With the Capitol Dome behind them, hundreds of youth from all over the country, along with education, faith, business, immigrant and civil rights leaders are expected to participate in a National DREAM Graduation ceremony, hosted by the United We Dream Coalition (UWD).

Each year, 65,000 immigrant students who graduate from U.S. high schools are barred from pursuing their dreams of higher education. Advocates will underscore the importance of advancing the “DREAM Act” and the “American Dream Act” to give these youth a chance to attend college and pursue their goals.

The acts would restore states’ rights to determine residency requirements for in-state tuition and establish a path to legal status and eventual citizenship for undocumented youth. The graduation ceremony will recognize the talents and significant academic achievements of immigrant students who would benefit from the legislation, highlighting their contributions and service in local communities.

Schedule of National Action:

9AM – Legislative Training
Location: American Federation of Teachers, 555 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC
12PM Graduation
Location: Lower Senate Park, corner of Louisiana Ave and D St NW, Washington DC
2PM – 5PM – Legislative visits in congressional offices

UWD is an immigrant-youth led coalition committed to supporting immigration reform policies that create a pathway to citizenship, keep families together, and promote the social, economic, and political integration of all immigrants.

DC Graduation Facebook Page
Registration for DC Graduation
Link to Map of actions

The national graduation will be live twittered here and videos uploaded to our Youtube and Vimeo

In addition to serving as Master of Ceremonies and doing the closing speech for the graduation, students from DreamActivist have reached out to other organizations and helped arrange solidarity actions across the United States. For more details, see http://www.dreamactivist.org/dream-graduations-coast-coast/

To contact immigrant students, educators or for more information please contact: Tolu Olubunmi (olubunmi@nilc.org) 240-505-5921(c)