A conference addressing issues facing undocumented resident students and their parents will be held 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Fresno State’s Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center (Woodrow and Shaw avenues).
The New Chapter in Higher Education: AB540 Summit is open to the public for $10 per person but primarily targets high school and community college students. More than 250 participants are registered.
The keynote speaker will be Raul Z. Moreno, coordinator of University Migrant Services at Fresno State, who will discuss “Opening Doors to Higher Education for Undocumented Youth.” Moreno began his Fresno State career as a counselor for the program, which provides assistance and supportive services to students with a migrant farmworker background.
Assembly Bill 540 is the state law allowing undocumented immigrants to attend public colleges and universities and pay in-state fees if they attended a California high school for three years, graduated, and meet college entrance requirements.
Presentations, workshops and student panel discussions will be in English and Spanish. Parent sessions in Spanish will include “Seguir Adelante: Como Apoyar a Sus Hijos Indocumentados” (“Moving Forward: How to be Supportive of Your Undocumented Children”).
Workshops will address student rights under AB540, the federal DREAM Act legislation, financial aid and resources for undocumented students, life after college, and emotional, spiritual and mental health matters. Educators will learn best practices in support of undocumented students, and AB540 students will discuss their experiences.
The summit is presented by the Educational and Leadership Foundation in Fresno and co-sponsored by Fresno State’s University Migrant Services and two student organizations, Mu Chi Omega fraternity and the Dare to Dream Club.
The foundation, a community benefit organization independent of Fresno State, provides education and leadership development for students, parent training, professional development seminars, academic developmental programs, community service internships and scholarships.
For more information, contact Adriana Sánchez at 559.291.5428 or asanchez@education-leadership.org or facebook.com/ELFoundation.
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