Slide 1

							  “Advocating for
Educational Rights”
                What is AB540?
   Assembly Bill 540
   Signed by Governor Gray
    Davis on October 12, 2001
   Assembly Member
    Marco Antonio Firebaugh
    led effort for undocumented
    students
    – UC, CSU, & CCC
    – In-state tuition @ CSU
    – $1,800.00 vs. $1,800.00 +
      $282.00 per unit (e.g., 12 units
      per semester cost $5,184.00 or
      $10,368.00 per year)
What are the requirements?
   Attend High School in California for 3 or more years
   Graduate from a California High School or attained
    the equivalent of a high school diploma
   Register or currently be enrolled at an accredited
    institution of higher education in California
   File an affidavit as required by individual institutions,
    stating that you will apply for legal residency as soon
    as possible
   You may not be a non-immigrant holding a valid
    lettered non-immigrant visa 5
Common Struggles for Undocumented Students

 No federal or state financial aid
 Not eligible to receive most loans
 Lack a Social Security Number
 Not eligible to obtain a California Drivers
  License
 Not eligible to officially participate in key
  programs (e.g. EOP,SSS, & Up Bound
  program & McNair)
             Espíritu’s History
 What   is Espíritu de Nuestro Futuro?
              When was it founded?
  Espíritu de Nuestro Futuro was
 founded on December 15, 2002.
 During its first year, Espíritu was
 successful in assisting six students
 access partial funding for their
tuition. Espíritu has organized
many successful fundraisers.
                    Primary Goals
   Seek and secure funding for tuition
    scholarships
   Continue to grow networking base to build
    relationships
   Empower students to rise from the shadows
    of being invisible and voiceless to active
    advocates and mobilizing
   Build a familial community on the campus
    where students develop a strong sense of
    belonging
Espíritu’s Major Accomplishments
   Hosted Conferences and Banquets
   Developed tuition scholarship fund
   Assisted students to graduation
   Presented workshop and presentation at major gatherings
   Developed a strong network base across campuses and with
    community members
Espíritu’s Involvement with the CA Dream Network

 Statewide network
 Organizes around issues that
  directly affect undocumented
  students via student
  organizations at various
  college campuses
 Mobilizes efforts that directly
  affect immigration reform
 Maintains primary goal to
  advocate for access into
  institutions of higher education
Espíritu’s Collaborative Efforts in Action
                Q&A


   Open dialogue to learn innovative
      strategies from the audience