El Magonista | Vol. 12, No. 18 | Jul 18, 2024 | Special Edition

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Given the tenuous future of DACA, the CMSC has decided to create the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Independent Dreamers Study Abroad Programs (IDSAP) in order to offer a broader and a more flexible travel-study opportunity for Dreamers in Mexico and other countries of origin from October 15, 2024 to January 15, 2025 for the Fall Program and December 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 for the Winter Program. 

This unique model will allow for both, Mexican-origin Dreamers and DACA-mented Dreamers from other countries to discover their birthplace, cultural roots, reaffirm their identity, reconnect with their families, and explore higher education opportunities in Mexico.  

This program will operate under the CMSC’s Mexico City-based collaboration  with a  network of partner institutions, which include: Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM), Facultad de Estudios Superiores de Acatlán Campus and Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco, the five-campus prestigious Mexico City Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), the public Mexico City Autonomous University (UACM), El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF), Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) and the  CILAC Freire Institute in Cuernavaca, Morelos. 

The CMSC’s Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Independent Dreamers Study Abroad Programs (IDSAP) have been designed specifically to offer travel-study options for individual Dreamers or in small groups, for colleges and universities to develop long-term and short-term projects for their Dreamers and to continue to require an ethnographic research paper based on their experience returning to their homeland and discovering Mexico. 

The Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Independent Dreamers Study Abroad Programs (IDSAP) are explicitly designed for colleges and universities, Labor Unions, Community-based Organizations, Churches and Religious Organizations, and Dreamers’ organizations, interested in contracting with the CMSC for travel-study abroad programs designed specifically for the sponsoring institution’s purpose and participants, including non-Latino and non-Spanish-speaking Dreamers... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

After 20 years, I am finally home.

About a week ago, on November 15, 2023, I arrived at Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to embark on an independent study travel trip for a month and a half. In 2003, My parents and I immigrated to the United States from Honduras to pursue The American Dream, and we haven't been back since.

As a Dreamer, visiting my home country seemed impossible. However, thanks to organizations like California-Mexico Studies Center, Inc, who help countless Dreamers obtain proper documentation to leave and return to the States, I am blessed to be back in my home country, explore my culture, and reconnect with my roots.

Since arriving in Honduras, I've reencountered with family members, visited my father's elementary school and childhood home, visited the city I was born in, ate a bunch of delicious Honduran food, went to a Honduras vs. Mexico soccer game in Honduras's capital city, Tegucigalpa, and much more!

As a journalist and photographer, I am excited to see where this opportunity and experience will lead me post-graduation in May 2024. I am in the process of applying for graduate journalism programs and government fellowships to advance my young professional career further.

As my time in Honduras continues, I will share more of my experiences with you all. Sí, se puede!

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CMSC's Response:

Dear Carlos,

Thank you for giving us the recognition and appreciation for providing you this opportunity, which will enable your adjustment of status upon re-entering the United States because you will erase the prior undocumented entry when you were brought to the United States. For me, it is the the greatest satisfaction to read comments and testimonials about how our program has helped you, as truly a new chapter in your life, which I trust that you will maximize and be legalized to become a US citizen in the next chapter of your career in journalism and as a college professor.

El Profe Armando, President and Founder
California-Mexico Studies Center