Updates
From Mobilize the Immigrant Vote!
Advancing and Defending Immigrant Rights
Dear Allies and Friends,
In recent weeks, Americans have witnessed the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia, the occupation of Wall Street and cities across the country, some of the most anti-immigrant legislation to date in Alabama , and hopeful immigrant rights legislation in California for education access, changes [...]
2012 Ballot Preview
In 2012, California expects a series of ballot initiatives that will again have major impact on the state and have ripple effects across the country. Organizations across California are collaborating on how to move tax and fiscal reform measures through the ballot box. In this issue, we focus on the statewide efforts to repeal the death penalty in California.
MIV is Growing!
MIV is thrilled to welcome long-time partner and ally, Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), to the MIV Statewide Strategy Council. Founded in 1972, the Chinese Progressive Association educates, organizes and empowers the low income and working class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco to build collective power with other oppressed communities to demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people. We would also like to share the newest additions to MIV’s senior statewide staff team: Martha Figueroa, Political Director, and Rebecca Concepcion Apostol, Capacity Building Manager.
What Do Alabama and California Dream Mean for the Future?
By Xiomara Corpeño, CHIRLA National Campaign Director
California youth have helped advance immigrant justice once again with the historic passage of the California Dream Act, AB130 and AB131, which opens up access to state financial aid for undocumented students. With a January 2013 implementation date for the larger of the two bills, these laws will allow undocumented college students who are classified as AB540 (the bill that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition) to receive state-funded financial aid, including Cal Grants (a the UC and CSU level) and the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (at the Community College level). Qualified students must have attended California high schools for at least three years, graduated from a California high school, and filed for the AB540 Affidavit. It is estimated that 70% of those who will benefit from these laws will be legal permanent residents and naturalized citizens. This is the most generous state “Dream Act” that has been ever passed, and it was ten years in the making.
Gloria Zometa Clavel, Co-Founder and Leader with Librería del Pueblo
Born in El Salvador, Gloria Zometa Clavel was active in community organizing and participated in the Civil War in El Salvador in the 1980s. At the time, she worked at a university and experienced her politicization through the organizing of students. She was forced to leave her country as a political refugee during that time.
“It was very difficult to leave my roots and come to the United States,” shares Ms. Zometa Clavel. “As an immigrant you arrive and are faced with a totally different reality. It was a complete change at a cultural, language and communal level. In the United States, there is much more emphasis on the individual. In El Salvador, the focus is on collective practices and sharing.”
Librería del Pueblo was founded by several leaders in San Bernardino and the Inland Valley who began their organizing in the local diocese of the Catholic Church. One of their early activities was selling Bibles and books, which was how their name was born. In the beginning, they worked to provide English classes, immigration and naturalization services, and other resources for communities in rural and urban areas throughout the Inland Valley. The mission of Librería del Pueblo is to organize low-income communities so that they can take critical leadership roles for historic change. Immigration reform, health care, state budget reform, and housing rights are top issues for the leaders and members of Librería del Pueblo.
