Students! Apply for this Internet Marketing Scholarship

Internet Marketing Scholarship

 

Check out below all the info for the  Best Reviews Hunt Internet Marketing Scholarship for High School, Undergraduate or Postgraduate. Students with a passion for  “Internet Marketing” can win a $1,000 award.

Those students who are currently studying in the areas of Marketing, Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, Programming or Communications may be extremely interested in this scholarship program. One does not require any expertise in this area. Passion for internet marketing content creation is enough.

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Create a piece of content between 500 – 1,000 words on the subject “Internet Marketing and its Importance in Society.”

Include the following ideas:

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• How is this utilized on our website/articles?

 

How to Submit your Application

Write an article of 500 – 1,000 words long and submit to us via a word .doc or .pdf file.

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How can social media improve breastfeeding rates in USA?

Breastfeeding is important for both mom and baby. Breastfeeding has many benefits that are well known. For baby, the benefits are clear. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for baby – an ideal combination of  vitamins, protein, and fat necessary for growth. Further, breast milk is more digestible by baby than formula. Breast milk leads to healthier babies, healthier kids, and healthier individuals. Breast milk contains antibodies and so breastfeeding lowers baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and diarrhea, fewer hospitalizations and fewer trips to the doctor. Breastfeeding is alo thought to reduce rates of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. Aside from health benefits, breastfeeding is also crucial for baby’s mental and emotional development as the the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact increase bonding and development.

Social media is a powerful tool – it has dramatically changed how marketing is done. Because of social media, the speed at which trends develop, circulate, and subside has markedly increased. In the digital age, a new phrase was coined – “gone viral” – and despite what many of us thought when we first heard the term, it is not a bad, but it is actually a great phenomenon for content.  News can travel fast. And content can spread like wildfire. In an almost exponential way, the total reach of content can quickly explode. What this means is that content has the ability to reach a vast number of people very quickly. Overnight a certain brand, content, video, or meme can be known by a substantial portion of a target population.

Social media can increase breastfeeding rates in the US because it has the power to reach a lot of people. Social media connects us across oceans and across the world – with social media, individuals are connected – virtually even if they are half a world away. Social media is especially useful to reach young and new moms in the 20’s who have the highest rates of social media usage, and who may have the most questions about breastfeeding or have the most barriers to successful breastfeeding (time constraints due to busy schedules, unable to pump at work to to being earlier in their career or working in sectors that do not provide accommodations [such as service sector as opposed to office jobs], being self conscious, etc).

Social media can increase breastfeeding rates because it has the power to reaffirm the subjective norm that breastfeeding is good and is something that all moms should do if possible. It can further normalize breastfeeding. When moms see other moms online sharing their experiences with breastfeeding – both the positive aspects and the challenges – it encourages moms to start or keep breastfeeding. This is based on the concept of social proofing – which is a psychological phenomenon where people take on or perform the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for a given situation. Its well know that people give more validity or weight to ideas that are stated by multiple sources – so when women or parents see that multiple friends or social media accounts either have / are breastfeeding or are posting about the benefits of breastfeeding, they will be influenced and encouraged to breastfeed also. Seeing your friends and social contacts engaging in a behavior or talking about the benefits of that behavior is also powerful because as it has been studied, people are more susceptible to peer influence from horizontal than vertical sources. This means that people are more influenced by friends than superiors. This is because when a person perceives themselves as similar to the people around them, they are more likely to adopt and perceive as correct the observed behavior of these people. One way that social media can do this is if, for example, Electric Breast Pump Reviews or another organization or company, starts a social media campaign encouraging moms to share their breastfeeding experiences online – such why they breastfeed, why they enjoy it, why baby enjoy it, and now they have overcome any challenges. Mom can share using a hashtag such as #BreatisBest #MommaMilk #WhyIBreastfeed – which allows moms across the country to join the conversation.

Social media can increase breastfeeding rates because it provides new moms with a support network. Breastfeeding is worth it, but as any woman who has breastfed knows, it’s also hard. It takes time, it controls your schedule, it’s painful, there’s definitely a learning curve to it, and many times, try as you might, your baby has difficulty latching on. These obstacles can make many moms feel demoralized or like they are failing as moms. Many moms may not have someone they ask for help or advice. Or more likely, many new moms may feel embarrassed about asking for help because they feel they should be having no issues in breastfeeding and if they are having issues it reflects on them as a mother. Which of course, is not true, as many new moms face difficulties. Social media in this sense is useful in two ways. First, moms can use social media – such as facebook groups or other social networks – to ask for help or advice in a way that feels safe and non judgemental. Second, through social media, they can see that they are not the only ones who are facing challenges and it normalizes these challenges that many moms may face.

Speaking as a student pursuing a degree in public health – I know that health communication is a proven way to promote healthy behaviors in people. Social media is a powerful communication channel that can be used to promote health messages. Health communication is the use of communication strategies to influence individual and community decisions that enhance health. These communication strategies must be based on health behavior theories – which  illustrate the motivations and factors that lead  individuals to perform or not perform certain health behaviors. A health behavior theory called the Health Belief Model is very illustrative in showing how social media can increase breastfeeding rates. the Health Belief model says that health behaviors are controlled by of perceived severity of not performing the behavior, perceived susceptibility of not performing the behavior, perceived benefits of  performing the behavior, perceived barriers or costs to performing the behavior, self-efficacy (confidence in one’s ability to successfully perform the health actions), and cues to action (external influences that can activate the readiness to act). Social media can effectively address 3 portions of this health behavior theory. First, it can increase perceived benefits by having mom’s see and read about the positive experiences that other moms had with breastfeeding, how they enjoy the experience of bonding, and how they had healthy, happy babies. Second, it can reduce perceived barriers by providing a support network for advice and by showing how it’s normal to have challenges, and how if you don’t give up, it will be worth it. Third, it can increased self-efficacy if social networks such as health organizations and other non profit entities have social media campaigns where they share tips for breastfeeding – so that moms feel more equipped to handle any challenges. Forth, it provide cues to action. These cues to action can be tweets, facebook graphics, etc that encourage mom to breastfeed, share benefits to breastfeeding, share tips, and share real stories of moms that are breastfeeding while working, going to school, taking care of their other children, etc.

In conclusion, social media can increase rates of breastfeeding in US thought several ways, including by providing a support network, building community among nursing moms, increasing acceptance of breastfeeding through social proofing, communicating the benefits of breastfeeding, and by providing cues to action.

Find more information here: http://electricbreastpumpwomen.com/

The War on Drugs and The Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice system is the US is not perfect. However, it is a very well developed system, and its goal at the end of the day is to ensure that justice is served. It is a complicated system and those who navigate its murky waters must know their way and be well trained.

One area of the criminal justice system which has gotten very murky in recent history is drug enforcement policy.  The modern “War on Drugs” began in the 1970’s when President Nixon declared drugs to be “public enemy number one”. The War on Drugs refers to a set of policies, including enforcement, prohibition, and military intervention, to curb the use and distribution of psychoactive drugs.   The focus on enforcement of drug policy, to the exclusion of prevention and treatment, has had lasting effects on the American justice system and on the social and economic well being of American communities.

One of the lasting impacts of the War on Drugs is the racial injustice it has created and perpetuated. This injustice has many implications and strains police and community relations. White and blacks have about the same rate of drug use, however, African-American men are arrested at 13 times the rate of white men on drug charges. African Americans and Latinos make up 29 percent of the total U.S. population, but make up over 75% of those in prison for drug related charges . African Americans accounted for 35% of drug arrests, 55% of drug convictions, and 74% drug incarcerations. The most well-known example of racial disparities in drug sentencing is the 100 to 1 sentencing disparity for trafficking of crack cocaine vs trafficking of powder cocaine. Until 2010, it took 500 grams of powder cocaine to receive the same sentence as someone with 5 grams of crack cocaine – which triggered a mandatory 5 year sentence. This policy is biased against racial minorities because crack is cheaper than cocaine and is more prevalent in inner cities, while cocaine is more prevalent in suburbia  Couple these racial disparities in the how law Is carried out with the violent and disruptive tactics of the drug war, and it’s easy to see how community and police relations become strained.

The drug war has resulted in an increasing militarization of our police – with drug raids carried out by police in paramilitary gear, spreading fear in communities and a distrust of police officers. Further destroying police / community relations are policies such as “Stop and Frisk” in New York – which substantially affect more black and brown bodies. The consequences to these policies are long lasting. When a community does not trust the police, public safety suffers. Crimes go unreported. As crime increases, police may use more violent tactics when interacting with community members.  Implicit Bias within the police force also becomes a problem.

The most lasting effect of the War on Drugs is how it tears at the fabric of the affected communities. During the height of the War on Drugs, one million American were being incarnated every year . Mandatory minimum sentences land thousands of individuals who made one mistake in jail. In 1989, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act created 29 new, mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. As a result, from 1980 to today, the number of people incarcerated for drug offences has increased from 50,000 to half a million That’s half a million families with a father, a mother, a son, a daughter behind bars. If the breadwinner or head of household is jailed for years, the family suffers, kids grow up without a father or mother. Generations of able-bodies adults are in prison. And when these individuals return, they are not rehabilitated and not given the tools to succeed in the outside world. For millions of families, dreams of upward mobility – the American dream – are dashed. Convicted felons are stripped of voting rights. A drug conviction will cause federal financial aid to be denied or delayed, make you ineligible for public housing, and 32 states will prohibit you from accessing food stamps . This causes the recidivism rate to be very high.

The Drug War frames drug use as a moral issue that must be curbed by punitive measures. This results in a war on drug users – criminalizing their existence, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and communities of color. U.S. federal, state, and local governments now spend $50 billion per year on enforcement tactics. Targeting to reduce the supply and punish the users has not been effective. Alternative policies should seek to reduce demand by treatment and prevention programs, which is more cost effective .  The criminal justice system should be reformed. Mandatory sentences for possession should be eliminated. Sentencing first time offenders should be based around the goal of restorative, not punitive justice.

*“This article is a submission for entry to the 2016 Monder Law San Diego Scholarship”

1) Drug War Statistics”. Drug Policy Alliance. Retrieved February 25, 2014.

2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-newman/drug-war-consequences_b_2404347.html

 3) “I. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS”. Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs. Human Rights Watch. 2000. Retrieved February 3,2010.

4) A Public Health Approach to Mitigating the Negative Consequences of Illicit Drug Abuse; National Association for Public Health Policy,  Journal of Public Health Policy, Vol. 20, No. 3 (1999), pp. 268-281, Palgrave Macmillan Journals, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3343401

5) Spencer, K. B., Charbonneau, A. K., & Glaser, J. (2016). Implicit Bias and Policing. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 10(1), 50-63.

6) Lester Grinspoon, M.D.& James B. Bakalar, J.D. (February 3, 1994). “The War on Drugs—A Peace Proposal”. 330 (5). New England Journal of Medicine: 357–360.

7) Jesse Ventura. American Conspiracies (New York: Skyshore Publishing, 2010), 117.

8) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-newman/drug-war-consequences_b_2404347.html

9) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-newman/drug-war-consequences_b_2404347.html

10) ^^ National Association for Public Health Policy, 1999

11) ^^ National Association for Public Health Policy, 1999

Gov Malloy Signs CT In State Tuition Bill

On July 7th, Governor Malloy signed into law the Connecticut In State Tuition Bill. Our state is now the 12th state in the US to allow undocumented students to pay the In State Tuition rate at public colleges and universities, as opposed to the much more expensive out of state rate.  To qualify, students must have attended a CT high school for 4 years, graduated and file a statement with their college or university saying they will apply for legal residency when eligible to do so.

 
The signing ceremony was held at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven. Present there were those from around the state who worked hard to make this DREAM a reality.  Students and supporters filled the Wilbur Cross High School Atrium. It was great to see a sizable contingency from my group, CT Students for a DREAM present. The gathering was an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate the passage of this bill, which will help enable many of us to pursue a higher education.  Also there were students and supporters from a group called Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT). This interfaith organization of congregations from New Haven and Fairfield counties did much work for the Bill.

 
The press conference began with Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman introducing Maria Praeli, who spoke for the undocumented students. Maria, a high school junior, spoke about her experience applying for college, when the “sky is the only limit message” from her teachers came “shattering down” because she knew she could not afford college, saying “It was kind of like a reality that I didn’t want to accept. I considered the whole thing unfair.” She ended by saying, “By signing this bill into law, you have opened one more door,” she said. “You have brought us one step closer to pursuing our dreams of higher education, and in doing so, granted us the opportunity to become professionals and continue to be contributors to our communities, our state, and our country – the United States of America.”

 
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven ), who was the main supporter of the bill in the Senate also spoke, “For years I have fought for this fair and compassionate legislation to become law, and with the signing of this bill, the fight is finally over. Today, we celebrate this new law that will literally change lives not only in this community, but across Connecticut,” he said. “This law will help higher education become accessible for deserving, hard working students who are pursuing the American Dream and ensure that these young adults don’t suffer for a decision their parents made very long ago.”

 
Governor Malloy ended the conference by re-affirming the necessity of the Bill, “These are children who live in Connecticut, contribute to our economy and are part of the fabric of our state. This bill isn’t controversial, it’s common sense.”

 
Advocates and students then gathered around the Governor as he signed the Bill. Afterwards, there were many group photos taken, to celebrate all the people across the state who worked so hard for this bill. Many have been working for over 6 years.

 
CT Students for a DREAM is proud that this long-awaited Bill has become law, and thanks those who have fought for it. Because of this Bill, hundreds of students across CT, and several in our own group, will now be able take their dreams off hold and pursue the higher education they have always dreamed of. Further, the passage of this Bill finally acknowledges what we have known all along, that we, as undocumented students, are residents of Connecticut, or as Gov Malloy put it “part of the fabric” of this great state.

CT Students for a DREAM travels to DC

This year marked the second time I’ve been to a Dream Graduation in DC (as detailed in my previous post), although they were similar at first glance, upon closer inspection, the two events become markedly different. This trip marked my own personal growth, the growth of the dream movement in CT, as well as the evolution of the dream movement on a whole.

CT Students for a DREAM brought 18 people from CT for the two days of action in DC. For many of them, it was the first time being involved with the DREAM movement on a national level. I was excited for them and couldn’t wait for them to discover the community and personal empowerment gained through this movement.

As everyone gathered before the DREAM Act Senate Hearing on the morning of June 28^th, one of our high school members exclaimed “I know that guy, and that girl! From facebook!” – referring g to 2 UWD leaders, which immediately reminded me of my excited a short year ago.

We then headed to the first ever Senate Hearing on the Dream Act and attended a reception with Senator Durbin afterwards.  In the afternoon, my sister and I took some of CT group lobbying at both our Senators’ offices (Blumenthal and Lieberman). It was the first time lobbying for many of them and they were clearly nervous, but they all did a great job (I was so proud of them!). We even met with Senator Blumenthal himself (yay, photo-op!).

We slept at the same church I had stayed in for the previous year, and I couldn’t help but to appreciate how far Connecticut has come – unlike last year, my sister and I were not the only ones from CT, in fact, we had brought an entire van of CT Dreamers!

The next morning, we all donned our caps and gowns for the Dream Graduation. With the “Deportation Class of 2011” standing up front, I realized that aside from showing the growth of the group in CT, this year’s actions also showed the evolution of the DREAM movement.  Last year, the graduation was pushing for the Dream Act as a standalone Bill (still unlikely at that time). While this year, we attended the first ever Senate Hearing on the Dream Act, which shows the power that our movement now has. Last year, the tone at the Dream Graduation was jubilant, while this year the mood was much more somber. This year we were demanding that Obama stop deporting Dreamers and were holding his administration accountable for their failure to act. Further, as Jose Antonio Vargas made clear by calling himself an “Undocumented American” during his address at the graduation – we are demanding to be acknowledged as what we always knew we were – Americans.

After the Dream Graduation, we marched in 90 degree weather all the way to the White House, chanting “Education not Deportation,” “Up Up with Education, Down Down with Deportation,” and, “Obama, Don’t Deport My Mama!”. Despite the heat, I could tell that my CT team was enjoying being part of it all.

At the White House, we took part in what was the most intense direct action I have participated in. All 200 of us lined up and our “Deportation Class of 2011” told their stories and chained themselves together. We all then literally and symbolically turned our backs on the White House and the Obama Administration, shouting “End our Pain or No Campaign!” – meaning that Obama must stop the deportations if he wants the Latino vote.  We continued passionately chanting several different slogans – the heat was exhausting, but that didn’t bother us – we were empowered, we were letting the Obama Administration know that we are watching and that his actions have consequences.

 

As our CT contingency left DC later that afternoon, I reflected how this trip marked my own personal growth, the growth of the dream movement in ct, as well as the evolution of the dream movement on a whole.

Reflections on DREAM Graduation in DC

This year marked the second time I’ve been to a Dream Graduation in DC, although they were similar at first glance, upon closer inspection, the two events become markedly different. Marking my own personal growth, the growth of the dream movement in ct, as well as the evolution of the dream movement on a whole.

It was July 2010 (exactly one year ago today!)  when I went to my first Dream Graduation; it was one of my first public forays into the DREAM movement.  I heard about it on facebook and immediately remembered the 2009 graduation, when I wanted to go so badly, but could not even muster the courage to ask my mom to let me go. But in 2010, after convincing my mom, I packed my cap and gown and got on a bus organized by my neighboring DREAM group, the NYSLYC. Their bus headed back to NY the same day, but I decided to stay one more day and somehow find my own way home (a then outrageous expression of personal independence on my part).

The day of the 2010 Dream Graduation was when 22 undocumented students were arrested after staging a sit-in at DC Senate Offices. I then wound up at a vigil outside a detention facility until 2:30am. As the crowd outside the detention facility thinned out in the early morning hours, my sister and I didn’t know where we were going to sleep or how we we’re going to get there, and we began to worry – “what have we gotten ourselves into?”. Everyone else was part of a state group, while my sister and I were the only ones from Connecticut.

We wound up being taken in by the IYJL’s van (some of whom had been arrested earlier that day). They gave us a ride the church were people were staying and their friendliness continued into the next day, when they gave us a ride to breakfast and to the next day’s actions. And that’s when I knew that I had to be part of this movement. I had been welcomed by a group of people who had never met me and who did not even have room for me in their van. That’s when I realized the bond that dreamers have with one another. No matter where we’re from, whether we know each other or not, a dreamer will never leave another in a time of need. 

Flash forward to this year, and my sister and I are part of CT Students for a DREAM, and we’re organizing our own van to drive down to the 2011 Dream Graduation. We brought 18 people from CT for the two days of action. For many of them, it was the first time being involved with the DREAM movement on a national level. I was excited for them and couldn’t wait to relive my previous years’ experience through their eyes – as they discovered the community and personal empowerment gained thought involved in this movement.

For CT Students for a Dream’s experience in DC for the two days of action, see my next post!

 

Your One Stop Online Petition Shop, July 11

If you’re regularly trolling around DREAM Act circles online, you probably often come across petitions. Petitions for END cases, in support of In State Tuition Bill, against anti-immigrant legislation or amendments, the list goes on and on ….

It can be overwhelming! You want to sign them all, but it’s hard to keep track!

Well, I’m here to help! This is your One Stop Shop for Online petition signing! I’ve scoured blogs, websites, and forums to make our “arm chair activism” (as I like to call it) even easier!

Check out this week’s selection … neatly categorized!

 

Education Not Deportation Petitions!

 

Stop Erick’s Deportation

Erick came to the United States when he was only two years old. Now 22, he has lived in North Carolina for the majority of his life. One night Erick Velazquillo was pulled over driving with his high beams on. He was arrested and spent 3 days in jail. On July 19, a judge in immigration court might send him back to a country he doesn’t remember. Erick is an athlete and an aspiring nutritionist; he has every desire to stay and live in the U.S. as the American he already is. If deported, he will be sent back to a country he hasn’t been to in 20 years!
Please sign the petition and help us stop Erick’s deportation.
http://action.dreamactivist.org/erick

.. or even better Call DHS – Janet Napolitano (202-282-8495) and ICE – John Morton (202.732.3000)
Sample Script: “Hi, I was calling to ask that Erick Velazquillo’s deportation be deferred. Erick (A# 200-97-0380) has been living in the United States since he was 2 years old. If deported, he will be returned to a country he hasn’t been to in 20 years. Erick wants to contribute to this country as a nutritionist. Don’t deport Erick.”

 

Stop the deportation of Alberto!

The latest Washington DREAMer to be caught In the ICE deportation web is Alberto Yañez of Elma, Washington. Alberto  has lived in the United States since he was 1 ½ years old and is now 24 years old. He is the father to three US citizen children, ages 4, 19 months, and 5 weeks. He also has 2 US citizen brothers. On November 16, 2010 everything changed when he was detained by ICE at his home then spent approximately 30 days in the Tacoma Detention Center. His next scheduled hearing date with ICE is July 7th, when he could be deported. http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-deportation-of-productive-young-american-dreamer-alberto-yanez?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6417

 

Stop Hermengildo’s Deportation

Hermengildo Reyes came to the United States in 1999 seeking a better life. He has been living in Georgia ever since. He was arrested in Cobb County, GA and taken to a detention center until he was released to his family. He is set to be deported on July 19, 2011. Hermengildo has 3 U.S. citizen children and 2 of them suffer from learning disabilities and speech impairment. If Hermengildo is deported, his 2 children won’t have anyone to care for them and won’t receive the medical attention they need.
http://action.dreamactivist.org/reyes
… or even better  Call DHS – Janet Napolitano (202-282-8495) and ICE – John Morton (202.732.3000)
Sample Script: “Hi, I was calling to ask that Hermengildo Reyes’ deportation be deferred. Hermengildo has been living in Georgia since 1999. He has 2 U.S. citizen children with learning disabilities who need him in the United States. Please don’t deport Hermengildo Reyes.”

 

Stop Deportation of the Mathe Karekezi Family

Andy Mathe (A#88-488-386) is being threatened with immediate deportation, to the point of being told ‘next time we will drug you and deport you.’ We need you to take urgent action, the entire family is fighting their deportation, however Andy is currently detained and could be deported any minute now. 

http://action.dreamactivist.org/mathefam/

 Call DHS – Janet Napolitano (202-282-8495) and ICE – John Morton (202.732.3000)
Sample Script: “I am calling to ask that Andy Mathe (A#88-488-386) and his family be allowed to stay.  If deported the entire family could be killed, please grant deferred action for the Mathe Family.”

 

Stop Mercedes’ Deprotation!

Mercedes came to the United States from Mexico at the age of 11. She is now 18 years old. On May 15th, 2011, a Sunday after going to church in Nashville, a police officer pulled over Mercedes Gonzalez for driving less than 10 miles over the speed limit. The officer asked Mercedes about her immigration status, put her in handcuffs and took her to jail. Mercedes and her family were devastated, as she was graduating from high school the following Saturday. Mercedes spent approximately 3 days in jail, and was told by immigration officials that she would never go back to school, graduate from high school or see her family again. Sign this petition to ask Janet Napolitano to grant deferred action to Mercedes.

http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=493

 

Stop Julio’s Deportation!

Julio, a Bronx Community College student, faces an imminent deportation order after being detained in Greyhound bus. He is set to be deported back to El Salvador where he faces gang violence due to his sexual orientation. Julio came to the United States in 2007, fleeing threats on his life from gang members.  Julio is a bright, hard-working college student who has aspirations to contribute and serve his community as a radiologist. His life is in your hands.
http://action.dreamactivist.org/julioh/
Call DHS – Janet Napolitano (202-282-8495) and ICE – John Morton (202.732.3000)
Sample Script: “Hi, I was calling to ask that Julio Enrique Hernandez Moreno’s deportation be deferred. If Julio is returned to El Salvador, he will face gang violence because of his sexual orientation. Julio wants to contribute to this country as a radiologist. Don’t deport Julio.”

 

 Stop Denis’ and Vinny’s Deportations!

Vinny and Denis have a lot in common. They are both Brazilian immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as young teenagers and are currently living in Massachusetts. Both of them dream of one day becoming engineers and are currently enrolled in engineering programs to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, both of these young men are currently in deportation proceedings. http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=512

 

Anti-Immigrant Legislation

 

Tell CT Gov. Malloy to Pull out of Secure Communities

Governor Malloy exhibited true leadership in calling for deferred deportation for local DREAMer Mariano Cardosso.  He was also a supporter of CTs own DREAM legislation.  He should follow that up by standing up for the thousands of families affected by this program. Both the State of Illinois and the State of New York have pulled out of this program.  Connecticut should follow suit. Help us in asking Governor Malloy to pull out of the Secure Communities Program — sign the petition! http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-malloy-pull-out-of-the-secure-communities-program

 Gov. Brown: Take California out of the S-Comm Program

Sign the petition to join California Representatives in calling on California governor, Jerry Brown, to take California out of S-Comm immediately. http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-brown-take-california-out-of-the-s-comm-program-no-more-arizonas

Tell Boston to stand against Secure Communties!

Sign this petition to help stop deportation of Brazillian DREAMer detained in a raid. http://www.change.org/petitions/its-time-for-boston-to-stand-against-s-comm-now?utm_medium=twitter

Remove Anti-Immigrant Amendments from Massachusetts Budget

MA State Senators have attached anti-immigrant, anti-worker, and anti-family amendments to the Senate version of the state budget. The budget is now in conference and we must let the chairs of that committee know that these outrageous amendments are unacceptable http://www.change.org/petitions/remove-anti-immigrant-amendments-from-massachusetts-budget

 Stop Alabama HB 56!

Alabama’s Governor just signed House bill 56 into law.  This bill is worse than the Arizona and Georgia Bills.. It bans undocumented youth from all colleges and universities, requires all K-12 school children to prove immigration status, requires parents of children to sign an affidavit with school as to their own immigration status, and requires implementation of E-Verify across the state. Sign the petition asking the Obama administration to step in. http://action.dreamactivist.org/alabama/

Tell Gov Haley to Veto SB 20 Immediately

The South Carolina State Legislature voted in favor of SB20, an Arizona SB1070 copycat legislation that gives police the authority to check someone’s immigration status during something as simple as a traffic stop. Sign this petition to urge Governor Haley to veto SB20 immediately!  http://action.dreamactivist.org/southcarolina

 Tell NC Gov Perdue to Veto Bill 36

HB 36 has passed both houses of the state legislature. It would require employers to use the flawed E-Verify system to check the status of workers they hire. Sign petition urging the NC governor to veto this bill. http://www.change.org/petitions/oppose-mandatory-e-verify-in-north-carolina-hb-36#signatures

 *Disclaimer: online petition signing is not a substitute for on the ground activism. Consult your local immigrant rights organizations for next steps

Your One Stop Petition Shop

If you’re regularly trolling around DREAM Act circles online, you probably often come across petitions. Petitions for END cases, in support of In State Tuition Bill, against anti-immigrant legislation or amendments, the list goes on and on ….

It can be overwhelming! You want to sign them all, but it’s hard to keep track!

Well, I’m here to help! This is your One Stop Shop for Online petition signing! I’ve scoured blogs, websites, and forums to make our “arm chair activism” (as I like to call it) even easier!

Check out this week’s selection … neatly categorized!

 

Education Not Deportation Petitions!

Stop Julio’s Deportation!

Julio, a Bronx Community College student, faces an imminent deportation order after being detained in Greyhound bus. He is set to be deported back to El Salvador where he faces gang violence due to his sexual orientation. http://action.dreamactivist.org/julioh/

STOP DEPORTATION OF THE MATHE KAREKEZI FAMILY

Andy Mathe (A#88-488-386) is being threatened with immediate deportation, to the point of being told ‘next time we will drug you and deport you.’  Urgent action is needed –  Andy is currently detained and could be deported any minute now.  On Friday we managed to get him out of the airport, yesterday he talked his way out of the plane, but if they try to deport him again he may not be so lucky. http://action.dreamactivist.org/mathefam/

Ricardo Needs your Help!

Ricardo Muniz is a 22-year old college student in California, environmentalist, community activist, teen mentor, DREAM promoter, son, and brother. He wants to go on to pursue a double major in international business and environmental economy.  He is originally from Michoacan, Mexico, and was brought over by his parents to the United States when he was seven years old. http://www.change.org/petitions/dreamer-fights-to-stay-in-the-us-ricardo-needs-your-help

 Stop Elier’s Deportation

Last year, Elier was on a trip to New York with his high school to compete at Nationals for Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE). After placing in the highly competitive field, Elier was singled out at the airport before his team boarded to fly back to his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is set to be deported to Mexico, a country he hasn’t been to since he was 4 years old. http://action.dreamactivist.org/elier/

 Stop Raul’s Deportation

Raul Zamora came to the United States with his family from Mexico when he was 10 years old. Raul, who is now 21 years old, is an Urban Studies Major at the University of Texas in Austin. He was then transferred to ICE, and was put in deportation proceedings after being stopped by the University of Texas Police Department for a broken taillight. http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=457

 Stop Denis’ and Vinny’s Deportations!

Vinny and Denis have a lot in common. They are both Brazilian immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as young teenagers and are currently living in Massachusetts. Both of them dream of one day becoming engineers and are currently enrolled in engineering programs to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, both of these young men are currently in deportation proceedings. http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=512

 Stop Deportation of Sister Karen and Lizza

Karen and Lizza came to the United States from Peru with their parents in 2002 when they were nine and thirteen years old. Today, they are eighteen and twenty two. Both sisters are now facing deportation, after ICE raided their home on January 25, 2011. http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=344

 Help Stop the Deportation of Teen DREAMer, Luisa Argueta, and Her Mom

Brenda and her daughter Luisa (age 19) have lived in the United States since Luisa was four months old. Brenda married Jose, who is a lawful permanent resident and the only father Luisa has known. Brenda and Jose also have two U.S. citizen daughters. The family is about to be torn apart by Brenda and Luisa’s imminent deportation. http://www.change.org/petitions/help-stop-the-deportation-of-teen-dreamer-luisa-argueta-and-her-mom

Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Remove Anti-Immigrant Amendments from Massachusetts Budget

MA State Senators have attached anti-immigrant, anti-worker, and anti-family amendments to the Senate version of the state budget. The budget is now in conference and we must let the chairs of that committee know that these outrageous amendments are unacceptable http://www.change.org/petitions/remove-anti-immigrant-amendments-from-massachusetts-budget

 Stop Alabama HB 56!

Alabama’s Governor just signed House bill 56 into law.  This bill is worse than the Arizona and Georgia Bills.. It bans undocumented youth from all colleges and universities, requires all K-12 school children to prove immigration status, requires parents of children to sign an affidavit with school as to their own immigration status, and requires implementation of E-Verify across the state. Sign the petition asking the Obama administration to step in. http://action.dreamactivist.org/alabama/

Tell Gov Haley to Veto SB 20 Immediately

The South Carolina State Legislature voted in favor of SB20, an Arizona SB1070 copycat legislation that gives police the authority to check someone’s immigration status during something as simple as a traffic stop. Sign this petition to urge Governor Haley to veto SB20 immediately!  http://action.dreamactivist.org/southcarolina

 Tell NC Gov Perdue to Veto Bill 36

HB 36 has passed both houses of the state legislature. It would require employers to use the flawed E-Verify system to check the status of workers they hire. Sign petition urging the NC governor to veto this bill. http://www.change.org/petitions/oppose-mandatory-e-verify-in-north-carolina-hb-36#signatures

 Tell TX Lawmakers to say NO to SB 9 (AZ Copycat)

Sign the petition — Tell Texas lawmakers that no matter their party, Arizona-style legislation is anti-immigrant, anti-American, unconstitutional and bad for all Texans. http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-texas-lawmakers-to-say-no-to-arizona-style-racial-profiling#signatures

 Stop HB 87 in Georgia (AZ Copycat)

Georgia governor Nathan Deal signed one of the harshest immigration bills into law. HB 87, a copycat of Arizona’s immigration law, allows undocumented workers to be charged with felonies and carries the punishment of up to 15 years in prison. Georgia citizens who commit traffic violations with an undocumented worker in the vehicle can also be faced with up to a year in prison and $1,000 in fines. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/478/643/594/

 Tell CT Gov. Malloy to Pull out of Secure Communities

Governor Malloy exhibited true leadership in calling for deferred deportation for local DREAMer Mariano Cardosso.  He was also a supporter of CTs own DREAM legislation.  He should follow that up by standing up for the thousands of families affected by this program. Both the State of Illinois and the State of New York have pulled out of this program.  Connecticut should follow suit. Help us in asking Governor Malloy to pull out of the Secure Communities Program — sign the petition! http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-malloy-pull-out-of-the-secure-communities-program

 Gov. Brown: Take California out of the S-Comm Program

Sign the petition to join California Representatives in calling on California governor, Jerry Brown, to take California out of S-Comm immediately. http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-brown-take-california-out-of-the-s-comm-program-no-more-arizonas

 

In State Tuition

Remove Repeal of In State Tuition in WI

Scott Walker is at it again! Through his proposed 2011-2013 budget, the Governor aims to take away in-state tuition for countless of innocent undocumented students in Wisconsin who simply want to further their education. Education is a fundamental right in the lives of all people and, as such, should be attainable and affordable. http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=401

Tell Obama to Stop Deporting DREAMers!

 http://act.presente.org/sign/executive_action/?akid=369.125387.12weU5&rd=1&t=2

http://action.dreamactivist.org/obamalies/

http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=365

http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=469

 

Pass the DREAM Act now!

http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8496/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=464

*Disclaimer: online petition signing is not a substitute for on the ground activism. Consult your local immigrant rights organizations for next steps

 

 

My DREAM Story

My name is Carolina Bortolleto and I’m undocumented, unafraid, and American – a powerful statement, but how did I get to this point?

I moved to the US with my parents from Brazil when I was 9 years old in 1998. We came on a tourist visa and just overstayed.  We flew in to New York on a cold January night (I still remember the first time I breathed the cold air outside – “it tickles my lungs!” I exclaimed), played tourist in Manhattan for a couple weeks and then moved to Connecticut. Many immigrants start off their story with a search for a better life and economic opportunities. Sometimes I’m unsure how to begin my story. Truth is, we moved here because my mom loves the US and wanted to live here; she was tired of Brazil.

Thinking back to those early days here, I recall a strange mix of cheerfulness as I experienced new things and an overwhelming feeling of emptiness- unconsciously morning what I had lost. Slowly we build a life here and although my family has tried to adjust our status countless times, with several lawyers and thousands of dollars, it never works.

I have always known that I’m undocumented, but I didn’t see myself as different from the rest of my classmates. Soon, the reality of my status began to put up barriers. My 16^th birthday came and went with no mention of a license or even driving (In fact, I still don’t drive). I began to realize that many other American milestones were beyond my reach, that because of my status, my life would be limited. Soon I would feel my status begin to gnaw away at my self worth and independence.  

I knew that because of my status, I was not eligible for financial aid and in state tuition. But this didn’t stop me from excelling in high school and I ended up graduating in the top 5% of my class.  I still went through the motions of a “normal” student – SATs, community service, extracurricular activities, college fairs, etc. I watched friends get acceptance letters and their excitement as they looked to the future. I applied to a bunch of colleges, just to see if I would get accepted, knowing full well that there was no way I could afford them.  And so I took my college acceptance letters and kept them as mementos of a high school career well done.

I thought it was unfair, why was I being punished for something that I didn’t do? Why couldn’t I have a life like everyone else? But then, my hard work did pay off, I got a merit scholarship from Western Connecticut State University that covered the in-state tuition, although I still had to pay the out of state.

The reality of my status temporarily averted, I threw myself in my studies. By filling all my time with challenging courses, I was avoiding facing the reality of my situation, that upon graduation, I would be stuck. But for the moment, I was busy being a college student. Though I tried not to think about my status, it impacted everything I did: when I had to turn down internships because of no work authorization, when my mom didn’t want to drive me to school because her license expired, when my professors asked me my plans for after graduation and I had no answer.

Being undocumented, you feel like you never really grow up, you can’t get a real job, you can’t drive, you can’t be independent, there’s always something holding you back from the life you believe should be yours. Even as I began college, I resented my situation. But my outlook would quickly improve.

 I found out about the DREAM Act right after I started college in 2006. As soon as I did I went online. There I discovered a vibrant community of DREAMers talking about their situation and their activism in discussion boards. Slowly I started to become more involved and plugging in online. Through facebook, I found out about events in other states and started going.  I heard stories of bright, motivated students who have been unable to pursue their dreams and go to college. Students more qualified than me (valedictorians!) who were working minimum wage jobs or were part time community college students. I was so lucky; I was able to go to a 4-year university full time. I felt a responsibility to speak out for others in this situation, to be their voice when they couldn’t. For me, it’s about fairness. It’s not fair that I got to go to college and others don’t. Why should I be lucky enough and not others? I’m no better than anyone else. We all deserve the same opportunities in life. The dream movement is about more than immigration, it’s about education and social justice.

As I became involved, I felt a sense of empowerment and community. I had found somewhere to belong. After a lifetime of feeling like I had no voice, like I was always dependent on others, like I was an incomplete person, I had found an identity, fulfillment, something greater than myself – I was a DREAMer, I had a purpose, I was empowered . I wanted other undocumented students in CT to feel this sense of empowerment and community.  I decided that I would become more involved in this movement and do what I could to start a group in CT.  Not knowing any other DREAMers in the state, the need to become more involved often kept me up at night. But slowly I connected with other interested students, and we formed our group, CT Students for a DREAM. I feel so privileged to witness and take part in this movement – I can’t imagine what my life would be without it.