The National Coordinating Committee (NCC) is the coordinating body for the 31 affiliates of the United We Dream Network (UWD). These individuals take leadership to ensure our affiliates’ needs are accounted for by organizing and collaborating within their perspective regions.

The NCC works hard to bridge consensus among the many regions of the network. The representatives coordinate capacity building, organizing, and advocacy efforts throughout their respective regions. They also convene the leadership of their assigned affiliates to assess and develop possible collaboration between organizations.

Nationally, the NCC is responsible for developing the field organizing and advocacy strategy for the Network’s national and local campaigns. In addition, the NCC along with the Board of Directors set the programmatic and strategic goals for the organization.

 

Lorella Praeli

Lorella Praeli is an undocumented American from New Haven, CT, where she directs Connecticut Students for a DREAM, a statewide organization of DREAMers and allies that seeks to empower undocumented students and their families. Originally from Ica, Peru, Praeli immigrated to the United States when she was 10 years old to receive medical treatment. After years of public advocacy work on anti-bullying measures at the legislative and community levels, she joined the student immigrant rights movement and came out as “undocumented and unafraid.” This year, she graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology, summa cum laude. She was recently elected onto the United We Dream National Coordinating Committee as New England representative, and helps lead the Dream Educational Empowerment Program.

Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel Rodriguez was born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. At a young age Daniel moved with his family to Phoenix, Arizona. There he continued his education and began his advocacy around social justice issues. In high school Daniel led organizations like M.E.Ch.A., the Black Student Union, and the Gay Straight Alliance.

Daniel graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in Latin American Studies, and a B.A. in English Literature. Daniel is currently seeking a juris doctorate, beginning his legal career at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law.

Daniel has been advocating for the Dream Act since 2004. During college Daniel co-founded the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, now the largest coalition of immigrant-youth led organizations. Daniel is also on the Board of Directors of the Somos America Coalition, the largest Latino advocacy coalition in the State of Arizona.

In 2010 Daniel received the award 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 for his work with immigrant youth, education, and social justice. That same year Daniel received the Stylos award for “Activist of the Year.” Daniel is frequently invited to speaking engagements on the issues of education, community organizing, and immigrant rights.

Daniel is an award-winning writer and recognized political science student. He continues to write using blogs and is involved in political issues affecting the immigrant community in Arizona.

 

Alexis Meza

Organization: Kentucky Dream Coalition (KDC)

Region: Midwest, Kentucky

Alexis Meza was born in the beautiful lands of Veracruz, Mexico. This dreamer was born on November 29th, 1990 and is 20 years old right now. She came to the United States with her family in the year 1999 at the age of 9.
She is currently a sophomore at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, KY working towards an Associates in Art. She wants to double major in Arts Administration and Communications for her undergraduate. Eventually, she would like to attend an art school and one day own an art gallery.

Alexis is the co-founder of the Kentucky Dream Coalition, a  broad based immigrant youth network created to help immigrant youth access higher education through mentoring, programming and advocacy. In addition to the KDC’s strong advocacy for the DREAM Act, the youth led organization focuses on helping youth stay in school, plan for college and serve the community through meaningful projects. Alexis is one of the main student leaders of the organization and has also held the President role this year.

She is currently very involved with her community. She volunteers at different after school programs with Middle and High school immigrant students. She loves to make art and empower people with her creations. Music and art are her main addictions, and being an ARTivist in her community allows her to empower many youth around her. Being involved with the United We Dream Network has made a 360 degree turn to her life, but she feels blessed and thankful for all the opportunities this has brought her. She wants to help and empower other undocumented youth like herself fulfill and reach their dreams.

 

Myrna Orozco

Organization: Kansas/Missouri DREAM Alliance (KSMODA)

Region: Mid-South, Kansas

Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua in Mexico, Myrna immigrated to the United States with her family at  the age of 4. She  currently resides in Kansas City, MO, where she is a full time student majoring in Political Science and Non-Profit Leadership Studies at Rockhurst University.

Myrna was elected to that position as a representative for the Kansas/Missouri DREAM Alliance (KSMODA), where she currently serves as President. KSMODA is a youth led organization that conducts various programs to address the importance of higher education, and civic participation among immigrant youth and the passage of the DREAM Act. Myrna also serves as a board member for the Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement (IJAM). IJAM is the only interfaith community organization solely focused on immigration issues in the KC metro area. Faith plays an important part of her life and she is committed to spreading the message of “Loving thy neighbor as thy self,” regardless of citizenship status.

 

Lizeth Zorilla

Organization: Youth Empowered in the Struggle

Region: Mid-North, Wisconsin

Lizeth Zorrilla Sanchez was born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico in 1993. She migrated with her parents in 1996. Lizeth is currently a freshman at Marquette University and is pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. She is the recipient of the Goizuetta Award.

In high school, she was the president of Latino Student Organization, secretary of Native Circle, and a representative on the Student Council. She co-funded Green club her junior year and remained in highest honors throughout her four years. She has remained active in her community by devoting her spare time in preserving her culture and roots through traditional Aztec and Folkoric dances. Working with the Ballet Folklorico Mexico de los Hermanos Avila, she teaches many to value traditions despite being far away from their native land.

Lizeth became involved with Youth Empowered in the Struggle (Y.E.S.) during Senator Feingold’s campaigns while a junior in high school. Y.E.S., a youth-led, multi-cultural, social justice group campaigns for the D.R.E.A.M. Act, In-State Tuition, and public education. She is a College Organizer for one of several high schools affiliated with Y.E.S. and is the current youth representative on the Voces de la Frontera Board.

 

Martha Melendrez

Martha migrated to Los Angeles, California from Sonora, Mexico nine years ago to reunite with her mother and younger sister. She recently graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology becoming the first college graduate in her family. She is currently applying for graduate school.

She has been involved in the immigrant rights movement since she was a high school senior. One of the aspects about organizing that passionate Martha is outreaching to undocumented high school students through presentations that provide them information to access to higher education.

She joined DTLA in 2009 is an active member of this organization and also of Graduates Reaching a Dream Deferred (GRADD).

 

Walter Trejo

Organization: University Leadership Initiative

Region: Mid-South, Texas

Originally from Ixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, Walter immigrated to the United States in 2004 at the age of 12. He currently resides in Austin, Texas where he is a full time student at The University of Texas at Austin studying English and Music Composition.

He currently serves as the 2011-2012 Vice-President of University Leadership Initiative, a student led organization that harnesses the talents, abilities, and determination of youth to affect long-term matters. He became involved with University Leadership Initiative (ULI) when he was a freshman at the University of Texas in 2010. Since then, he has worked with ULI to preserve in-state-tuition and to prevent any anti-immigrant law from passing in the state. Walter is proud of his accomplishments in life and his determination in the things he believes in.

Rosa Angela Velazquez Figueroa

www.arkansasdreamers.org

Organization: Arkansas Coalition for DREAM

Region : MidSouth North, Arkansas

When you ask Rosa where her home is, she always says “I’m from DeQueen, Arkansas.”, because this is, and always will be, her home. Rosa was born in Mexico City, Mexico; she is an immigrant. She is proud to be the daughter of two courageous immigrants who by giving it all up in the pursuit of a better life, brought her and her brother to a strange land known as the United States in August of 1989. She had just turned five years old.

Rosa became drawn to the DREAM Act Advocacy movement in the Fall of 2010–right after she had heard that the DREAM Act had successfully passed the House of Representatives. After the heartbreaking December 2010 morning, she felt that all the calls, emails and faxes she sent were evidently not sufficient, and she wanted to do more. Fortunately, in January 7th of 2011, herself and three friends organized a meeting and Arkansas Coalition for DREAM was born. She was voted as the first Affiliate Lead Coordinator of the organization where she has had the privilege to help mobilize, educate, advocate for and engage many students, allies and educators throughout the state of Arkansas. She is also a part of Arkansas DREAM Act Campaign, whose main purpose is to promote the passage of a DREAM Act in Arkansas.

Rosa is a 7th -12th grade ESL (English as a Second Language) Educator. She is currently attending graduate school at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, where she is pursuing two Masters degrees: one in ESL and the other in Literacy.

She is an Educator, cultivating DREAMers and motivating them to DREAM BIG. She advocates for the DREAM Act, immigrant civil rights, and equality for ALL. And as everyone should be, she is also a DREAMer. One of Rosa’s favorite quotes is by Nelson Mandela – “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Isaias Vasquez

Region: Southwest, Colorado
Organization: Metro Organizations for People

A Coloradoan by heart originally born in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico in 1992. Isaias immigrated to the United States along with his family in 2001 at the age of eight.

Currently serving the immigrant community as a leader with Metro Organizations for People (MOP) a faith based organization in
Denver Colorado.

In 2010 he was recognized by the Mayor of the city of Denver and the Masonic officers association, as an excelling and influential student. While being student body president at Bruce Randolph High school, a school with an estimated 50% undocumented student body. Isaias coordinated a committee of immigrant students; the group later became the primary spokes people for Dream Act and led the fight for in-state tuition bill in the state of Colorado.

He was recently elected as one of three Southwest representatives in the National Coordinating Committee for the United We Dream national network.

Social justice is his passion, as he plans to aspire for a major in Peace and Justice Studies at Regis University.

“The power of our faith shall illuminate the darkest of the shadows.” – Isaias Vasquez – M

 

Moises Serrano

Organization: El Cambio

Region: South East

This is Moises Serrano and he was born in Cancun, Mexico on September 4, 1989. His parents brought him to this great country when he was 18 months old. He has lived in North Carolina ever since. He has been and always will be a DREAMer. He is not going to college at this moment because of the out of state tuition rate. However he does dream of pursuing a higher education. His passion and his life is singing, acting and writing. He also loves investigative journalism and newscast journalism. He dreams of one day being a professional singer/actor or TV news anchor and producer.

Moises is the co-founder of El Cambio, a local, grassroots organization composed of undocumented immigrants and allies, who are committed to the establishment of an immigrant and minorities’ rights movement in North Carolina. In addition to fighting for the Dream Act, El Cambio fights endlessly for tuition rate equality for undocumented students in NC. While also recruiting, training and developing leaders in the surrounding counties of its chapters.

Ever since “coming out” as undocumented in 2010 in his county he has been heavily involved in dispelling the myths about immigration and the Latino Community. He now works with El Cambio and its chapters across the state of NC. Ever since his first action he has been affiliated with the United We Dream and his experience with the network has completely changed his life for the better. He wishes to enlighten and educate people in his state on the subject of immigration while fighting for equal rights and justice for his community.