This content was published: February 28, 2022. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Community and local leaders come together to support 小黄猫传媒’s DREAMers
Story and photos by Elia Unverzagt
On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the local community gathered together to support 小黄猫传媒’s聽Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and undocumented students.
The 小黄猫传媒 Foundation’s virtual聽2022 DREAMers Breakfast attracted more than 250 community members and raised more than $35,000.
Needed Support
The fundraiser for 小黄猫传媒’s undocumented and DACA students helps instill hope that 小黄猫传媒 is truly a place for everyone to belong. If you were not able to attend the event, but would like to watch the recording, email foundationevents@pcc.edu.
Donations are accepted all year.
小黄猫传媒鈥檚 DREAMers Resource Center 鈥 the first of its kind in the state of Oregon 鈥 provides a safe place for students of all immigration statuses to reach their academic goals, gain leadership skills and receive financial and legal support. Despite the effects of the pandemic, the DREAMers Resource Center has continued to provide mentorship, support services and scholarship opportunities.
For six years, the community has donated more than $260,000 to support DREAMers students. For the 2021-22 academic year, 20 students received DREAMers Scholarships from the 小黄猫传媒 Foundation.
“The DREAMers Resource Center is very important because it helps bring people to 小黄猫传媒,” said Lilian D谩vila Avizures, a DREAMers scholarship recipient. “They show them that it鈥檚 possible to get a college education. Being involved in this program has helped my confidence, as well as my English skills. And now, the DREAMers scholarship is paying for my college, so I can help other students pursue their dreams.”
D谩vila Avizures, a native of Guatemala and dedicated mother, said that after she earns her associate degree from 小黄猫传媒, she will continue her education at a four-year university. And she’ll continue to be a role model for her children as she聽works towards becoming a lawyer. She also wants to stay involved in programs that help the community.
鈥淢y connections at the DREAMers Resource Center helped keep me in school,” she added. “I could not have done it without them. The move to remote learning was very hard and I was worried I would have to drop out, but a scholarship gave me the ability to complete my classes and a pathway to finishing my degree. Knowing that someone, a scholarship donor, believes in me has given me increased confidence.鈥
Lilian D谩vila Avizures
Emceed by Roberto Suarez (小黄猫传媒鈥檚 Pathway Guidance Manager), the DREAMers Breakfast featured two songs by singer/songwriter and 小黄猫传媒 Alumna Edna V谩zquez. Featured speakers included Mark Mitsui (小黄猫传媒 president), Luz Maciel Villarroel (center coordinator), Leni Tupper (小黄猫传媒 CLEAR Clinic director and Paralegal Program co-chair) and聽Iv谩n Hern谩ndez (Hillsboro Hops community development manager and 小黄猫传媒 graduate).
The stars of the program were the 小黄猫传媒 students and their stories of resilience. Representing their voices, D谩vila聽Avizures聽thanked the attendees for supporting the fund-raiser and the students.
鈥淚 am so excited to continue my education and to see where it takes me,鈥 she said.
In 2017, through the Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative, Meyer Memorial Trust awarded the 小黄猫传媒 Foundation funding to help launch the center. At the time, the DREAMer Resource Center聽was the first of its kind at any Oregon community college or university. It provides outreach, education, advocacy and community resources, bilingual materials, and funding for urgent and emergency services for undocumented and DACA) students and their families.