Some of the campuses where Carolina has given talks
It is all too important for students, educators, counselors, administrators, and community members to come together and learn more about the current state of immigration issues and what steps can be taken. This is especially the case given today’s political climate marked by heightened immigration enforcement, growing anti-immigrant sentiment, and frequent changes on immigration policy. Over the years, Carolina (Founder of My Undocumented Life) has presented and facilitated dozens of workshops, webinars, research presentations, conversations, and conferences across the country on a variety of topics aimed at supporting undocumented students. She has also delivered several keynote addresses.
To submit a request for a speaking engagement with Carolina, the founder and chief editor of My Undocumented Life, please fill out the form below. Carolina participates in speaking engagements addressing students or school personnel across the country.
To learn more about Carolina’s background you can visit the About Us page.
Here are the topics that I usually discuss with undocumented students (I can address other issues upon request):
– A conversation about student’s concerns and plans related to life after college given their immigration status.
– Applying to and navigating graduate school as an undocumented student (securing financial support, strengthening one’s application, studying for the GRE, finding a mentor, gaining research experience, publishing, balancing responsibilities).
– A discussion about whether or not to disclose one’s immigration status to fellow students and/or instructors during high school, college or in the graduate school application process.
– A conversation about mental health, including ways to cope with feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety, as well as where to find health-related resources.
– How to create support networks and find mentors.
– Changes in U.S. immigration policies and enforcement practices.
– How to afford college while undocumented, including key scholarship opportunities open to undocumented students, advice on fundraising, and more.
– Know Your Rights and Emergency Preparedness.
– Immigration policy updates and how to join the immigrant rights movement.
– Insights on conducting research with and for undocumented communities, including issues around safety, ethics, and confidentiality.
Here are the topics I typically discuss with educators/administrators (I can address other issues upon request):
– Overview of recent changes on U.S. immigration policy and enforcement at the federal, state, and local level that affect undocumented students and their families (e.g., in-state versus out-of-state tuition, state financial aid, DACA, enforcement, sanctuary policies).
– How schools can identify and address the needs of undocumented students at the undergraduate or graduate level (legal support, avenues for financial assistance, mental health, post-graduation plans, etc.).
– What type of practical support schools can provide to undocumented students and their loved ones in light of the current presidential administration, political climate, and the uncertainty surrounding DACA.
– History of the undocumented-youth led movement in the United States, including current efforts underway.
– Consequences of immigration policies and enforcement practices on the lives of undocumented students and their families.
– Latest immigration policy updates and ways to support students through these changes.
– Insights from research based on more than 300 in-depth interviews with:
- Undocumented young adults and their families (about their daily routines, mental health, educational trajectories, aspirations, responsibilities, and more)
- Undocumented high school students (about their experiences navigating high school under the current political climate, decisions around disclosure and concealment, plans post-high school, and more)
- Educators, counselors, and administrators (about the nature of their work, resources available, challenges and barriers they encounter, and more)
- Immigrant rights organizers (about the factors that motivate them to become involved, their work/experience, needs, ways to support their work, and more)
- Families who reunite in the United States undetected post-deportation (about their reunification decisions, experiences with separation and deportation, difficulties associated with legally reentering the country, and more)
- Undocumented college students (about their educational trajectories, as well as their basic needs around food, health, transportation, career development, housing, and legal services)
- Undocumented graduate students (about their experiences applying to and pursuing graduate school, concerns about the future, work opportunities, and more)
