Eduardo Muñoz Colugna
I am involved in two pro immigration organizations in the West Suburbs, PASO and Nuestra Voz. My involvement in these organizations have been as; a community organizer, friend and community member. I worked with four High Schools (Proviso West, West Leyden, Proviso Math and Science Academy and Proviso East) that have so many students with so much potential. After visiting these High Schools, we realized that many students are not aware of the opportunities in higher education. Since we encounter many students not knowing how to apply for college or how to apply to FAFSA, we created series of workshops that explain step-by-step how to apply for college or University and methods to be able to pay for their education.
The members that developed these workshops, were students who graduated from the High Schools mentioned. We realized that the High School students felt more comfortable working with peers on a one on one bases. Ever since I got involved in these organizations, I have personally helped over 60 undocumented students enroll into a four year University. Given the fact that undocumented students do not receive financial aid, undocumented students continue to pursue their educational goals and dreams to be able to help their communities and their families. This type of work has given me the opportunity to contribute to my community and work closely with students that want to give back to their community.
The Butterfly postcard campaign was developed by the UIC Latino Cultural Center in collaboration with student organizations Fearless Undocumented Alliance and Heritage Garden Student Group that highlights the parallels between the migration of people and Monarch butterflies across national borders.