Cuesta College is hosting a free DREAMer Symposium for Latino and Latina immigrants on May 7, 2016, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., on the college’s San Luis Obispo Campus in room 5401. The symposium is designed for students, parents, faculty, and service and resource providers to gather and discuss overcoming barriers to success in higher education, clarify legislation pertinent to undocumented students, and provide access to available resources. 

“Latino immigrants brought to the United States as children, referred to as DREAMer students, face even greater obstacles than their Latino United States-born counterparts,” said Cuesta College Extended Opportunities Program & Services (EOPS) Counselor Janet Florez. “Attendees will find support at this symposium, where they can network, hear from speakers, and learn about opportunities and resources aimed at increasing this population’s utilization of higher education as a pathway to meaningful careers and potentially their citizenship.”

The symposium will include keynote speaker Dr. Salvador Treviño, a core faculty member at Antioch University in Santa Barbara. Dr. Treviño holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, has taught professional psychology for over 22 years, lectures extensively on the theories of Latino mental health and has 35 years of clinical work experience with Latino immigrants. 

Lunch is included. Attendees can register at the door from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. or by calling Florez at (805) 546-3100 x 2215.

The symposium is grant funded through Wells Fargo Bank, and coordinated by Cuesta College’s EOPS Department, English as a Second Language (ESL) Department, Latino Leadership Network, and the MEChA student club. 

The California DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act is a package of California state laws that allow children who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas/immigration documentation and who have attended school on a regular basis and otherwise meet in-state tuition and GPA requirements, to apply for student financial aid benefits.