Rising Immigrant Students through Education (RISE)

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

2009-04-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-11T13:16:00.000-07:00


*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!!

2009-03-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-10-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

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

Scholarships - as of July 17, 2008

2008-07-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

List of scholarships for AB540 students. These do not require US/CA residency.

UNIVISION Exito Escolar Scholarship

MALDEF List of Scholarships

Immigrant-related News - Last Updated July 17

2008-07-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

This space will be dedicated to immigrant-related news. This list will be updated frequently, but for more news, check newamericamedia.org.

Homeland Security report faults care of detained immigrants
This article speaks on the lack of health care for detained immigrants.

Most new legal immigrants were illegal at some point
A new survey shows that more than half of new California immigrants who have green cards, at some point lived in the state illegally.

AB540 Issues in the News - Last Updated July 17

2008-07-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

This space will be reserved to news related to AB540 student issues. This list will be updated frequently.

Undocumented college students endure hardships over their status, then see an uncertain future.
This article talks about the hardships that AB540 students endure in college, and about their gloomy future, even after they graduate.

AB540 Grad School Panel
This was a panel put together by a group called IDEAS at UCLA. The students present were AB540 students who have gotten their undergrad and who are now applying or in grad school already.

No law requires colleges to report undocumented students
This is a letter explaining how the Department of Homeland Security cannot require schools to report the immigration status of student, to ask for the immigration status of the student prior to enrolling, or to report a student who the school knows is out of status.

The Invisibles
An article about undocumented students at UCLA

UC Berkeley's Chancellor Speaks on Behalf of Undocumented Students
Chancellor Robert Birgeneau talks about the hardships that undocumented students endure in college, and urges legislation to be passed to give a path to citizenship to those students.

We have a full house!

2008-04-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, RISE has to close the registration. We are not taking anymore RSVPs because we are getting many more people than we expected for our first conference.

Our goal and limit was to get 150 people to our conference. At this moment, we are getting close to 200 people. It is awesome that we were able to outreach for so many of you, but we were not expecting this many. For the sake of quality and safety of everyone, we cannot register any more people.

RISE will likely have a conference next semester, around October, around the time everyone is working on college applications. We hope to be able to accommodate more people in the future.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Conference Purpose

2008-04-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

Over 65,000 undocumented students graduate each year from high school; unfortunately, only a handful go on to college.

Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education (R.I.S.E.) want to inform, empower, and mobilize undocumented students by providing them the necessary tools to get an education.

We highly encourage you to register if you are a:

• Immigrant student in high school or community college.
• Parent of immigrant students.
• Counselors that work with immigrant students

For more information you can send e-mail to: ucb_rise@yahoo.com
or contact us at 510-684-2225 or 760-960-6209

We prefer if you register uing the survey at the top of the page but can do so by sending us an e-mail as well.

Conference Flyer

2008-04-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Conference Program

2008-04-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Program:

8-9AM Registration/Breakfast
9:00 "Introduction
9:20 Keynote Speaker
9:40 Panel of student Testimonials
10:00 Q & A
10:30-11:50 1st session
12-1:00 Lunch, and entertainment
1:00-2:20 2nd Session
2:25-3:45 3rd session
3:45-4 Closing

1ST Session

1. High School Student Admissions
2. Financial Aid/Scholarships
3. Immigrant Youth Activism
4. Parent Workshop

2nd Session:

1. Transfer Student Admission Workshop
2. Financial Aid/Scholarships
3. Immigrant Youth Activism
4. LGBTQ and Immigration

3rd Session:

1. Counselor Workshop
2. Financial Aid/Scholarships
3. Immigrant Youth Activism
4. Know Your Rights

Conference Location

2008-04-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Directions to Conference

2008-04-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome! Below are the directions to the AB540 Conference, if you still have any questions after going over these directions, please call: (510-684-2225)

Destination: 201 Heller Lounge, second floor, MLK, Jr. Student Union,
between Telegraph Ave. and Bancroft Way. UC Berkeley, CA 94720-4500

PLEASE NOTE: [1]Parking is limited at the Berkeley campus! Whenever possible, we encourage you to use public transportation.

[2]Directions to UC Berkeley from… (using public transportation? please skip to page 2.)

From San Francisco / SF Airport / SF Peninsula (via 101 North):

Exit to San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
Exit to 80 East (after crossing Bay Bridge)
Take University Avenue exit; head east for approximately 1.5 miles
Turn right on Oxford Street
Turn left on Durant Avenue
Turn left on Telegraph Avenue; move into right lane
Turn left on Bancroft Way
Turn right into MLK Jr. Student Union Garage (just past bus stop)

From Oakland / Oakland Airport / San Jose (via 880 North):

Exit to 980 (becomes 24 East after crossing 580)
Take Claremont Avenue exit; turn left on Claremont Avenue
Turn left on College Avenue
Turn left on Bancroft Way
Turn right into MLK Jr. Student Union Garage (just past bus stop after crossing Telegraph Avenue)

From Walnut Creek / Concord (via 24 West):

Take College Avenue exit (exit runs along Miles Avenue--College begins at first traffic light)
Turn right on College Avenue
Turn left on Bancroft Way
Turn right into MLK Jr. Student Union Garage (just past bus stop after crossing Telegraph Avenue)
From Davis / Sacramento (via 80 West):
Take University Avenue exit; head east for approximately 1.5 miles
Turn right on Oxford Street
Turn left on Durant Avenue
Turn left on Telegraph Avenue (move into right lane)
Turn left on Bancroft Way
Turn right into MLK Jr. Student Union Garage (just past bus stop)

When using public transportation it is good to have lots of change. Some services offer exact fare only (e.g. AC Transit Buses and Campus Shuttle Service).

BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Trains operate from Fremont, Richmond, Bay Point/Concord and San Francisco/Daly City and include service to San Francisco International Airport. BART connects to Oakland International Airport via a short hop on an AirBart shuttle bus. A map indicating the route and stops of each train is located at each BART station. The Downtown Berkeley BART station is just 1-1/2 blocks west of the Berkeley campus.

AC Transit
AC Transit bus service provides transportation for commuters to and from San Francisco and throughout Alameda and Western Contra Costa County. There are several AC bus lines that come near the campus area such as lines: #65; #52; #51; #43; #40; #15; #9; F and U. For additional lines and information contact AC Transit at (510) 839-2882.
Transit and Shuttle Information Websites & Phone Numbers:

BARThttp://www.bart.gov/index.asp
(510) 465-2278

AC TransitEast Bay buses
http://www2.actransit.org/main.wu
(510) 839-2882

San Franciso MuniSan Francisco Buses
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php
(415) 673-6864

Caltrain/Southern Pacific RailroadCommuter train service from San Francisco and San Jose
(415) 557-8661(800) 558-8661

SamTransBus service between Palo Alto and downtown San Francisco.
http://www.samtrans.org/
(650) 817-1717(800) 650-4287

Bay Area Transit Trip Planner (Transit.511.org) Helps plan door-to-door trips by searching the schedules of multiple Bay Area transit providers.

To see more directions to the campus, visit: http://visitors.berkeley.edu/public_transit.html
Please register in Heller Lounge – it is right in the corner of Bancroft and Telegraph, marked with a inside Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union, the first building on the left as you walk into campus. (Marked red in the map below).

Most workshops will be in Dwinelle Hall is the light blue colored building on the map and marked with a the arrow shows the entrance to the building.

To see a full campus map, go to: http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/large_map.html

[1] http://visitors.berkeley.edu/public_transit.html
[2] http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/about/visitorinfo

Achieve your dreams!

2008-04-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

 There are over 65,000 undocumented students that graduate each
year from high school but do not continue on to college because
they are not properly advised about the different options they have.
They are also not well informed about current legislation that allows
all students to attend college regardless of immigration status. But
undocumented students can go to college. Although these students
lack access to government financial aid, many are already attending
public universities, and many have already graduated from community
colleges, CSUs,  UCs and private universities by fundraising, obtaining
private scholarships and private loans to pay for tuition and books.

Do You want to know how this is possible?


   Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education (R.I.S.E.), a support group for
immigrant students at U.C. Berkeley, is organizing a conference on Sunday,
April 27, 2008 to inform high school and community college students,
parents and counselors about the different options undocumented students
have in pursing a higher education.  The conference will be an opportunity
to learn about the process for applying to colleges and universities,
different financial resources, fundraising for college, legal and
educational rights, and help for parents and counselors on how to advice and
encourage students.  This will also be an opportunity to learn about the
work that students are doing to challenge those educational inequities.

When: Sunday April 27, 2008
Time: 9AM-5PM
Where: U.C. Berkeley’s Heller Lounge


Please register using the link below this post!

Need Transportation?/Questions: contact Ucb_rise@yahoo.com (510) 684-2225

Program*:

8-9 AM        Registration/Breakfast
9:00        Introduction-Welcome-who is RISE
9:10        Ice-Breaker/Video
9:20        Key Note Speaker
9:30        Legislation: AB 540 and the DREAM Act
9:50        1st Panel of student testimonials
10:10        Q & A
10:50-12:10        1st session
12:10-1:10        Lunch/entertainment
1:10-2:30        2nd Session
2:35-3:55        3rd session
4:00- 5:00        Series of workshops

Workshops*: College Process, Financial Aid, Student Activism,
Parents/Counselors how to help undocumented students, Legal Rights, Art as
an expression

*Subject to change


R.I.S.E. provides support services, leadership training, and promotes
collective empowerment of AB 540 students at U.C. Berkeley to fight and
organize for equal access and affordable higher education.

Registering for the conference

2008-03-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Please RSVP! We need to make sure we have food for everyone.

Click on the "Click Here to take survey" to register for our conference on April 27th!

Click Here to take survey

Student’s Dreams Are Being Tied Down By US Congress

2007-11-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education

What: Come and support RISE, SAHE, IDEAS, SIN, and other student immigrant college groups from Northern California in an educational walk/ picketing/ demonstration/ and street performance to continue putting pressure on the US Congress for the passage of a viable immigration reform that includes the DREAM Act.

When: Wednesday Nov. 7th, 2007 in San FranciscoWhere: Press Conference at 12pm in 450 Golden Gate (Federal Building)WALK Begins at 9am in front of Senator Boxer's office, see program + mapbelow. If you can't make it to walk join us at press onference

Background: Although the DREAM Act failed to get the 60 votes for cloture, only getting 52 votes, students are continuing mobilizing to give the message that their dreams cannot wait another year. Throughout the day studentswill perform symbolic demonstrations and picketing in the streets of San Francisco to educate the public and the media about our continuing struggle and needs for a higher education. The walk will begin in front of Senator Barbara Boxer and will end in front of the San FranciscoFederal Building (please see program below). If you cannot make it to the walk please come to the press conference at 12pm.

VISUALS: Students will be dressed in graduation gowns and will be tied with chains that are being symbolically held by anti immigrant leaders in congress. Behind these graduates will be students dressed as doctors, lawyers, and architects symbolizing what the future could look like. To represent the current atmosphere every time there is a push for the DREAM Act anti immigrant sentiments pull the chains making the graduates fall and consequently also bringing down a bright future of professional andskilled workers. The street performance will also include street theater.

When: November 7th, 2007 ALL DAY (9am-4:30pm)

9am – 9:30am Senator Barbara Boxer Demonstration (1700 Montgomery St. SF)

9:50am – 10:10am Demonstration Outside Immigration Service Building (630 Sansome St. SF, 94111)

10:20am – 10:40amSenator Dianne Feinstein Demonstration (1 Post St. SF, CA 94104) 10:50am – 11:10amStreet Demonstration (Powell St. & Market St.)

12pm – 12:20pmPress Conference in front Rep. Nancy Pelosi (450 Golden Gate Ave. SF, CA)

Street Theater: 12:25am – 12:35pm

Crosswalk Picketing: 12:40pm – 1:10pm

Picketing: 3:30pm – 4:30pm---------------------------------------------------

RISE is on the Web

2007-11-04T09:58:00.001-08:00

RISE at UC Berkeley finally has a place on the web! Here we will post upcoming events, how to get involved and other Immigrant related news.