Introducing Denia! Like Kenia, but with a "D"

INTRODUCING THE E4FC STAFF!

She's got smile!

This week on the E4FC blog, we are introducing our 4th staff member. Denia who is an amazing advocate and leader! 

What is your full name? Denia Cristina Perez Noriega

Where were you born? Mexico City, MX
 What is your date of birth? December 29th, 1989
 What is your hometown? Santa Rosa, CA
 What high school did you go to? Santa Rosa High School
What college did you go to? Mills for my first year, community college my second year, graduated from SFSFU

Books or movies? 

Books
Chocolate or vanilla? 

mint chip
Winter or summer? 

summer
Crushed ice or cubed ice? 

crushed ice
Pancakes or waffles? 

crepes
Sunrise or sunset? 

sunset

How did you become involved and interested in the undocumented/ DREAMER movement? I was a closeted DREAMer for most of my life but then met other students like me and was inspired to become involved.

How did you become involved with E4FC? I was a New American Scholar and then I signed on for the legal services team and the outreach team

What do you do at E4FC? I am the staff legal advocate and Parent Organizer

What has been the most rewarding experience at your position in E4FC? Helping students understand what kinds of resources are available and connecting them to a community of people like them

 How has E4FC made you grow personally and professionally? E4FC has helped me grow in every way but physically. I have become a more responsible, emotionally mature, and generally competent person since working at this organization. 

Would you rather be 4’5’’ or 7’7’’? I'm 5'2" and while I've always wanted to be a little taller, given my two options, I would rather stay my current height than become a dwarf or Shaquille O'Neal

Were you open about your status in high school, or when did you disclose it? I was never open about my status in high school and I only came out when I was in college. 

Read more about Denia's Bio here!

Introducing, Rodrigo!

Introducing the E4FC Staff!

Rodrigo in red with with the Outreach Team 2012-13.

We will be releasing profiles of our E4FC Staff Members on a weekly basis. At E4FC most of our programs were created and are run by undocumented college graduates with the help of committed allies. Learn more about who we are and what we do!

This week's luck staff member is our Outreach Coordinator.

Tiny stud on the left.

Full name: Jose Rodrigo Dorador Madrigal

Birth place: Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Birth date: 01/07/1991

Hometown: Live in Oakland, CA, USA. From Phoenix, AZ

High School: Brophy College Preparatory

College: Santa Clara University

Books or movies? 

Both book open my mind and imagination. I just love film and the visual story telling. 
Chocolate or vanilla? 

Chocolate

Winter or summer? 

Summer in California, Winter in Arizona!  
Crushed ice or cubed ice? 

Cubed ice. Period.
Pancakes or waffles? 

Pancakes.
Sunrise or sunset? 

Sunset. Arizona Sunset. I love the the dashes of purple. 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

How did you become involved and interested in the undocumented/ DREAMER movement? 

  The Dorador Madrigal Family.

My freshman year in High School I started hanging out with friends to play soccer. As it turns out, one of those guys was undocumented. We found out that we were both undocumented in my sophomore, his senior year. We learned we could go to college in AZ with private scholarships and ever since then I have been active in the movement. My friend became the co-founder of SUFFRAGE, a group that would eventually become the AZ Dream Act Coalition. I joined that group because I knew him and joined in on the marches against Arpaio, McCain and Jan Brewer. 

How did you become involved with E4FC? I got a fellowship to work with an organization over the summer between my junior and senior year in college. I had the fellowship, but no organization and that is when I found E4FC. I joined as a summer Ambassador and later on applied to become an Outreach Ambassador for the academic year because I was interested in doing presentation to the community to empower them and give them the intel and tools to overcome the challenges that come with being undocumented, from the concrete challenges of not having a license to feelings of marginalization and deep depression. Eventually, I also applied for the Outreach Coordinator position, and that is what I do today. 

What do you do at E4FC? I serve as the Outreach Coordinator. I am dedicated to supporting and developing our team of Outreach Ambassadors in public speaking, narrative building, content expertise and emotional/personal/spiritual development. I also make sure all of our requests for presentation are handled with professionalism and in a timely manner. 

What has been the most rewarding experience at your position in E4FC? The most rewarding experience I've had at E4FC has been becoming the Outreach Coordinator. This coming June I will be finishing my first year in the position and it has been very rewarding to bring in a team of Ambassadors, watch them grow personally and professionally. It has been a blessing to be a part of the staff at E4FC because they are all so living and caring. The reason this is all rewarding is because it has been tough for me to be far from my family who still lives in Phoenix. It has also been hard for me as an undocumented student to really know what I want to do in the future. All I know right now is that I want to serve my community and empower other undocumented young people to not give up on their dreams. I think being at E4FC has allowed me to do this and has also provided me with a second family. 

Rodrigo May Day 2013

How has E4FC made you grow personally and professionally?  I have grown tremendously as a person and a professional in the short year I have been here. I feel more responsible. I take the work I do very seriously. I feel I am more caring because I see the compassion the staff all have for each other. I think that is part of the magic that makes E4FC so great. That we take care of each other and uphold everyone we come into contact with whether they are our long term volunteers, or individuals we meet during outreach. Professionally, I also think I have learned many skills and now have developed a passion for continuing to learn how to develop leaders. 

Could you please tell us a story about one of your embarrassing moments? I was once getting a massage. I was lying face down and the masseuse just pressed on the wrong nerve and it caused me to fart. Yeah, it was awkward. It was loud, too.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Rodrigo and Bob Ryan, Principal at Brophy.

I would love to meet Jesus of Nazareth, popularly known as Jesus Christ. I went to Jesuit School for 8 years of my life and have done major theological studying while at both schools. I took a class were Jesus was talked not as the savior of humanity, but as a political activist. This was back in high school and it was such a radical thought that the principal of my high school was teaching me. I fell in love with learning about Jesus and his logic for having his beliefs and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. To this day there is so much folklore about who this man was, whether he was divine or human or fully both that I just want to meet him and talk with him and ask about his true beliefs and how he ran his political challenge to the Pharisees and his other contemporaries. How is it that so many people in the history of the modern world are touched by your legacy? Is this what you though you would set off? Is this what you wanted your legacy to be?

Read more about Rodrigo's Bio here!

Introducing, Julio!

Introducing the E4FC Staff!

Julio, a Master in Education. Circa May 2013.

This Friday Marks the second week since first releasing our staff profiles! At E4FC most of our programs were created and are run by undocumented college graduates with the help of committed allies. Learn more about who we are and what we do!

This week's lucky staff member is our Creative Writing Program Coordinator.

Full name: Julio Narcizo Navarrete Rodriguez. Learn more here.

Birth place: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México

Birth date: 10/14/1984

Hometown: San José, CA

High School: Yerba Buena High School

College: San Jose State University for my undergrad, The National Hispanic University for my masters.

Books or movies? 

Books! They say those who read books live a many lives. Books stimulate creativity and mental health.

Chocolate or vanilla? 

Both! But if I had to choose, I would pick french vanilla (ice-cream).

Winter or summer? 

Summer! Such beautiful weather and there are so many things to do!

Crushed ice or cubed ice? 

I don't usually have ice, but either is fine with me.

Pancakes or waffles? 

Both - tho I eat pancakes most often.

Sunrise or sunset? 

Sunset. I'm not usually awake to witness the sun rising, but I love the many shades of pinks, purples and yellows that coat the sky during a sunset. 

Julio, Mario and Denisse with Jorge Ramos, a donor of our Scholarship and National Creativity contest. No Big Deal.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

How did you become involved and interested in the undocumented/ DREAMER movement?  I became involved in the immigration rights movement when I lost my job as a high school Spanish teacher. That was the moment in which I realized that my silence would no longer protect me. Up until then, I felt that the support I was giving my students fulfilled my desire to create positive change, which was true, but I learned that I could do much more!

Julio and fam spending invaluable time together. Is that a custom t-shirt?

How did you become involved with E4FC? I first learned about E4FC when I was accepted into the Dream Summer internship program in the summer of 2011. I joined E4FC's creative writing program and immediately became immersed into the community here. I honestly believe that E4FC changed my life, because it allowed me to process, heal from and share my experiences. It also allowed me to find a supporting community of brave undocumented individuals who have become my second family.

What do you do at E4FC? I coordinate the creative writing program. I also oversee our creativity website- www.thingsillneversay.org

What has been the most rewarding experience at your position in E4FC?            The most rewarding experiences at E4FC have been the times that I've presented my story for educators, students, allies, and other groups. Each time, I feel a strong connection with the audience, and in a way, it feels like we all share something that bonds us. More specifically, being able to return to the high school campus where I once taught, and share my personal experiences with other undocumented students has brought me closure, empowerment, and inspiration.

How has E4FC made you grow personally and professionally? E4FC has helped me develop my skills as a writer and public speaker. I've also learned to incorporate my various passions and talents, such as teaching, video production, and storytelling, into the work that I do. I've also made connections with people that will last a lifetime.What is your favorite movie of all time? Why so? I find it difficult to answer these type of questions. I consider myself a person who is constantly growing and whose views and tastes are constantly changing. However, I mostly enjoy foreign films or independent films that deal with issues of social (in)justice. Some examples include, Voces Inocentes, Machuca, Bordertown, Mala Educación, Boys Don't Cry, María Llena Eres de Gracia, among others.

Toy Soldiers

What is your earliest memory of being in the US?
 Perhaps one of the earliest memories would be of my first friend in the U.S., Kyle. You can read that story here.

Read more about Julio's Bio here!

Introducing E4FC's Director of Outreach & Organizing!

Jose's Good Side

Introducing the E4FC Staff!

Starting today, we will be releasing profiles of our E4FC Staff Members on a weekly basis. At E4FC most of our programs were created and are run by undocumented college graduates with the help of committed allies. Learn more about who we are and what we do!

This week's luck staff member is our Director of Outreach and Organizing.

Full name: Jose Ivan Arreola
Birth place: Durango, Mexico
Birth date: 01/25/1988
Hometown: Mountain View, CA, USA
High School: Mountain View High School
College: Santa Clara University

Books or movies? 
I love reading, but I only read non-fiction. So I get my nerdy sci-fi, fantasy, action fix from watching movies!
Chocolate or vanilla? 
Vanilla & chocolate swirls! 
Winter or summer? 
Summer! Not even a question! Not even close!  
Crushed ice or cubed ice? 
Cubed ice! I don't understand crushed ice.
Pancakes or waffles? 
Banana pancakes all day everyday! But add some fried chicken to the waffles and we definitely have a competition! 
Sunrise or sunset? 
I'm a morning person, so its definitely sunrise! It symbolizes rebirth, new possibility, and vitality. The light after the darkness... 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Jose and Alex. Global Village.
 Santa Clara University. Circa 2010.

How did you become involved and interested in the undocumented/ DREAMER movement? I was always aware of my immigration status and of the danger/uncertainty that came with being undocumented in the U.S. so growing up was more about managing the challenges and navigating the barriers day to day. I was activated in 2006, as many were, in response to the anti-immigrant sentiment around the country. It was an incredible moment in time and it was the first time I had truly realized how powerful we were as a people and as a movement. However, I did not take a leadership role until I graduated from college in 2010 and started at E4FC. 

How did you become involved with E4FC? I had just come back to the bay area after doing some amazing community organizing work in Los Angeles and I found myself search for different ways to continue the social justice and movement building work I had done during college and in my organizing work. A good friend and mentor of mine, Jennifer, emailed me one day and told me about this organization which helped to support and advocate for undocumented students. As an undocumented college graduate- and a latino male- I always believe that it was my obligation to come back to my community and help to build power, knowledge and leadership. So I email Kathy Gin (Co-Founder and Executive Director) and asked to have a meeting to discuss ways that I could get involved. She emailed me back with a HUGE list of questions that she need me to answer before she would agree to meet with me. What I didn't know was that this was her way of both screening me and also getting me to think deeply about my passions, intentions and contributions to E4FC. However, not knowing that, I thought it was pretty ridiculous that I had to answer all these questions just to get a meeting! However, eventually, I came to my senses and I emailed Kathy back with responses to all the questions she had asked. We met at the old, old, old E4FC office and discussed ways that I could contribute to the work that E4FC was doing. We came to the conclusion that we needed to start building more of a community presence through starting a new Outreach Program. 

What do you do at E4FC? I serve as the Director of Outreach and Organizing. I am dedicated to supporting and developing the Outreach Coordinator who runs and executes the program. I train our team of Outreach Ambassadors in public speaking, narrative building, content expertise and emotional/personal/spiritual development. I am also asked to speak and represent E4FC at large conferences or high profile events. 

What has been the most rewarding experience at your position in E4FC? The most rewarding experience I've had at E4FC is still my very first presentation. It was in October of 2010 and I was invited to sit on a panel for a parent event at a high school in Oakland. This will always be my most precious experience because I had a chance to share the panel with my father. My father is a very quiet person and it took a great deal of work to convince him to come with me. And yet, when the panel started, it was an amazing experience to see my father in a position to speak to other parents. As he spoke, the audience was completely focused on his every word. He had never been involved in any movement and he was never very informed politically, but as he spoke about his life, his struggles as an undocumented immigrant and his aspirations for his children, he validated the struggles and sacrifices of all the parents he met that day. I was so proud of my father that day! 

Jose enjoying family time with his two younger sisters, mom and dad. Circa Who Knows?

How has E4FC made you grow personally and professionally? I have grown a tremendous amount as a public speaker. I have built a program from scratch and learned how to build a staff. I have connected to thousands of community members from all across the country. I have advocated for equitable and humane local, state and federal immigration policies. I have developed deep friendships and I have found amazing mentors. All while coming to understand the life I have led and the future I want to see come into reality.

Jose, sisters and friend at E4FC's Halloween Party. Circa 2012.

Would you rather be able to run 100 mph or fly at 10 mph? Fly! And then I would rope myself to one of the other E4FC staff members who picked running 100 mph!

What is your favorite movie of all time? Why so?
 V for Vendetta! It contains within it a powerful truth about the way power operates, the way people are oppressed and the way hope/love can save us all.

Read more about Jose's Bio here!