Amplifying Support for Undocumented Students 

Our Equity team was recently featured on Univision Contigo to share how we’re expanding access to education and resources for immigrant students. We also partnered with the Chancellor’s Office to raise awareness about Undocumented Student Success Week, a statewide initiative dedicated to advancing belonging and opportunity for all learners.

Univision Contigo Spotlight

During the Univision Contigo interview, Alonso Garcia, Senior Program Manager of Equity at FoundationCCC, shared critical information about our organization’s programs to help undocumented students overcome barriers to success. The conversation highlighted the Higher Education Legal Services Project’s FindYourAlly.com tool, which connects students, faculty, staff, dual enrolled, and non-credit course students enrolled at California community colleges with a free immigration legal services provider. This statewide resource is made possible through a collaboration between FoundationCCC, the California Department of Social Services, and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. By reaching a broad Spanish-speaking audience through Univision, the segment helped build trust and awareness with families who may not be otherwise connected to support networks.

Watch the full video >

Undocumented Student Success Week

The 9th Annual California Community Colleges Undocumented Student Success Week, held under the theme “Together in Purpose, Grounded in Belonging,” brought together college leaders, faculty, staff, and students across the state to celebrate resilience and strengthen institutional support for undocumented and mix status students.

A statewide celebration convening was held in Sacramento on October 14, featuring keynote speakers Chancellor Sonya Christian and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. Sessions throughout the day focused on trauma-informed practices, allyship, and policy advocacy—all reinforcing the power of being together in purpose, grounded in belonging. A moving student panel closed the day’s conversations that highlighted their lived experience, reminding attendees that belonging is at the heart of this work.

From l to r: Luz Beradillo Rodriguez, Director, Campus Engagement, President’s Alliance; Alonso Garcia, Program Manager of Equity, FoundationCCC; Maria Blaze, Student Trustee, California Community Colleges Board of Governors; Gerson Cortes Palacio, Executive Cultural Broker, UndocuScholars; and Andres Guerra, Immigration Attorney, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights

Additionally, colleges hosted their own local events—including resource fairs, UndocuAlly trainings, student panels, and community gatherings—showcasing the creativity and commitment of campuses working to uplift undocumented students.

Through these combined efforts, FoundationCCC helped elevate awareness of the challenges and contributions of undocumented and immigrant students while highlighting the collective responsibility of educational institutions to foster belonging.

Read more about our work supporting undocumented students >

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