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• Advocating for Educational Rights

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What is AB540?

• Assembly Bill 540
• Signed by Governor Gray Davis on October 12, 2001
  
• Assembly Member
• Marco Antonio Firebaugh led effort for
  undocumented students
• UC, CSU, CCC
• In-state tuition _at_ CSU
• 1,800.00 vs. 1,800.00 282.00 per unit (e.g.,
  12 units per semester cost 5,184.00 or
  10,368.00 per year)

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What are the requirements?

• Attend High School in California for 3 or more
  years
• Graduate from a California High School or
  attained the equivalent of a high school diploma
• Register or currently be enrolled at an
  accredited institution of higher education in
  California
• File an affidavit as required by individual
  institutions, stating that you will apply for
  legal residency as soon as possible
• You may not be a non-immigrant holding a valid
  lettered non-immigrant visa 5

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Common Struggles for Undocumented Students

• No federal or state financial aid
• Not eligible to receive most loans
• Lack a Social Security Number
• Not eligible to obtain a California Drivers
  License
• Not eligible to officially participate in key
  programs (e.g. EOP,SSS, Up Bound program
  McNair)

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Espíritus History

• What is Espíritu de Nuestro Futuro?

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When was it founded?

• Espíritu de Nuestro Futuro was
• founded on December 15, 2002.
• During its first year, Espíritu was
• successful in assisting six students
• access partial funding for their
• tuition. Espíritu has organized
• many successful fundraisers.

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Primary Goals

• Seek and secure funding for tuition scholarships
• Continue to grow networking base to build
  relationships
• Empower students to rise from the shadows of
  being invisible and voiceless to active advocates
  and mobilizing
• Build a familial community on the campus where
  students develop a strong sense of belonging

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Espíritus Major Accomplishments

• Hosted Conferences and Banquets
• Developed tuition scholarship fund
• Assisted students to graduation
• Presented workshop and presentation at major
  gatherings
• Developed a strong network base across campuses
  and with community members

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Espíritus Involvement with the CA Dream Network

• Statewide network
• Organizes around issues that directly affect
  undocumented students via student organizations
  at various college campuses
• Mobilizes efforts that directly affect
  immigration reform
• Maintains primary goal to advocate for access
  into institutions of higher education

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Espíritus Collaborative Efforts in Action
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QA

• Open dialogue to learn innovative strategies from
  the audience