NAVIGATE
by Juventino Meza | Aug 31, 2010
1 read | 0 Comments
1 read | 0 Comments
Summary:
NAVIGATE seeks to widen the path to higher education for MN undocumented students. NAVIGATE will do this via three ways: presentations, networking groups, and fellowships.
Presentation - Many of our teacher and counselors discriminate Latin@s (but not limited to) because the assumption is that they cannot have access to higher education tell our students college is not one of their options. This adds to drop-outs, economic and racial disparities, etc. Through the sharing of information, NAVIGATE will educate undocumented students, their families and teachers that higher education is possible for undocumented students regardless of immigration and financial status.
Fellowships - undocumented students cannot access jobs. These will enable Latina/os to experience real jobs that will enable them to gain hands-on valuable work-experience, and through the fellowships they will be working on projects that will help out the Latina/o community and fight against work discrimination.
Networking Groups - immigrant communities have little to no access to role models. These groups provide participants the opportunity to meet powerful and inspiring people and also meet other undocumented Latina/os who are working on accessing college education and creating a community for this disenfranchised community.
About You
About You
First Name
Juventino
Last Name
Meza
Title
Executive DIrector
Website
Organization
NAVIGATE
Country
United States, MN
About Your Organization
Organization Name
NAVIGATE
Organization Email
Organization Website
Organization Phone
651-231-0974
Organization Address
2211 Riverside Ave CB: 2265
Organization City
Twin-Cities
Organization Zipcode
55454
Brief description of your organization
NAVIGATE is a leadership development program for immigrant young adults in Minnesota who face financial, social and legal barriers to achieve their dreams through changing unjust systems. Through NAVIGATE, these young adults help their community and themselves by working to access college education, jobs and legal status.
Organization Country
United States, MN
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Your idea
Name your project
NAVIGATE
Country your work focuses on
United States, MN
Describe your project. Explain the extent to which it mitigates the effects of racism
NAVIGATE seeks to widen the path to higher education for MN undocumented students. NAVIGATE will do this via three ways: presentations, networking groups, and fellowships.
Presentation - Many of our teacher and counselors discriminate Latin@s (but not limited to) because the assumption is that they cannot have access to higher education tell our students college is not one of their options. This adds to drop-outs, economic and racial disparities, etc. Through the sharing of information, NAVIGATE will educate undocumented students, their families and teachers that higher education is possible for undocumented students regardless of immigration and financial status.
Fellowships - undocumented students cannot access jobs. These will enable Latina/os to experience real jobs that will enable them to gain hands-on valuable work-experience, and through the fellowships they will be working on projects that will help out the Latina/o community and fight against work discrimination.
Networking Groups - immigrant communities have little to no access to role models. These groups provide participants the opportunity to meet powerful and inspiring people and also meet other undocumented Latina/os who are working on accessing college education and creating a community for this disenfranchised community.
Project starting date
July 1, 2010
Project ending date
June 30, 2011
Total project budget - required field
52, 900
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your project unique?
NAVIGATE was founded in alliance between young undocumented students and a mentor. NAVIGATE has always been led by low-income young adults in partnership with allies. The Executive Director and Associate Director are young adults, students of color. NAVIGATE has formed a Board of Directors composed of a majority of young adults. NAVIGATE is committed to
have board and committees with a majority of Latina/o and young adult participants.
NAVIGATE will offers very important services to the community through a grassroots approach that encourages Latina/o and undocumented students to succeed in school and motivates them to pursue higher education. NAVIGATE also disseminates the vast misinformation about immigrants and education. All three projects that NAVIGATES wants to accomplish will prepare and guide undocumented students through the college process and also after college, educate MN educators about immigrant students and higher education, and decrease the racists assumptions many of our educators hold today.
NAVIGATE is also unique because it is one of the few organizations that has brought certain groups together that otherwise would not work together. Currently NAVIGATE partners with a few community organizations and efforts such as Augsburg College, Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, Minnesota College Access Network (MCAN), Wellstone Action, Children’s Defense Fund, Minnesota Council of Non-Profits, MAP for Non-Profits, Shades of Yellow (SOY) Hmong GLBT organization, Citizens League, League of Women Voters, among others.
Impact
Tell us about the social impact of your project as it relates to ONE of these three areas: Education, Employment or Housing
NAVIGATE will help decrease the drop-out rate for undocumented immigrants, educate educators on how to work with undocumented students going to college (preparation, motivation, correct information, etc), increase the number of undocumented students attending college.
NAVIGATE sees its impact in three ways: policy-wise, institutional, and social. NAVIGATE has partnered with other organization such as the Citizens League in order to create policy visions that would address the racial disparities when it comes to immigrant students and education in MN. NAVIGATE has also worked with various colleges and scholarship foundations to change how they work with undocumented students in order to better serve them, which is how we achieve institutional change in combination with the policy changes that we seek. Lastly, NAVIGATE gives social change the spin to say that through the personal contacts NAVIGATE young adults (mostly undocumented students)make, including family, friends, and educators, students change the minds and hearts of people to believe that college is possible for ALL students.
List any specific activities associated with the project and a timeline for the activities
For 2010-2011 school year, NAVIGATE will hold 16 Networking Groups; hold a State-wide summit for Undocumented Student Allies; partner with the Office of Higher Ed in educating Latina families about college access; training more young adults (at least 15) to do college access presentations; expand to two more MN communities with a growing Latina community; and do 52 presentations this year, which will reach about 1,300 people (especially educators) (Evaluation forms will be filled out at every presentation); provide 8 Fellowships with stipends that support NAVIGATE and students; connect to 120 young adults through Networking Groups and expand this Networking Groups to two more MN communities with a growing Latina community.
Please summarize the involvement of people of color in the decision-making of your project
NAVIGATE was founded in alliance between young undocumented students (all immigrant) and a mentor. NAVIGATE has always been led by low-income young adults, students of color, in partnership with allies. The Executive Director and Associate Director are young undocumented adults, students of color. NAVIGATE has formed a Board of Directors composed of a majority of young adults (all people of color). NAVIGATE is committed to have board and committees with a majority of Latina/o and young adult participants.
Please list which communities of color your project will involve and/or impact
We mostly work with the Latina community when it comes to learning about college access. Though another part of the work we do is educate white educators to do a better job with undocumented students, who mostly happen to be Latin@s.
What age group will your project impact?
Teens/adolescents (13-19 years), Adults (20-60 years).
Which gender(s) will your project focus on?
Male, Female.
What geographic area(s) will your project affect?
Southeastern MN, Central/Western MN, Twin Cities Metro Area (specify below).
If you selected either Twin Cities Metro Area or Other above, please specify or identify the area
St. Paul, Minneapolis, and suburbs
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
If your project is a collaborative effort, please list the other organizations involved
NAVIGATE does partner with other organization in order to achieve the overall goals. Currently NAVIGATE partners with a few community organizations and efforts such as Augsburg College, Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, Minnesota College Access Network (MCAN), Wellstone Action, Children’s Defense Fund, Minnesota Council of Non-Profits, MAP for Non-Profits, Shades of Yellow (SOY) Hmong GLBT organization, Citizens League, League of Women Voters, among others.
Who or what is expected to change as a result of your project?
The ultimate success of NAVIGATE will be access to legal status for all immigrant young adults. When that ultimate goal is achieved, there will be no need for NAVIGATE’s mission to provide access to higher education, jobs & legal status for undocumented young adults. NAVIGATE is currently successful through the number of students who reach college and graduate & the number of people reached.
What information will you provide in the final report to demonstrate the achievement of your results?
Report success in carrying out the "activities associated with the project and...timeline for the activities"; report based on evaluation from college presentations; testimony from educators and students NAVIGATE works with; a budget of how funds were used.
What methods will be used to gather the information?
NAVIGATE has developed an evaluation for college access presentations, which will be used for all presentations. NAVIGATE will also keep a record of all people reached as well as how many students reach college through he work of NAVIGATE.
What do you hope to learn about racism and its impact?
NAVIGATE has partners that hold conference that our students and allies attend year-round. Also, some NAVIGATE students/young adults are long-participants of anti-racists groups on their campuses.
What percentage do people of color comprise your board of directors?
100%
Documentation
Funding sources: Please check all that apply
Individual donations, In-kind donations, Foundations.
Other
In submitting this application, the applicant agrees to the following (check all boxes)
The applicant will spend the money solely for the purpose stated in the grant award and will return the unexpended portion of the funds, if any. In addition, the applicant will provide an interim and/or final report, as required., The applicant realizes that payment of funds will be at the convenience of the Foundation. The Foundation reserves the right to cancel the grant and/or modify previously agreed-upon payments should such actions be deemed necessary by the Foundation., The applicant understands that the Foundation may review any or all information submitted as part of this request with advisors of the Foundation’s choosing, if deemed necessary by the Foundation., The applicant intends to comply with the terms of the Minnesota Charitable Solicitation Act (MS §309), if applicable..
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