¡Saludos de Latinx Student Services! It is with great excitement that we share with you our first monthly newsletter of the year. Please sign-up to stay up to date with our news. Latinx Student Services provides programs and resources that empower Latinx scholars to thrive in higher education, strengthen their self-advocacy, and contribute to the achievement of our larger Latinx community.

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MEET OUR LSS TEAM

Erika Hernandez (She/Her/Ella)

Latinx Student Services

Program Manager

hernaner@augsburg.edu

Erika Hernandez is a first-generation college graduate with a background in youth work, community organizing, restorative justice, and educational justice. Hernandez is a proud daughter of immigrant parents from Puebla, Mexico. She attains a bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota in Chicane/@ and Latine/@ Studies, with an emphasis in racial justice and education. In the past six years, Hernandez has worked in cultural centers, public schools, community coalitions, and non-profit organizations. On June of 2022, she began her role as a program manager for Latinx Student Services with the department of Multicultural Life at Augsburg University. In this role, she will be leading efforts to support and further empower Latinx scholars to achieve their academic, interpersonal, and professional goals.

Shelley Pacheco (She/Her/Hers)

Student Program Assistant

General Email: latinx@augsburg.edu

Shelley Pacheco, a first-generation college student of Mexican descent, is a senior at Augsburg University majoring in sociology with the hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy. Attaining a strong passion in criminal justice and immigration issues, her goal is to work in a non-profit or in the state to create systems change that consider our daily ordinary community’s living experiences in the policies we see. This academic year, Shelley has been involved with LEAD Fellows, a program that empowers students to engage in civic engagement. Currently in her role as the Student Program Assistant for Latinx Student Services, she is working on the development and implementation of our upcoming mentorship program, while also developing her skills in media communications, community-based participatory research and event programming.

Latinx Leader Spotlight

At Latinx Student Services, we aim to create spaces where students can bravely their stories. We are so lucky to have so many leaders in our community creating the change that we want to see. In our efforts to celebrate their excellence and achievements, we will be featuring a Latinx leader to continue sharing nuestras voces (our voices) to affirm the entirety of our unique identities and experiences.

Jose Ramirez is a senior at Augsburg University majoring in sociology, he is the second oldest in his family, and is proud of his Guatemalan heritage. Although Jose has moved a lot, West Saint Paul is the place he calls home. Growing up in West Saint Paul was at times challenging due to poverty and violence faced by his surrounding communities. “I hope to see change in our communities, a lot of people don’t have money and often don’t know how to access or navigate resources, it is my hope that we can lift each other up in this struggle,” Ramirez shared in his efforts of giving back to his community.

For Jose, family and faith are values that he deeply cherishes. Growing up with a single mother has motivated him in creating a life that he and his family could be proud of, always remembering the support systems that got him to where he is today, one important one being his sister Ingri Ramirez. His goal is to become a lawyer to not only seek justice, but to also support families in their healing by ensuring that their rights are not robbed away from them. Jose is committed to showing our younger generations that in spite of all the hardships that life throws at you, they too will overcome them.

Reflecting back to his journey, Jose shares that his motivation to make a better life for himself was not always there. Having his dad taken away by law enforcement brought not only pain but also heavy responsibilities to fulfill. Jose wants to become a criminal defense lawyer to help communities like his to understand their legal rights. He recognizes that oftentimes, the most vulnerable are left to fend for themselves, “No one is willing to do the work for free, hiring a lawyer requires money, I don’t like that, I want to change that.”

Jose is the definition of perseverance. Dealing with his dad’s deportation at such a young age led him to be a role model, financially support his family, but most importantly pursue higher education. The Sociology Department recently nominated him to the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. For Jose, graduating high school was his first big achievement because at a young age he could not even imagine himself attending college. In a few months, he will now be graduating from Augsburg University. We are so proud and honored to be able to see Jose Ramirez share his story with us, and know that we will be seeing him continue to break barriers for our rising generations.

OPPORTUNITIES

Scholarships

Multicultural Life at Augsburg University will be opening their annual program scholarships on December 5th, 2022. Our scholarships recognize returning underrepresented undergraduate students in the Augsburg Day program. To learn more about the scholarships click here, don't forget to follow our social media to get reminders!
Multicultural Life is officially receiving applications for the Immigrant Opportunity Fund, dedicated for our undocumented and DACA students at Augsburg University to help with paying their tution. To apply, please visit here.
The Page Grant is s scholarship program awarded to students of color who graduate from a Minnesota high school and attend a Minnesota post-secondary institution. For more info on how to apply click here
The Phillips Scholars Program is a one-year scholarship program provides 10 students each year with: Engagement and preparation over the 2023–24 academic year, with five trainings and a two-day retreat for the cohort. Students also receive: $5,000 scholarship for the 2023–24 academic year, $4,000 for a summer 2024 stipend $500 for a supply stipend. click here
DACA Dreamer Scholarship is provided by Attorney Williams Vasquez. He's been providing support to immigrants for over 35 years. The scholarship is open to DACA students. It requires students to make a video answering the prompt and filling out an application form. To apply, please visit here

Internships

CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha), a worker-led organization has internship positions available for students and community members who are interested to learn how to organize. To apply, click here.
CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) offers all year round career development job trainings. They offer a 10 week training program to learn more about the job market (banking/customer services, health care, and commercial drivers), develop your skills, and get hires. To learn more, click here.
CLUES will be offering youth paid internships for ages 16-24 during April-August. The program focuses on career and identity exploration, developing and practicing job readiness skills, and building real-world experience in a paid internship opportunity. Email Estrella at echavez@clues.org for more information!

Employment

Queerspace, a mentorship program working with LGBTQ+ youth, is hiring for a few positions, including program coordinator, events and communications coordinator. Applications are due December 31st. To learn more about the open positions, click here.
CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha), a worker-led organization, is currently hiring for a few positions including, a workers rights lead organizer, policy lead and more. To learn more, click here.
Copal (Communities Organizing Latinx Power and Action) MN is currently hiring for a few positions, including a Senior Organizer and Environmental Justice Manager. To learn more, click here.

Volunteering Opportunities

MN Youth Collective is currently searching for board members, this is a great opportunity to learn how non-profits work. To apply, click here.
The People's Clinic is seeking for volunteers, if you are interested email Sieglinde Thetard at thetards@peoples-center.org
CLUES is seeking your help to support families to fill out their taxes, you will learn about the complexities of the tax law and also get certified by the IRS. To learn more about this opportunity email volunteer@clues.org

COMMUNITY EVENTS & RESOURCES

MIRAC (Comité de Acción por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes de Minnesota) organizará un mitin el jueves 8 de diciembre de 2022 a las 4:30 p.m. para abogar por una ley que permitirá que alrededor de 2,7 millones de Dreamers y más de 400 000 beneficiarios de TPS sean elegibles para la legalización permanente.

MIRAC (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee) will be hosting a rally on Thursday, December 8th, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. to advocate for the American Dream and Promise Act, which will allow around 2.7 million Dreamers and over 400, 000 TPS recipients to be eligible for permanent legalization.

The Department of Chicano and Latino Studies will be hosting special lecture speaker, Dr. Curtis Acosta, well known for his renowned Mexican-American Studies program in Tucson, Arizona. This community event will take place on Thursday, December 8th at 5pm in the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub (Pillsbury Hall, 310 Pillsbury Dr SE, Room 120, Minneapolis, MN 55455)

Student leaders will be hosting a poster making session in support of the upcoming rally on December 8th to support the American Dream and Promise Act. You can join them this Tuesday, December 6th at the student lounge, located at Christensen Center!

The Minnesota Immigrants Movement, along with other community organizations will be hosting a community meeting to discuss and provide updates on advocating for "Drivers Licenses For All." This meeting will take place on Saturday, December 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at Waite House (2323 11th Ave S, Mpls)

El Movimiento de Inmigrantes de Minnesota, junto con otras organizaciones comunitarias, organizará una reunión comunitaria para discutir y brindar actualizaciones sobre la defensa de "Licencias de conducir para todos". Esta reunión se llevará a cabo el sábado 3 de diciembre a las 10:00 a. m. en Waite House (2323 11th Ave S, Mpls)

CLUES offers free food to community members in both their Minneapolis (first image) and St. Paul (second image) sites in a weekly basis. For the Minneapolis site, the spring schedule will be Wednesdays (2-5pm) and for St. Paul, the spring schedule will be Mondays (3-5pm).

Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs recently published a report, titled, "Out Path to Success: Voices of Minnesota Latine/x Youth." These findings will support the continued advocacy for our Latinx communities in Minnesota's legislation and policy. To learn about the findings, read the report here.

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, Esperanza United published a resource collection to learn and take action in issues impacting Indigenous communities across the globe. Visit the collection, here.

Thank you for engaging with us! We wish you a warm and happy holiday season. If you would like share upcoming events or opportunities with us, email us at lss@augsburg.edu

Latinx Student Services- December Newsletter