FROM THE WELCOME PROJECT WEBSITE:

On Monday, Oct. 18, the Somerville School Committee will consider a resolution supporting the DREAM Act. Somerville youth leaders from Centro Presente and The Welcome Project will present their testimony to the School Committee at 7 p.m. in the aldermen's chambers at City Hall. The youth will ask for a resolution in support of the federal legislation and in support of their classmates in Somerville.

We ask that you consider coming to the meeting to stand with our Somerville students and show our support for their goal of ensuring that all Somerville youth have access to college.

If passed, the DREAM Act would make it possible for many youth to attain their goal of going to college and gaining U.S. residency, but it would not apply to everyone. Only immigrants who entered the United States before the age of 15, have lived here for at least 5 years, and who possess a U.S. high school diploma or GED equivalent would be eligible. Students eligible for the DREAM Act would then also be eligible to become legal U.S. residents after two years at a U.S. university or in a branch of the military.

The youth from Centro Presente and The Welcome Project have been working together to support the efforts of the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM), which has been working on federal passage of the DREAM Act.

A recent Somerville News story captured some of the stories from a forum put together by youth from Centro Presente and The Welcome Project. To read the story click here.

Please join The Welcome Project on Oct. 18 to support the effort to pass a resolution supporting the DREAM Act by the Somerville School Committee.