On June 29th, 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled against race-based affirmative action, stating that colleges and universities can no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis in admissions — a landmark decision that overturns long-standing precedent that has served to benefit historically excluded communities, such as Black, Native, and Latino students in higher education. This decision will further exacerbate racial inequality in education, harming and creating more barriers in the future of students of color, first-generation low-income, and undocumented students. UNLESS... WE ACT!
SUPPORT US IN RAISING FUNDS TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES’ DREAMS TO LIFE AND RECLAIM BIPOC FUTURES NO MATTER WHAT STANDS IN OUR WAY.
By donating to College Access for Non-Citizens, a youth-led grassroots non-profit organization, you can make a tangible difference in the lives of students of color who face significant obstacles in accessing higher education. Now, more than ever, we must stand up and support these students to safeguard their bright futures. Your contribution to College Access for Non-Citizens enables us to continue our critical work.
Mentorship and Community:
We connect high school students with individual role models and mentors to foster a sense of belonging and invaluable guidance through the college application cycles. This includes workshops that focus on how to apply for college, essay reviews, and interview preparations.
We empower students in navigating higher education by building complex skills through workshops, networking events, and empowerment sessions. We also connect college students with diverse mentors to help them navigate higher ed/PWIs.
We organize creative and holistic nurturing opportunities for students that join our community, such as zine-making and arts/crafts events.
We help students overcome the financial obstacles of higher education by covering certain fees such as DACA renewals. This allows undocumented students with DACA to be safe from deportation and allows them to work, study, and have a driver’s license.
This campaign is led by Sheila (she/they) and Melanie Cruz-Morales (she/they), the co-founders of College Access for Non Citizens. They are twenty-two year old, Indigenous, DACA recipient, twin sisters from Oaxaca, Mexico, and were raised in New Jersey. They are experienced and trusted community organizers. They are recent graduates of Georgetown University where they created paradigm shifts in education, by demanding expanded education access for Undocumented students, first-generation and low-income students, and BIPOC students. As undocumented students, they fought incredibly hard to obtain a college degree and now want to help others achieve their dreams. Through their own paths and those of their community members, Sheila and Melanie have served as mentors and role models for youth since 2019, and formed a strong foundation in working for educational equity.
They have built advocacy movements for over 7 years on issues relating to immigrant rights, domestic worker protections, gun violence, reproductive health and gender equality, and more. Sheila and Melanie have always been committed to building a freer, more just future for us all. They have been recognized by the President of The United States, Joe Biden, Teen Vogue, and Telemundo for their organizing work. They have done this community service free of charge for years, but with policy attacks, it is time their work is amplified. They hope to elevate their mission, as well as the efforts of several marginalized communities, through the work of College Access for Non Citizens, for years to come.
To view our complete statement regarding our mission, our service, and the incredible impact that your contribution will make, click the link below. Thank you for being a part of a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Mission statement:
https://tinyurl.com/CANmissionstatement
Georgetown Featured Article on Co-Founders:
https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/cruz-morales-twins/