How I'm setting up the UndocuAPI community for success

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Throughout the month of December, Immigrants Rising is sharing the stories of community members whose involvement with us helps us fulfill our mission of empowering undocumented young people reach their professional and educational goals. Consider supporting us today!

Mabuhay Immigrants Rising community!

My name is Madeleine Villanueva, and I am the Catalyst Fund Specialist at Immigrants Rising, which means that I get to work on broadening access to higher education for undocumented young people!

Your sustained support will empower undocumented young people to reach their full potential in life. Consider becoming a monthly supporter today.

Being undocumented myself, I used to believe that higher education was just another item to check off in the many steps of getting papers. But my time at Immigrants Rising and as one of the leaders of UPLIFT, a collective supporting undocuAPIs like myself, made me realize that education is one of the key pathways to success where people learn new skills, build connections, and make the change they want to see in the world.

But I know from my personal experience that opportunities are skewed. Our system does not set up undocumented young people up for success. The issues are compounded when it intersects with the undocuAPI experience—educators are not aware of the various cultural experiences that face our community.

Undocumented people are the best people to lead and empower our own community. So this year, I worked with other UPLIFT members to prepare a resource guide to help educators better reach and engage undocuAPI students.

Very often, we don’t get to lead because of issues with money, capacity, access to opportunities, and insecurities that come with the shame associated with the undocumented experience. Immigrants Rising is unique in its investments empowering the individual, which transforms them to be a better leader and create that change they want for their community.

Please consider becoming a monthly supporter for Immigrants Rising so that we can continuously and steadily empower undocumented young people.

Yours truly,
Madeleine

Madeleine Villanueva
Catalyst Fund Specialist
Immigrants Rising

Support Immigrants Rising!

2021 has been a watershed year for Immigrants Rising. Between expanding financial support for undocumented entrepreneurs through the SEED Fund, celebrating the 20th anniversary of in-state tuition in California, creating healing spaces for undocuAPI, Black, Latinx, and queer individuals through our national wellness support groups, and broadening horizons through our new travel resources, Immigrants Rising continues onward to our 15th year of transforming the lives of undocumented young people. Join us and make a donation today!

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Immigrants Rising

P.O. Box 411512

San Francisco, CA 94141

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