A Message from Angélica
I am the Program Coordinator for the Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action
at De Anza College.
As a former De Anza student activist on campus, it is so great to be back!
I look forward to working with students, staff, and faculty to foster social justice work on and off campus.
My areas of focus include
- Internship Program
- Project Advising
- Grant Administration
- Budgeting
I am also the director for HEFAS, or Higher Education for AB 540 Students.
Biography
Angélica has been working with undocumented immigrant youth and families to help them navigate through higher education, access to resources and their rights as human beings. She began doing this work seven years ago at De Anza College because it was impacting her and her family. At De Anza, she had an active role in I.M.A.S.S., the undocumented student support club, and co-founded H.E.F.A.S. the resource center, which serves undocumented and low-income students. In 2012 she was part of I-CLAP, a cohort led by TIGRA, which focused on providing mentorship and guidance to youth applying to DACA. After that, she left the Bay Area and is now back in the Bay Area after receiving her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and will continue to work with students and immigrants on issues that impact them through her work at De Anza and in the community.
About the Project
VIDA is a hub, a place to build community, work in solidarity and dream of transformation! Students gather in the office to organize, work on projects, get plugged into campus activities, and hang out.
For students to build skills and knowledge outside the classroom, students engage in various social justice campaigns on and off campus. As volunteers, one might sign up and have different levels of commitment, eventually taking on leadership roles. However, as a paid Intern, students are identified/placed in specific roles and are accountable for major responsibilities on the campaigns. The ultimate goal is to build student power and to be agents of change in this world.
Students can also earn a Leadership and Social Change Certificate by taking courses at De Anza College