“The Light the Torch Campaign” for the California Dream Act is still active, and has just recently arrived in the San Fernando Valley Dream Network. At the North Hollywood station, where the metro orange line station meets the metro red line station during rush hour (4:15- 6:00). The campaign was very significant for its creative way of addressing the need for the California Dream Act.
San Fernando Valley Dream Network (SFVDN) had incorporated street theater to display the Torch’s importance in this campaign. In addition, the SFVDN had performed a symbolic action, by freezing for a few minutes, to represent how undocumented students’ dreams are frozen, and put on hold.
“North Hollywood was a great place to do the symbolic freeze and street theater, because this is the arts district of San Fernando Valley”, Felipe Escobar, a steering member of the San Fernando Valley Dream Network asserted.
“This ‘Light the Torch Campaign’ took a new turn for activism. Unlike former events, the SFVDN had encompassed their event on street theater and symbolic freezes: forms of art-ivism. It was very critical to portray the struggle through art as it kept people entertained as they move to and fro with the bus lines” says Regemralph Corpuz, a steering member of the San Fernando Valley Dream Network.
The event began with drums beating, and student activists lined up chanting “What do we want? California Dream Act! When do we want it? Now!” repeatedly, as bus passengers arrive or left the North Hollywood Station. The event moved to the introduction of the CA Dream Network, the “Light the Torch Campaign”, and then the first session of the symbolic freeze.
Telemundo, and the Los Angeles times took a great deal of their time to cover the event. The Street theater was performed by different students of the SFVDN. Francisco Arias (Valley College- DMU) played the role of the figure that represented “ignorance, hate, and prejudice”. Regemralph Corpuz (Pierce College- We BUILD) played the role of the main Dreamer who loses the torch to “ignorance, hate and prejudice”, along with other dreamers Pedro Trujillo (CSUN- Dreams to Be Heard), and Juanita de la Cruz (ELAC). It began with dreamers Pedro and Regem proceeding to light the torch, until Francisco (Ignorance, Prejudice, Hate) had taken it away from their hands. The Dreamer (Regem) loses hope to light the torch until the other dreamers supported him. The villain (Francisco) realizes, with the testimonies of the dreamers and their united stand, that he should not be deterring the Dreams and Hopes of undocumented students, but rather, help them to “find something to believe in”. The torch was then lit, followed by more marching, and a second session of the symbolic freeze. After the freeze, Regem Corpuz illustrated how being undocumented “should not be one’s identity, but rather a temporary status of a person. Being undocumented is temporary, and can change any moment. It’s a label the government gives to oppress and marginalize a certain group of people. And that’s why we are here today, to fight on behalf of these Dreamers, for equal access to higher education”
The event was concluded by steering members Regem Corpuz and Felipe Escobar, with a thought that even though the event in North Hollywood was done, the movement is not. The torch will soon arrive to the Santa Barbara Dream Network
To participate in the CA Dream Act Day on 4/20 register at 
Great news everyone! Phase one of the 2012-2013 CA Dream Act Application for AB13 is now open! Phase 1 will give eligible AB 540 students access to institutional grants and Board of Governor’s Waivers (waives community college fees) and will be payable starting January 2013. Please visit the CA Student Aid Commission website (
“Once again, Assemblyman Donnelly has wasted an incredible amount of time and resources fighting an education bill he disagrees with instead of meeting the needs of his constituents and other Californians. 
"A great day for California, for education, and for immigrant students who have kept their end of the bargain and continue to give their best to the only nation they know as their home.
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“California’s most precious asset is its multicultural population. An educated workforce represents a prosperous future for us all. AB131 is representative of forward thinking, practical legislation, and wise investment. We urge Governor Brown to sign this bill,” stated Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. And she added: “Legislators in the California Senate and Assembly have evaluated the merits of AB131, and now it’s the governor’s turn to sign it into law. The overwhelming support this bill has received is reflected in the thousands of signatures we are sending the governor’s way.”
TODAY, Thursday, August 18th the US Department of Homeland Security announced it will begin a thorough review of its pending deportation caseload to refocus its enforcement work on high priority individuals. DHS will now consider DREAM Act-eligible youths, relatives of veterans, and other individuals who are currently in the deportation process and who have no prior criminal convictions, non-threatening and will move to dismiss their cases and, on a per case basis, issue work permits. The following is a statement for Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA):
Los Angeles – John Sandweg, counsel to Department for Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, hosted a phone call today for stakeholders, including community organizations like CHIRLA to announce it will, effective immediately and unilaterally, terminate all Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with states who have signed one in order to implement “Secure Communities”, a fingerprint-sharing program between ICE and local police that in reality functions as a drag-net to detain undocumented immigrants, including half a million non-criminal immigrants.
Los Angeles Region Summit is set to take place on July 16th from 9am to 4pm at Los Angeles City College. Don’t miss out this great opportunity to learn how to get involved in the Los Angeles area and become empower to keep fighting. This year we’re closer than ever to get the CA Dream act signed, but the last push to get the bill sign will require that all of us take action and effectively mobilize to get Gov Brown to sign it. Workshops will be provided as well such as “women in the immigrant student activism” “unraveling the undocumented identify” “outreach and base building” and lastly we will preview our “POWER” tool which is designed to help you supplement your activism efforts. Please register before July 13th by 
Fresno, California. June 23, 2011- “Si se puede! Si se puede!” was the chant of hundreds of students, faculty, and community members gathered at Cal State University Fresno in support of the Light The Torch Across California Campaign. The supporters had a very good reason to be optimistic since Assembly Bill 131 was approved by the California State Senate Education Committee just a day prior. Under AB 131, the second part of the California Dream Act, qualified undocumented students and other eligible students would be able to apply for and participate in all student financial aid programs administered by the state. Due to the continued effort of thousands across the state AB 131 was able to clear this obstacle and the California Dream Act is slowly becoming a reality.
YOU are the reason why the CA Dream Act is still alive and your determination, passion, and efforts are encouraging other students and allies to join the movement. We need to maintain and increase the pressure on our State Senators and, most importantly, on Governor Brown to make sure they pass and sign the second half of the CA Dream Act (AB 131) into law in 2011. We need to remind our state legislators that Cali DREAMers are aspiring professionals and the future of California. Help us gather signatures by printing the attached petition and organizing a petition drive; calling Gov. Brown and the Senate Appropriations Committee members, AND, most importantly, gather resolutions in support of AB 131 from Business Schools, Chambers of Commerce, and businesses. 