Spring Updates
Learn about our new Organizing Team, art workshops, an Immigrant Daughters’ Support Group, and more.
Dear Supporters of the NYSYLC,
As we enter the second quarter of 2022, we want to highlight some of the ways that we have been empowering undocumented youth since the beginning of the year. We couldn’t have done this work without you:
Building off our ongoing Undocu Academy, we launched College Wednesdays, a series of virtual college access workshops created by undocumented youth for undocumented youth. We will support members with planning for life after high school, researching college options, dealing with anxiety, finding and applying for scholarships and grants, writing your personal essay, preparing your resume, advocating for yourself, and networking. Workshops will run from April to June. >>
As a women-led organization, we celebrated Women’s History Month this March by sharing our team’s stories about living and healing as undocumented daughters, sisters, and women. >>
We’re growing our Organizing Team! Our Get Active workshops, which ran from March 29th to April 3rd, introduced undocumented youth to community organizing, analyzing systems of oppression, and building campaigns for systemic change. Later this month we will train members on the history of the immigrants’ rights movement, the criminal justice system’s impact on immigrants, media tools, and workshop facilitation. >>
We started planning our first virtual Immigrant Youth Empowerment Conference. >>
On April 15th, we hosted an Undocu Creative Writing Workshop in Central Park. >>
Follow our Instagram and sign up for our mailing list to stay updated!
We are undocumented youth-led.
We empower undocumented youth to lead and thrive.
Become an NYSYLC Sustainer at $15 per month to celebrate our 15th anniversary! If we reach 100 Sustainers by May 7th, our workshops and events will be fully funded.
Support Undocumented-Owned Businesses in New York
This catalog highlights New York undocumented-owned businesses (those that were comfortable being shared) that applied to our first ever Undocu-Hustle Grant.
We are excited to share our holiday catalog with you all 🥰. This catalogue highlights New York undocumented-owned businesses (those that were comfortable being shared) that applied to our first ever Undocu-Hustle Grant!
You can find the catalog through this link: bit.ly/ylcguide or by clicking the link in our bio :)
We hope you make use of this catalogue of businesses owned by undocumented immigrants all year round, and learn about the awesome services that are available! 🥳🥳
Make sure to share with your circles 🥰!
#holidayseason #undocumented #undocuownedbusinesses #undocuhustle #immigrant #newyorkowned #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #holiday #shopsmallbusiness
Announcing our Undocu-Hustle Grant Recipients!
Congratulations to the following business owners for being NYSYLC'S Undocu-Hustle Grant Recipients!
Congratulations to the following business owners for being NYSYLC'S Undocu-Hustle Grant Recipients!
NYSYLC received 100+ applications! It was a pleasure getting to learn about the many undocu-owned businesses out there and we look forward to sharing them with you all! Stay Tuned ;)
Recipients Pictured:
Pink Cove Treasures, owned by Pamela Benitez
D.M. Delicias, owned by Yenifer Soriano
Celina's Kitchen, owned by Celina Alaguna
Abena Waist Beads, owned by Abena Amoach
Change the Context owned by Lynn Piedrasanta
Marixo Nails, owned by Marian Anaya
Rolled Up Tees, owned by Roberto Cardona
Families Matter Doula Services, owned by Elba Dominguez
P.S: Not everyone felt comfortable being posted on our Instagram, but here are the recipients that did
Undocu Spark Lab x NYSYLC
We are the fiscal sponsor for the Undocu Spark Lab, a program for entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in a year-long fellowship that will help them launch their businesses and create a plan for sustainable growth
SURPRISE!! We are the fiscal sponsor for the Undocu Spark Lab. Born out of donosostudio, the Undocu Spark Lab is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in a year-long fellowship that will help them launch their businesses and create a plan for sustainable growth.
The Undocu Spark Lab will be launching in January 2022. Learn more about the Lab at Donoso Studio.
Looking for a Immigrant Liaison in a NYC DOE High School
We are looking for someone to help us grow our education work by acting as an immigrant liaison in your NYC DOE high school.
We are looking for 1 Immigrant Liaison in a NYC DOE High School!
Who we are
The New York State Youth Leadership Council is the first undocumented youth led organization in New York. We work to empower immigrant youth to drop the fear attached to undocumented status and challenge the United States’ broken immigration system through leadership development, grassroots organizing, educational advancement, and self-expression. Our goal is clear: to give undocumented youth the tools and space to organize and create change in our communities. Teach Dream is the educator team at the NYSYLC. Our goal is to fight alongside undocumented youth against the institutionalized racism in the U.S. school, immigration, and criminal legal systems. We aim to do this by creating safer spaces for undocumented students, advocating for equity, opportunities, and access to resources for all students, and lifting student activism and leadership.
We are looking for someone to help us grow our education work by:
● Acting as an immigrant liaison in your NYC DOE high school
● Attending meetings with NYSYLC/Teach Dream staff. You will be joining our immigrant liaison pilot program with two other immigrant liaisons in NYC DOE high schools.
The ideal candidate is someone who is:
● Self-accountable: We are looking for someone who is an independent worker and able to manage their time effectively.
● Committed: We are looking for someone who can commit to the 6 month contracting opportunity.
● Open to learn and teach: A horizontal, nontraditional decision making space, we want in our team someone who is open to bring new learnings to the space and also open to learn from us.
● Knowledgeable about systems of oppression and how they show up in peoples' everyday lives and in professional settings. In particular, we want someone who has knowledge of or a commitment to learn about federal, state, and city immigration policies and legal resources for immigrants.
● Portray characteristics of empathy and empowerment in difficult situations.
Desired experience:
● School staff member OR someone who is in the school-community/building for a minimum of 20 hours/week and is familiar with school procedures as well as the school community (Note: this includes rolls such as the parent coordinator and other community members)
● 2+ years experience working with immigrant youth and communities, through directly impacted experience and/or through community organizing, including a demonstrated commitment to ensuring the well-being and full inclusion of immigrant students and families in schools.
● Experience advocating for and with contested populations and groups.
Skills and attributes:
● Speak the language(s) that are spoken by students/families at the school (preferred)
● Comfortable taking initiative and facilitating meetings with staff
● Ability to work in collaboration with different institutions
Duties and Responsibilities:
● Specifically support undocumented students and mixed-status families, as distinct from newcomer students or English language learners, including undocumented students who may have lived in the U.S. since a young age
● Help conduct assessment of needs at the beginning (and possibly end) of the semester
○ Facilitate opportunities for students to take leadership, give feedback, and inform school leaders on the climate and needs
● Attend immigrant liaison trainings with NYSYLC staff member (exact number to be decided based on need and schedules)
Other possible responsibilities could include (but are not limited to):
● Partner with local community organizations to set up Know Your Rights trainings, legal clinics, and other pertinent trainings (related to immigrant and racial justice) in the school for students and families
● Provide trainings for school staff on how to support immigrant students and families as needed.
● Disseminate information from NYC DOE, Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs, and NYSYLC to staff, students and families, including creating a central space in the school for resources and forwarding digital resources.
○ Gather and provide information regarding earning opportunities, internships and trainings that do not require a social security number;
○ Provide contacts for resources for legal, medical, housing or other assistance that do not require a social security number;
○ Make information regarding resources and supports for immigrants and identifying opportunities for alliances with immigrants available to all students, including but not limited to posters, pamphlets, contact information for community resources, and a toolkit with resources, including medical, legal and housing;
● Coordinate with counselors, parent coordinator, college counselor to support immigrant students and families.
○ Work with parent coordinator to ensure that resources are disseminated to families (ex. family meetings, home visits, memos...)
○ Work with college counselor to effectively advise students on available financial aid (New York Dream Act), scholarships, etc.
● Identify yourself as the Immigrant Liaison on posters displayed around the school.
Compensation:
This is a 9 month contracting opportunity for a monthly stipend of $1,100. Approximately 5 hours a week. Start date will be the middle/end of October and the position will continue through June, with the possibility of extending for the 2022-2023 school year.
To Apply:
Fill out the Immigrant Liaison google form application by October 6, 2021 by 8pm.
We will reach out to schedule interviews with selected candidates immediately after the due date.