FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 28th 2010

IMMIGRANT YOUTH INITIATE HUNGER STRIKE!

Challenge Senator Schumer to be a leader on the Dream Act

New York, NY. On Tuesday, June 1st, a group of immigrant youth from the New York State Youth Leadership Council will begin a hunger strike in front of Senator Charles Schumer’s New York City Office. This action was postponed last week after a verbal commitment was made by the office of Senator Schumer to provide a response regarding the possibility of a Congressional Hearing for the Dream Act by Thursday afternoon. As further proof of the continual Congressional inaction and broken promises on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), Senator Schumer’s office failed to provide a response and show its commitment to immigrant youth and their futures. The youth are urging Senator Schumer to move the DREAM Act forward in the Senate as a standalone bill.

The DREAM Act would allow immigrant youth who meet certain criteria, including coming to the US as children, graduating from high school, and completing two years of college or military service, to be on a path to citizenship. While Senator Schumer has co-sponsored the Act, he has been notably absent in the fight to move it forward and pass it this year, despite many efforts on the part of immigrant youth to urge him to do so. Due to his position as Chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, Senator Schumer has a huge role to play in the passage of any immigration legislation, including the DREAM Act, and his inaction is devastating to the prospects of passage of the DREAM Act this year.

This action comes on the heels of the detention of three undocumented students who staged a sit-in at Senator John McCain’s office in Arizona in support of the DREAM Act, and other acts of peaceful resistance and sit ins across the country by DREAM Act eligible youth who tired of broken promises and false hopes.

Press Conference+Rally

When: Tuesday, June 1st, 10AM EST

Who: Immigrant Youth from NYSYLC, La Union, Eye Openers SI, WALK, high school students and college students from CUNY, NYU, Columbia University, will begin hunger strike.

Where:        Outside of Senator Schumer’s NYC Office

757 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, Between 48th and 47th on 3rd Ave

For more info: Office:  212-627-2227 ext 248

Not in NYC? But wanna support??

Follow us on Twitter: @Starved4Dream

Please DONATE at: http://bit.ly/ylchungerstrike

In NYC?

All the students turned out for the DREAM Act contingent at the Los Angeles May Day marches… a picture speaks a thousand words:

He's got a DREAM.

DREAMers United.

Gettin' hot under that California sun.

We want the DREAM Act NOW!

That's a promise.

The students!

Let’s go pass the DREAM Act. We can’t wait.

A message from Pastor Owen K. Ross, in Dallas, Texas

In the same way in the time of persecution during the reign of Queen Esther, the people were called to a fast… I invite you to fast with Christ’s Foundry the day of May 11th beginning at 1:00am till the Breaking Bread and Barriers meal that evening.

Be praying for Cristian Ramirez, a college student and youth volunteer in Christ’s Foundry who just received a deportation order. Read his story and share his story with our U.S. Senators and Representatives and with your congregations.
I look forward to seeing you Saturday at the March!

OneMichigan invites you to an all day training being hosted in Grand Rapids

A Youth Empowerment Summit designed to:

• Organizing and Leadership training for immigrant youth.
• Building the movement for immigrant rights.

OneMichigan is hosting a training in Grand Rapids for immigrant youth and allies interested in the push for the Dream Act and immigration reform.  Each training will provide a comprehensive introduction to organizing and leadership, including learning to tell your story and working effectively in teams to create a shared strategy and produce measurable actions.

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE.

Location:      Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date:             Sunday, May 2nd from 8 am – 6 pm

Youth Empowerment Summits are designed to:

• Teach basic organizing skills.
• Help participants learn to tell their own stories and speak in public.
• Train participants in the use of social media tools for outreach and organizing.
• Provide an insider’s overview of the immigration debate.
• Build leadership teams of five to six people in a geographic area.
• Conduct a brief action to give participants a chance to practice newly learned skills.

Cost:          A one-time $10 registration fee will cover food and materials for the day.

Travel:      Participants must make their own travel arrangements.

**REGISTER NOW! Deadline: April 28th at 9 PM**

Each training has limited space, so please register asap. Participants will be notified once their registration has been processed. For more information, contact: mo@dreamactivist.org

Hi all,

In case you are wondering, the Trail of Dreams NY is still alive and walking across the great Northeast. Its been almost a week since we left NY and since then there have been at least 4 members of Congress who committed to supporting the Dream Act. Our feet our sore and blistered but we dont care. We will walk far and wide to urge our congressional representatives to pass the Dream Act immediately and end the Deportations of Dreamers. Please follow us on Twitter: @TrailofDreamsNY

Below is a video of us crossing over to PA!

Why are we walking?

EN ESPANOL

Donde estamos y porque estamos cruzando? from NYSYLC on Vimeo.

Preparations are well underway for the kick off event this Saturday April 10th. The 5 walkers have been busy packing their clothes and walking around  NYC everyday in preparation for the walk. We have also been swarmed with interviews about our upcoming trail.

We are excited!!!! Most importantly we are excited to tell our stories about why we need the Dream Act to urgently pass. Our Dreams can no longer wait and we need everyone to get on board!!!

Are you in NYC or NJ? Will you consider joining us this upcoming April 10th starting at 10am.

We will be meeting at Jay Hood Wright Park in Washington Heights. You can take the A trail to 174th. We will be walking with community members, our families and friends, and hopefully….you too!

Will you be joining us??? Let us know at http://bit.ly/TODYLC

Your not in NYC?? Consider donating to the walk! Donations will be used to support the walkers as they make their way down to DC. Donate at http://bit.ly/supporttodny

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/trailofdreamsny

Thank you all who came to help plan the Trail of Dreams New York this past weekend!

We are very excited for this historic event and hope you are too. In case you could not make it to the past meeting, no worries the follow up meeting will be happening this coming Saturday, April 3rd at 11:30am on 137-139 West 25th street 12Fl.

With only  9 days to go, here’s a recap of what is going on and what you can do!

Register

Have you registered to the Trail of Dreams event yet? Are you planning on coming. Let us know!

RSVP HERE:

Flyers/Outreach:

Download Flyers for the Trail of Dreams here! Put it up at work, school and all around your neighborhood! Change your facebook status to note your support for the Trail of Dreams!!!

• English/Ingles:
  • Black/White

  

• Spanish/Espanol
  • Black and White
    
  • Color

Pledges!
We are all collecting pledges from our friends and family for the walk-a-thon. You can print your pledges. They are available in English

PLEDGES : ENGLISH::::>>>>>pledge form
PLEDGES: SPANISH::::>>>>>>todavia no disponible

It is very important that we all participate in this so that we raise enough money for everything that is necessary to help our walkers get to DC.

Sponsorships:

If you are part of an organization, business or individual that would like to become a sponsor of the Trail, please email todny@nysylc.org.

Download an Organizational Sponsorship Letter

• ENGLISH/Ingles: TODNY_organization_letter_english
• Spanish/Espanol: TODNY Organization Sponsorship Letter_spanish

Download a Business Sponsorship Letter

• ENGLISH/Ingles: TODNY_english_business
• SPANISH: TODNY_business_sponsorship_letter_spanish

Download an Individual Sponsorship Letter

• ENGLISH: TODNY_individual_sponsorship_english
• SPANISH: TODNY Individual Sponsor Letter_spanish_translation

Walk Kick Off Planning:

This team is working on preparing the program for the walk-a-thon/walk kick-off (inviting speakers, bands, etc.), collecting donations of food and funds, recruiting additional walkers and outreaching to media for the event. To join this team, please email kiran@nysylc.org.

Trail of Dreams Logistics:

This team is working on preparing the route for the walkers, finding housing, setting up legislative visits, outreaching to media and outreaching to allies. To join this team, please email jaqueline@nysylc.org.

May 1 Planning:

This team is planning to take 600 New York youth to Washington DC on May 1st. The walkers will reach DC on this day and there will be a major action for the Dream Act. To join this team, please email martin@nysylc.org.

Keep on Dreaming!

Inspired by the heroism of the 4 SWER youth from Miami, 5 youth from the NYSYLC, along with community members and other allies have begun plans to kick off a NYC counterpart to the Trail of Dreams. The NYSYLC is a youth led organization that works on improving access to higher education and creating equal opportunity for immigrant youth, regardless of immigration status, through leadership development, organizing and grassroots advocacy.

With over 250 miles separating the NYC harbor from Washington, DC, the group plans to kick off the event on April 10th with a community send off, as a group of brave youth and their supporters walk to DC. They plan to join the walkers on May 1st and make several stops along the way to bring awareness about the issues that undocumented youth and their families face.

Would you like to support the Trail of Dreams and participate in the TOD WALK A THON ON APRIL 10TH

Who: NYSYLC, Friends, Family, Community Members

What: Walk-a-thon, A solidarity kick off walk-a-thon in support of TOD group

When: April 10th. Registration will begin at 9am

Where: Walk-a-thon begins at the Jay Hood Wright Park in Washington Heights and walkers will cross George Washington Bridge

Why: We are Undocumented and Unafraid. Enough is Enough. We need the Dream Act Now and will travel many miles to make that a reality

How: You can support the Trail of Dream NY students by participating in the Walk-a-thon.

If you are coming in for the historic immigration rally and support the DREAM Act, come join the DREAM Act contingent on Sunday. Check out the plans here.

But if you are in town early, as in tonight, what are you going to do? Here are some of the events and spots where you are likely to run into DREAM Act youth and DreamActivists.

6-8 pm Happy Hour with Immigration Equality. Nellie’s Bar on 900 U Street Northwest, Washington, DC?. Come join our LGBT families for immigration reform, young LGBT DREAM Act students, and show your support. Nearest Metro: U Street / African American Civil War Memorial on the Green Line. 2 blocks away.

7-9 pm CODEPINK: Women Say No To War. Busboys and Poets on 5th and K, NW, Washington DC. Joint anti-war and immigrant rights event featuring Eve Ensler, Amy Goodman, Medea Benjamin, and Faby from UCLA IDEAS. Give it up for the DREAM Act! Nearest Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown on the Yellow Line. 5 blocks away.

9pm to 3am: DREAMERS Party for America at Bravo Bravo,  1001 Connecticut Ave. NW. $10 covercharge. Over 18 only. Come chill with DREAM Act youth from around the country. Nearest Metro: Right by Farragut North on the Red Line

There is no need to RSVP. Just show up and enjoy in the festivities!