AB540 Conference - ONE MORE WEEK!!! Free event + Free food!!!

Dear students and allies,

The 2nd Annual "Achieving Our Dreams" Conference is next weekend!!! Sunday
May 3rd, 2009 from 8AM to 5PM

In order to have a successful event, we'd really like to have as many
volunteers as possible, if you or anyone else you know would like to help
out, please urge them to complete the volunteer sign up sheet here:

http://tinyurl.com/RISEconferencevolunteersignup

ALSO, the form to register for the conference is here:

http://tinyurl.com/RISEconference2009


For directions, go to: http://tinyurl.com/d9dyod click on Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union UC Berkeley a bubble will appear asking you to "Get Directions" then click "To Here" and type your start address of where you'll start your trip.

Here is how it should look like:


More info about the Conference:

The 'Achieve Your Dreams' Conference is a communal and intellectual event that is geared towards learning what is like to be an undocumented student in higher education. It is designed for students to learn about how they can attain a college education and pursue their dreams. The goals of the conference are specifically tailored to target low income undocumented students of color by providing them valuable tools that otherwise they would not receive in their perspective high school, community college or four year institutions.Last year over 300 students from all over the bay area attended the conference and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. This year we also hope to build upon the workshops that were presented last year by including a panel of student testimonials and performances, workshops on financial aid, college admission, immigration law, student activism, and know your rights workshops.


The issue about undocumented students is a relatively new issue in academia because it wasn’t too long ago that undocumented students were allowed to attend institutions of higher education. In this conference, we hope to bring new perspectives into the dialogue about minority inclusion in university settings and contribute to the immigration story that many of us share. The undocumented status is not only an issue among the Latino community but also very ingrained within the Asian community among other communities. Another goal of the event is to also open the doors to other student of color who are directly affected by the issues but have cultural constraints about bringing it to light. We hope to achieve this by working directly with other minority student groups on campus.

PLEASE PARTICIPATE! GET READY FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Sincerely,


Perla F. & Miguel G.
RISE Cochairs, Spring 2009

RISE's 2nd Annual AB540 Conference Registration

*For more information, need transportation/or Questions/comments, contact: risecochairs@gmail.com or call Miguel at (510) 926-5134

For disability-related accomodations, see: access.berkeley.edu*

The registration form for the RISE conference going on May 3rd is here!!! If you wish to register, go to: http://tinyurl.com/riseconference2009

Anyone that wants to get involved in the actual agenda for the day please
give me a call or email me at risecochairs@gmail.com, we need TONS of help!!!

Have a good weekend!!!!
--
Perla A. Flores

Woohoo! AB 540 Awareness Week!!

RISE will be tabling on Upper Sproul from 10am-1pm from Monday March 2nd to Wednesday March 4th!! Don't forget to stop by, say hi, and support the cause. ;)

Here are the schedule of events for this week's AB540 Awareness Week:

Monday March 2nd, 2009 - BRIDGES AB540 Outreach Workshop
7:30pm-8:30pm Location: TBA (anyone interested please let me know)

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 - AB540 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP
From 7-8pm at Heller Lounge, RISE will be giving a presentation on what it means to be AB540 and how it can negatively affect our people and other communities of color! We will also have a student panel.
**Food and Drinks will be provided.

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 - BOOK REVIEW by Alejandra Rincón
"Undocumented Immigrants and Higher Education"
At the Ethnic Studies Library, UC Berkeley from 6-8pm

Come engage in a lively dialogue with Dr. Rincon regarding her new book on the issue of undocumented immigrants within higher education.

“This book elevates the immigration debate to a new level…” -Ellen H. Badger

“-an amazing job of dispelling myths and correcting misinformation that often proliferate in the media…” -Ruth Burgos-Sasscer

“An insider’s view that will undoubtedly become a major book…” -Alfred R. Herrera

Presented in partnership with the Achievement Trust (ATNC), Chicano/Latino Alumni Association (CLAA), Chicano/Latino Student Development (CLSD), Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education (RISE), Immigrant Student Issues Coalition (ISIC), Multicultural Immigrant Student Program (MISP), and Manny Garcia Services LLC.

AND, of course, ...
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 9:00pm 1st Annual AB540 UNITY PARTY
What: Live DJ and BANDA!
When: March 7th 2009
Time: 9pm-12:00am
Price: $7
Where: Pauley Ballroom (3rd floor MLK)
Why: All Proceeds go to AB540 SCHOLARSHIPS

Please note the following below:
1. Not open to the public
2. UCB Students and accompanied guests only (max 3 guests per UCB Student)
3. Must Show Valid Student I.D.
4. Must show valid photo I.D.
5. All guests must be 18 yrs. or older with proof of age
6. No alcohol or drugs permitted
7. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door
8. No in and out privileges

Contact facilitators for pre-sale tickets!

Kevin: (323) 774-7279
Elizabeth: (209) 380-6275
Karla: (818) 391-7751

Thank you and hope to see you in any of these events!!!
-Perla, RISE cochair
Questions? Contact risecochairs@gmail.com or the facilitators above.

Relevant News for API AB 540 students

Advocating for an identity

Undocumented API students speak out, seek pathway to citizenship.

Not ‘A Mexican Thing’

Undocumented Asian students face stigma and lack of financial aid, job experience

RISE's First-Ever Spring Sem 2009 Update

RISE extends its greatest welcome to both our continuing and new members/supporters! We hope that your winter break was restful and that your school days so far have been productive. We have a number of things going on this semester, so without further ado, let’s get down to business. :D

Your co-chairs this semester are Perla Flores and Miguel Guerrero-Gonzalez. (Yay!) If you wish to contact them for any questions, additional info, comments, and/or words of praise, just shoot an email to risecochairs@gmail.com.

RISE will meet this Friday, 2/13, at 4 pm in 240 Chavez. We know we’ve been frequently changing our time and location for our meetings this semester, but we assure you that we are currently attempting to make a permanent decision that would hopefully work well with everyone’s schedule.

The upcoming events we have so far are:
- AB 540 Dance/Fundraiser (Hosted by Raza Caucus and RISE)
March 7 -- 9pm-12am, Pauley Ballroom
- RISE's 2nd Annual AB 540 Conference
May 3 -- 8:30am-6pm, West Pauley Ballroom
- Tour de Dreams, 9-day bikeride from UCB to UCLA
June 19-28

For those who couldn’t make it to last Friday’s RISE meeting, we basically discussed the plans for Tour de Dreams and the AB540 Conference as well as divided ourselves into various committees for the events. It's also not too late to sign up to be in a committee! If you want to get more involved, either speak to Perla or Miguel (your co-chairs) for the list of committees and the specific tasks each entails.

It's going to be an exciting semester!

AB 540 Freedom Rides!

Announcing the AB540 Freedom Rides!!!

Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education is proud to announce that it
will start launching on-site school teach-ins!   The school discussions
are going to be facilitated by UC Berkeley RISE members and will be on
topics such as:

. How to apply for college, fill out an ab540 affidavit,  and apply for scholarships
. How to start an AB540 support group in your school
. How to organize for positive legislative change for AB540 students.

Interested in hosting the AB540 Freedom Ride in your school?

Open to all high schools, community colleges, and universities in the Bay
Area.   A room and at least 15 students are the only requirements. So,
feel free to get together with another school group in the same area, in
order to have enough people.  We could come to your school around 3pm on
one of the following dates:

Saturday October 25th,
Saturday November 8th,
Saturday November 22nd.

Please reserve your date as soon as possible!

To register your group, click on the link below:

Register for AB 540 Freedom Ride!

RISE AB 540 Student Handbook

This link contains the RISE AB 540 student handbook that we put together. It has information about scholarships and other materials for AB 540 students.

http://students.berkeley.edu/apa/APA%20Home/eaop/files/12-15-07/AB%20540%20Packet-for%20students.PDF