Dream Resource Center offers support for undocumented students

By Mary Ann Lutz, Citrus College Governing Board Member

Navigating college can be challenging for undocumented students. Thankfully, the Citrus College Dream Resource Center (DRC) is available to help!

Located in the Campus Center, the DRC serves as an inclusive space for undocumented, AB 540 and DACAmented students, as well as those from mixed-status families. It provides students with access to much-needed resources and services, including academic counseling, immigration legal services and financial support via the DRC emergency grant.

“Our students must navigate substantial, multifaceted barriers, policy changes and the broader sociopolitical environment,” said Amayrani Ochoa Almeida, DRC coordinator and UndocuLiaison. “Uncertainty is prominent in the undocumented community, and our students must often balance challenges, like securing work, having a place to live and accessing adequate health care.”

Some of the center’s most popular resources, Ochoa Almeida added, are the free immigration legal services offered through Immigrant Legal Defense, a nonprofit that helps students, faculty and staff with DACA, green card and U.S. citizenship applications.

“With this service, they don’t have to worry about searching for reliable assistance or paying expensive attorney fees,” Ochoa Almeida said.

Throughout the year, the DRC also engages students by hosting educational field trips, events and workshops. For instance, the DRC recently took students to conferences at UCLA and UC Irvine, where they met others from across the region and learned about the resources for undocumented students at each campus.

During the spring semester, the DRC and the Student Wellness Center also hosted a “Let’s Taco ‘Bout It” wellness gathering. Facilitated by Citrus College mental health therapist Denise Padilla, the event allowed students to share their experiences and concerns in a safe space while also enjoying a meal.

“Our overarching goal has been to cultivate a sense of belonging for our students so that they feel less alone and more comfortable seeking the support they need to succeed academically and personally,” Ochoa Almeida said.

While many undocumented students will participate in the college’s commencement ceremony at the Citrus Stadium in June, the DRC also offers students a chance to participate in a smaller event: the Undocu Recognition Celebration.
“We look forward to culminating the year by recognizing their personal and academic achievements and the support they have received from loved ones and campus allies throughout their educational journey,” Ochoa Almeida said.

As the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees representative of Monrovia/Bradbury and portions of Duarte, I am grateful for the work being done to support our undocumented students. For undocumented students looking to start their education, I encourage you to consider Citrus College. For more information on how to enroll, visit www.citruscollege.edu/applyregister.