*Know the power of your personal story. Believe that your story can make a difference. Come out to those closest to you when you are ready – and you may be surprised to find an ally. Come out because we cannot continue to let others speak for us and tell our stories.

*In past youth trainings, we’ve worked on how to develop our story of self, us and now. Not only is it important to know and own your own story, but it is imperative that you know where your story fits in the larger picture of our movement. Every member’s story helps us strengthen our identity as a community.

*Be clear about who and what we are fighting for: We fight for undocumented youth and their families; we fight for equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome; we fight to be recognized.

*Be sure to remember who and what we are fighting against: We fight against those who would promote racism, inequality and bigotry as values held by this country; we fight against intolerance, against an aversion to those who are different; we fight to drown those voices of hate, because we cannot lose the fight on the phones, on the airwaves, and in our communities any longer.

*What is leadership? We have defined it in this movement as taking responsibility for enabling and empowering others. Why is it important? Because we use leadership –> strengthen communities –> build power.

*If we feel, we act (together!). Emotions and investment are what move people. Make sure to continuously instill in others a sense of investment in the movement, whether they joined the struggle yesterday or have been advocating for the past 10 years.

*Be careful to avoid tactics without strategy and strategy without tactics. Focus on how to get things done, but remember to think of why you’re doing them.

*We’re telling a new story of the Dream generation. We’re writing our own histories. This is the beginning of a healing of our nation, a healing of our generations, because our collective tomorrows hinge on the power of the youth today.

*Revisit the history of the immigrant struggle in decades past and the history of the various social movements and what we can learn from them. The work of others before us is what enables us to continue fighting today.

*We need allies in this movement – both nationally and locally. Your Senator is an ally, but so is your pastor, or your teacher, or your librarian.

*We’re fired up, can’t take it no more! Why are you fired up? How do you ensure that you keep those flames burning?

*Our fundamental belief: Education not Deportation!

*We must engage our local communities. Be careful to avoid always ‘preaching to the choir.’ Outreach to people who may not even know this issue exists, people who bring various perspectives.

*Our fight is not over once the DREAM Act passes. The immigration system itself is fundamentally flawed, and we must ensure that another generation of Dreamers is not created 2 decades from now. We must ensure that our families are given a door to opportunity, a door that is open.

*This is a multi-faceted battle: It involves not only legislators, but mass mobilizations, actions, educators, our communities, our friends – we must hit ALL fronts strongly to win this battle.

*The affirmation that No Human Being is Illegal. People may scoff when we correct them in using the term “undocumented” in place of “illegal,” but we must keep pressing the point, otherwise we risk being labeled as such forever and having our identities once again forced upon us.

*The Dreamer Blues. There are days when the weight of this burden will sag heavier than others. We must give hope. It is easy to become cynical and jaded, but we must also support people out of the trenches.

“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.” -Cesar Chavez

**What lessons have you taken from the movement? Please share.