Working together for the DREAM

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That's Wassup Blog

The Charlotte Observer

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Fighting for citizenship and education

President Obama’s campaign created a new appetite and strategy for grassroots mobilization. I wanted to see how a local veteran organization and a new group channel enthusiasm here.

Today, we'll hear from Ruben Campillo, advocacy coordinator for the Latin American Coalition.

The Coalition continues to fight for comprehensive immigration reform and access to higher education for undocumented immigrants. The group is also building an alliance with African Americans.

On Saturday, the Latin American Coalition and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee will host the African-American Latino Alliance. During the half-day workshop participants will learn about issues facing both communities and about shared histories. Participants will discuss the economic and political power of both communities as well as possible strategies and goals for an alliance.

"Many times we fail to acknowledge we're neighbors, we go to the same schools," Campillo said. "We should be together addressing some of these issues."

The summit will be 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday. Regarding immigration, the coalition will take its fight to Raleigh. On April 7, Campillo and 30 high school students will lobby state legislators to allow undocumented residents to attend community college.

"Community college was the next step for so many students who cannot afford to pay tuition at a four-year college," he said.

It's the second time Campillo and students have lobbied lawmakers. Earlier this month, Campillo took students to Washington to lobby the state delegation to pass comprehensive immigration reform and the Dream Act. The Dream Act provides immigrant students a path toward permanent residency... complete blog post