Youth organize to pass tuition equity bill

By Padres & Jovenes UnidosPublished in El Semanario April 2, 2009More than seventy teens are getting the training and experience they need to become the next generation of Colorado’s Latino leaders. All have learned they can make civic change through organizing and lobbying with Padres y Jóvenes Unidos for tuition equity at the state legislature.
“I never thought I had any power,” said Diana, a 7th grader at Skinner Middle School. “After getting training and being involved in the tuition equity campaign, I know I can work with other people to make a difference in my community.” SB 170 would make qualified students who have attended three years of high school in Colorado eligible for in-state tuition at any public university or college in the state, regardless of immigration status.
Student Andres reported that while he earns excellent grades at North High School, college is out of reach if he has to pay out-of-state tuition, “There’s no way I could afford $26,000 a year just for classes—that doesn’t include room and board. If I can’t qualify for the $10,000 in-state rate, I just won’t go to college.”
Padres y Jóvenes Unidos organizers worked with students at Skinner Middle School, Lincoln High School, North High School and Aurora’s Hinckley High School interested in getting involved with its tuition equity campaign. For the last five months, these young activists have met every week to receive training and plot strategy.
Peer education has been an important element of their work. The students have conducted 20+ class presentations at their schools. In December, the Lincoln High School youth organized an Immigrant Rights Day to teach 400 participating students about tuition equity through presentations and written materials. North High School students organized a 200-student tuition equity rally in January and hosted their Immigrant Rights Day in February.
The teens recruited adult allies to help, too. At Skinner Middle School students solicited 100% teacher support, while Lincoln teens count 38 teachers as supporters and North 21. Parents in Denver, Montbello and Aurora have joined the campaign, making presentations to congregants at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Asuncion, St. Catherine and St. Cajetan, generating 1,700 letters of support. “Business walk” outreach yielded 90 endorsements from businesspeople in Denver and Aurora.
The next step for these teens was political engagement. Thirty students and parents addressed the DPS school board to unanimously pass a resolution in support tuition equity. Twenty students testified to Denver City Council to pass a similar resolution.
“I was so impressed with the Jóvenes Unidos students,” Councilman Paul Lopez said. “They were well-spoken and fully understood the issues. They are the future leaders of our community.”
Lobbying is where the young people really discovered their power. Jóvenes Unidos members persuaded Sen. Chris Romer early on to sponsor the bill. A 30-strong Jóvenes Unidos delegation descended on the State Capitol in February to make presentations to over 40 legislators, 25 of whom pledged to vote in favor of SB 170, including Sen. Paula Sandoval.
SB 170 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee before the Senate as a whole votes on it. If the bill passes, it will head over to the House Education Committee. Jóvenes leaders have already begun to meet with members of the committee. These youth ask that supporters make phone calls at send emails to their legislators to influence their votes.
On the national level, the DREAM Act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented young people who attend college or serve in the U.S. military. Jóvenes teens are launching a campaign for this bill, and have started mobilizing phone calls to Colorado’s U.S. Senators, Sen. Mark Udall and Sen. Michael Bennet.
“I’m ready to study hard, go to college and med school and become a pediatrician,” said Mayra, an 11year-old student at Skinner Middle School, describing her bright future. “The great thing is that Jóvenes Unidos has helped me develop the tools and skills to make that happen.”