2016 California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Summer Programs Registration Now Open

ATTENTION LOS ANGELES AREA DREAMERS !

The California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Program (Winter 2015) offered 30 Dreamers a unique opportunity to travel and study in Mexico from December 17, 2015 to January 11, 2016; with most expenses covered by a grant from the Juntos Podemos Foundation to the California-Mexico Studies Center (CMSC). During the 24-day travel-study experience, the participating Dreamers also had the opportunity to travel to their birthplace for 8 days and spend Christmas and New Years with their families and relatives.

After their independent family travel, they returned to Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico where they had the opportunity to be immersed into a comprehensive language and cultural educational program at the Centro Tlahuica de Lenguas e Intercambio Cultural (CETLALIC) Institute; which consisted of academic, cultural, linguistic, and “cátedras” on social movements, the Mexican educational, economic and political system, various museum visits, and a 14-day home-stay living experience with Mexican host families.

Based upon this successful demonstration project, the California-Mexico Studies Center, in collaboration with various Los Angeles Area colleges and universities, plan to offer at least 4 new California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Programs, which will offer to over 100 Dreamers the opportunity to study-abroad in Mexico during the summer months of 2016.

But please note that this is the initial phase of the application process, and once you complete the online application, you will be instructed to complete the second phase and asked to provide 2 letters of recommendation.

Online applications are now being accepted until the end of April 2016 ! ! !

Program description:

The Summer 2016 California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Program is a subsequent project that builds upon the CMSC’s Winter 2015 demonstration program, which offered 30 DACA-protected Dreamers from 18 different colleges and universities in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, a 3-week travel-study experience in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Morelos.

The Winter program applied improvements based on the lessons learned from the original pilot projects for 16 Dreamers during Prof. Armando Vazquez-Ramos’ Spring Break classes of 2014 and 2015, including a more rigorous academic program with an emphasis on perfecting Spanish language skills, enhancing their knowledge of Mexican culture and history, and guided visits to archeological sites and museums.

Program objectives:

• Establish a replicable educational program model for Dreamers’ Study Abroad Projects at other colleges and universities through the DACA Advance Parole process;
• Establish the administrative framework for a model that can be reproduced by any U.S. institution of Higher Education;
• Continue and expand video and photo documentation of Dreamers’ human stories;
• Prepare participant Dreamers as ambassadors of the model, for them to replicate similar programs at their own colleges and universities, based on their personal experience;
• Train the participants to become advocates and providers of DACA/DAPA services;
• Allow the Dreamers to spend 1 to 2 weeks in their communities of origin with their family and relatives, and to discover their roots in Mexico on their own;

Requirements:

To qualify, applicants must have current DACA status, commit to assist other Dreamers upon return and meet all program requirements, including:

• Be 21 years-old or older at the time of travel;
• Have a current passport from the Dreamers’ country of origin;
• Secure Advance Parole authorization from USCIS (after being accepted to the program);
• Commit to travel and participate in all program activities;
• Must be responsible for at least $1,500 for airfare, registration, tuition & Advance Parole fees;

The selected participants will benefit from the Summer 2016 California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Program’s educational and cultural experience as follows:

• College course credit, Spanish and Mexican Culture instruction;
• Room & Board, field trips, meals and local transportation;
• Visit with family and discover Mexico during the study abroad experience;
• Re-enter the U.S. legally and allow Dreamers to clear the prior unauthorized entry;
• Develop leadership skills to create similar programs or other projects that benefit Dreamers.

To apply fill out the following form or click on this link

If you have any questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page (FAQ's) before you apply!

For more information about the California-Mexico Studies Center and our California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Program visit the following links:

• About the CMSC: http://california-mexicocenter.org/about-cmsc/
• Documentary about the Spring Break 2015 pilot program: http://california-mexicocenter.org/sin-raiz/
• http://california-mexicocenter.org/dreamers-buscando-sus-raices-mexicanas-viajan-a-mexico-univision-noticias/
• http://california-mexicocenter.org/la-professor-offers-lessons-exclusively-for-undocumented-students/
• http://california-mexicocenter.org/19-los-angeles-area-colleges-and-universities-to-be-represented-at-the-california-mexico-dreamers-study-abroad-program-winter-2015/
• Dreamers Winter 2015 Program: http://california-mexicocenter.org/dreamers-study-abroad-winter-2015/

If you have any questions, please visit the FAQ'S page here or feel free to email us and subscribe to our newsletter for future programs and news.

Please Join and support our Marco Antonio Firebaugh Dreamers Study Abroad Scholarship Fundraising campaign, which is our initiative to fund this California-Mexico Dreamers Summer program! ! ! 

• Endorse, volunteer, and promote the Marco Antonio Firebaugh Dreamers Study Abroad Scholarship Fund
• Host a memorial for Marco Antonio Firebaugh on March 21, 2016
• Host a fundraising event for the Marco Antonio Firebaugh Dreamers Study Abroad Scholarship Fund
• Become a co-sponsor of the Marco Antonio Firebaugh Dreamers Study Abroad Scholarship Fund