had just finished watching the video of the DREAMER student that got arrested in georgia. Knowing that we are doing something to help gives me hope that someday, maybe sooner than later, everyone will have the opportunity to attend a college and reach their dreams. With time we have seen that education is the key to success, to be able to be heard and a tool that can never be taken away from you. Knowing that there are people out there such as Rinku Sen, who are fighting for the same cause we are, only gives me more hope that together, united we will make a difference and help out all those students out there that need our help. Knowing that someone like her will be spreading the word around about ScholarshipsA-Z, means only that we have lots more to work towards. Just want to say thank you to every single one of the members of ScholarshipsA-Z. You each bring something special to the group and con el favor de dios, juntos aremos cambios."

- Cristian E. Tapia
Member of ScholarshipsA-Z

ScholarshipsA-Z continues to fight for justice so all students have access to higher education, regardless of their immigration status. We invite you to be part of the struggle.

AZ SB1611 = NO College for Undocumented Immigrant Students

Last night (2/22/11), the AZ Senate Appropriations Committee voted 7-6 in favor of SB1611, an omnibus bill that would ban undocumented immigrants from ALL public services. This would now include college and driving, among other things.

If the new bill is passed by the full Senate, full House, and signed by the Governor, SB 1611 would preclude undocumented students' admission to state colleges and universities entirely. That means Pima Community College, UA, ASU, NAU, and all other state institutions's doors would be closed to any student who can't prove their U.S. residency or citizenship.

According to a recent AZ Daily Star article, Sen. Pearce, author of AZ's infamous SB1070 and many other anti-immigrant bills, said,

"It is irrelevant that the fees these students are paying may help keep tuition down for Arizona residents. "They can't be employed" in this country, Pearce said, so their education is not a benefit to Arizona. And he disputed the contention out-of-state tuition covers the full cost of educating students at universities or community colleges. Read the full article.

Many thought SB1070 was the worst anti-immigrant legislation created in recent history. However, it was only the beginning. Now, more than ever, we need YOU to get involved. Raise your voice! Stay aware! Stop this bill from becoming law!

• Call AZ Senators. Tell them you are against this bill.
• Attend a rally.
  
• Use Facebook, Twitter, texting, calls, emails to tell your friends to get involved.
• Stay updated with Border Action Network on anti-immigrant and anti-education legislation. SB1611 is only bill. There are others.
  

Our struggle, together, continues...

SB 1070 & DREAM Act Impacts on AZ Economy

Immigrant advocates compare the economics of S.B 1070 and the DREAM Act

By Marcos Restrepo 11/23/10
(published in Florida Independent)

The DREAM Act would generate long-term economic benefits while Arizona-type immigration enforcement has had a negative economic impact on that state’s economy: That was the message delivered by participants in a press conference hosted by the Alliance for Immigrants Rights – Michigan.

The DREAM Act would grant a person who entered the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 conditional permanent resident status for a period of six years, after which he or she could aspire to be a legal permanent resident. The act requires youth to attain at least an associate-level college degree to be eligible for legal permanent resident status.

Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration enforcement law, meanwhile, would criminalize undocumented immigrants, currently a civil violation under federal immigration law.

Marshall Fitz told conference participants that the Center for American Progress contracted the firm Elliott D Pollack and Company to study the impact of S.B. 1070 on the convention industry. The study shows that conference cancellations and a stop to future bookings resulted in a $400 million loss in economic output and more than $130 million in lost earnings.

Fitz added that the only people who benefit from S.B. 1070-like measures are the politicians who create these wedge issues. He concluded that hopefully this study will give legislators pause before they follow Arizona’s path.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are up to 2.1 million people eligible for DREAM Act benefits, but only about 825,000 beneficiaries would gain legal permanent resident status.

The DREAM Act would produce thousands of college graduates, contributing to the pool of higher-income earners needed by the future workforce.

A UCLA No DREAMERS Left Behind study looks at two scenarios to project the national economic benefits generated by the DREAM Act by calculating the income of those affected over a 40-year period.

Raul Hinojosa, one of the authors of the UCLA study, said during the Tuesday press conference, “This is a critical moment for American civil rights and how we are looking to fill the high-skilled workforce of tomorrow.”

Hinojosa explained that the estimates of the net benefit for the U.S economy is in 2010 dollars and does not include the overall value of what people produce.

In one scenario, dubbed by the authors the No DREAMers Left Behind scenario, 2.1 million undocumented immigrants would become legalized and generate approximately $3.6 trillion over a 40-year period.

In the other scenario, in which 825,000 eligible individuals achieve legal permanent resident status, the study concludes that the income generated over 40 years would be $1.4 trillion.