I was born in a small town heading towards Puebla and Mexico City aka Orizaba, Veracruz in 1993. Because my sister needed an important surgery + my mom wanted a better life for us, she decided to bring us to Southern CA in 1997.
I have no memories of my early years in Mexico. My first memory was driving on the 405 on our way to see my grandma, aunts and uncles, and cousins in Tustin, CA.
My Story, My Journey (1997 - 2007)
Our undocumented status was always looming over my family. But my sister, cousins, and extended family were experiencing a more significant heaviness than me.
My mom was working all the time, but it seemed normal to me. I thought, “that’s what parents do.” For the first couple of years, my dad was in the picture until he wasn’t.
Eventually, my mom met my stepdad. Despite being a US Citizen, we weren’t able to change our status cause of how 9/11 changed immigration policies.
My Story, My Journey (2008 - 2011)
I would meet new peoplehad to be careful.
In 2008, because of a multitude of family and financial reasons, we moved to Roseburg, a small town in southern OR.
As I approached HS graduation in 2011, I started worrying more about what I would do. My sister had taken a different path than my mom had hoped for, and her status had played a huge role in it.
My Story, My Journey (2011 - 2013)
In order to help pay for my first semester of college, the summer immediately post-HS graduation, I went to Hood River, OR with my mom to pick cherries for the summer.
2011 to 2012 was difficult amongst my college aspirations - a situation had developed between my mom and stepdad, he eventually committed suicide, and one of my aunt and cousins were murdered.
In June 2012, DACA was announced by the Obama administration. In order to pay the $495 fee, I headed down to work with my uncles’ street sweeping business.
My Story, My Journey (2013 - 2014)
I graduated from Umpqua CC in 2013!
My goal was to become a mathematics teacher in K-12 education.
Transitioning to PSU was difficult; new city, new problems, and still a bunch of uncertainty of my future.
During this time, my mom and I had applied for permanent residency through VAWA with the support of Catholic Charities.
There was no way I could afford PSU even with tuition equity - I almost dropped out.
However, my green card arrived near the beginning of the 2014 Fall term.
My Story, My Journey (2014 - 2018)
Mathematics.
My first “official job” was with the non-profit College Possible; 2 years with a cohort of 40+ students.
A couple of my students had varying degrees of status, including their families.
During these 2 years, I realized I didn’t want to work in the K-12 system; however, I became even more invested in dismantling systems of oppression because I didn’t want others to go through the same things I had gone through.
My Story, My Journey (2019 - Now)
I went back to Mexico in 2021 to visit my hometown for the first time since immigrating to the United States.
I went to grad school to study Collaborative Design at PNCA from 2021 - 2023.
In the summer of 2023, both my mom and I became US Citizens.
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
● My support systems held me down through my toughest days and times…
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
● My support systems held me down through my toughest days and times…
● I stayed true to my convictions, and centered and prioritized my communities whenever and wherever, all the time…
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
● My support systems held me down through my toughest days and times…
● I stayed true to my convictions, and centered and prioritized my communities whenever and wherever all the time…
● Opportunities came and went, but things eventually fell in place - trust the timing…
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
● My support systems held me down through my toughest days and times…
● I stayed true to my convictions, and centered and prioritized my communities whenever and wherever all the time…
● Opportunities came and went, but things eventually fell in place - trust the timing…
● Great design is collaborative, iterative, and should not be reliant on one individual…
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
● My support systems held me down through my toughest days and times…
● I stayed true to my convictions, and centered and prioritized my communities whenever and wherever all the time…
● Opportunities came and went, but things eventually fell in place - trust the timing…
● Great design is collaborative, iterative, and should not be reliant on one individual…
● Our stories are important to share, but trauma dumping should not be the vehicle…
So… what’s the point?
● I’m not the exception to the rule…
● My support systems held me down through my toughest days and times…
● I stayed true to my convictions, and centered and prioritized my communities whenever and wherever all the time…
● Opportunities came and went, but things eventually fell in place - trust the timing…
● Great design is collaborative, iterative, and should not be reliant on one individual…
● Our stories are important to share, but trauma dumping should not be the vehicle…
● We can’t lose hope: these systems, policies, and conditions can be changed. We don’t have to do it alone - ask for help, organize, fight, and rest as we shape the future….
Sharing Our Stories Through Art
Instructions
● Using the blank postcards, use one side for drawing and the other for writing.
● For the drawing: use the materials provided, and be creative! It can be whatever you want e.g. self-portrait, abstract of your emotions, doodling, landscape, etc.
● For the writing:
○ Write out your draft on a separate piece of paper if you want feedback or suggestions.
○ If you don’t want feedback, just go ahead and write what you want; use the prompts on the right for inspiration!
○ You can sign with your name OR leave it anonymous. Either one is okay! :)
● For both formats: You can make it all about the undocu/DACAmented or mixed status experience OR not at all OR somewhere in between. Up to you!
Guiding Questions / Prompts?
● What is something you want people to know about the undocu/DACAmented and/or mixed status family experience (so that you don’t have to keep explaining)...?
● What advice would you give others for navigating PSU as an undocu/DACAmented student, staff, or alumni?
● What does a just and validating future look like for you?
● In what ways can PSU as an institution support you?
● In what ways can fellow PSU peers show up for you?
● What would liberation mean for you in an individual context? Interpersonal? Societal?
● What do you like to do for fun, and why is it important to you i.e. drawing, hanging with friends, going to new coffee shops, etc.?
● What things give you hope / what refuels your cup, and why?
Sharing Our Stories Through Art
Where will these be placed? One idea is the space right outside the center - will coordinate with Joanna and others to see if this makes sense! :)
Sharing Our Stories Through Art
Instructions
● Using the blank postcards, use one side for drawing and the other for writing.
● For the drawing: use the materials provided, and be creative! It can be whatever you want e.g. self-portrait, abstract of your emotions, doodling, landscape, etc.
● For the writing:
○ Write out your draft on a separate piece of paper if you want feedback or suggestions.
○ If you don’t want feedback, just go ahead and write what you want; use the prompts on the right for inspiration!
○ You can sign with your name OR leave it anonymous. Either one is okay! :)
● For both formats: You can make it all about the undocu/DACAmented or mixed status experience OR not at all OR somewhere in between. Up to you!
Guiding Questions / Prompts?
● What is something you want people to know about the undocu/DACAmented and/or mixed status family experience (so that you don’t have to keep explaining)...?
● What advice would you give others for navigating PSU as an undocu/DACAmented student, staff, or alumni?
● What does a just and validating future look like for you?
● In what ways can PSU as an institution support you?
● In what ways can fellow PSU peers show up for you?
● What would liberation mean for you in an individual context? Interpersonal? Societal?
● What do you like to do for fun, and why is it important to you i.e. drawing, hanging with friends, going to new coffee shops, etc.?
● What things give you hope / what refuels your cup, and why?
