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The CCNY Dream Team has teamed up with CCNY Libraries to create a vibrant and information-filled display in the Cohen Library. Thank you to Lorena Modesto, Evelyn Vasquez, and Jesus Cabrera for speaking with me about the display, and the work that the Dream Team does on campus.
The CCNY Dream Team is an undergraduate club whose main purpose is “give undocumented students and their allies a safe haven to meet, discuss issues that are affecting the CCNY community and advocate for fair immigration policies.” More than just a safe space for undocumented
students, the Dream Team engages in outreach, activism, and education around issues relevant to immigrants, both undocumented and documented.
One of the Dream Team’s central goals is for the CCNY Administration to create an Immigrant Student Success Center, which would provide expanded support to the College’s undocumented students. The Center would offer mental health services, legal aid, information on fellowships, internships, and jobs for students who don’t have work permits. The Center would also offer financial support and advice. Right now, CCNY is depending on the Dream Team—a student club—to meet the needs of undocumented students, and while they do their best to provide what support and resources they can, there is so much more that a funded center could provide. Other CUNY campuses have created similar centers (including Brooklyn College and John Jay) so there is precedence for doing so. The Dream Team is advocating for this center as parity with other student support centers on campus. Creating this center would turn vocal support into action—into meaningful support by the College for its undocumented students.
In October 2019, Cohen Library put out a general call to student groups who would be interested in sharing their work in our atrium display cases, and the Dream Team’s President Roxana Herrera answered the call. Installation of the display started in February 2020, but wa
s disrupted due to the COVID-19 campus shutdown.
Despite Roxana and several other members graduating in the intervening time, the Dream Team re-started work on the display in November 2021 and had a dedication ceremony in December 2021. A big thanks to all Dream Team members, past and current, who worked to make this display possible!
Students at CCNY may not know that the Dream Team exists, or that there are many opportunities and support for students who are undocumented immigrants. For the Dream Team, the display is an opportunity be visible on-campus, and to raise awareness about resources available for undocumented students. More than just resources, the display includes books, poetry, and art created by undocumented and immigrant writers and artists. The Dream Team felt it was important to include works of art as a way of demonstrating solidarity among the community, and to show support and gratitude to those who have supported the Dream Team.
Butterflies feature prominently in the display, as they are widely used as a symbol by immigrant activists to represent resilience. Observant viewers may notice the inclusion of broken butterflies. These symbolize the complicated feelings that accompany many immigrant stories. Families sacrifice so much when they migrate to provide better opportunities for their younger generations. The weight of this sacrifice can sometimes feel like a burden, the responsibility of needing to accomplish and succeed because of what older generations have given up.
The display will be up through the end of the Spring 2022 semester, so be sure to stop by and take a look when you're in the Cohen Library!
If you’d like to get involved with the Dream Team, they meet Thursdays from 1-2pm in NAC room 4208—in the orange section. Sign up for their mailing list here, or find them on social media:
Instagram instagram.com/ccnydreamteam/
Twitter twitter.com/CCNYDreamTeam
Facebook facebook.com/CCNYDreamTeam/
Image 1: The finished Dream Team display in the Cohen Library Atrium
Image 2: Dream Team logo
Image 3: Dream Team members from L-R: Roxana Herrera (past President) Evelyn Vasquez (Vice President), Angy Rivera, Lorena Modesto (President), Jesus Cabrera (past Vice President), Cynthia Carvajal (Club Advisor).
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