De Anza College club Integral Movement for AB 540 Student Success won big at Mobilize.org Summit. IMASS took home the grand prize totaling about $10,000, though the exact amount is yet to be determined. The club plans on using the money to increase awareness for AB-540 students as well as create a safe space for undocumented and AB-540 students.
Assembly Bill 540 was created to help undocumented students who attended a California high school for three years. It qualifies them for in-state tuition at California colleges. IMASS was formed to help students that are facing challenges due to their immigration status. Many students that qualify for AB-540 status are unaware of the fact and they don’t bother to pursue higher education. Even as they reach college they are still not aware of the resources available to them.
IMASS is working to create a physical space for AB-540 students to have access to printing, counselors that are trained in AB-540 issues as well as paid internships.
” I didn’t even know that I could go to college until I found out about AB-540. I don’t know too many undocumented students and having a space that we can all get together would be nice,” said one undocumented student. “I wanna talk to people who are going through the same issues as me,” the student said.
IMASS is also hosting AB-540 Awareness Week from May 23-27 to increase awareness about AB-540 issues to the general student body at De Anza.