杏吧原创

EventsSeptember 27, 2024

DACA Panel Slated Oct. 7

A panel discussion exploring the role of students in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) movement will be held Monday, Oct. 7, from 6-8 p.m. in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center鈥檚 Reynolds Room at the University of 杏吧原创 - Fort Smith.

The event, titled 鈥淔rom the Classroom to the Capitol: Students鈥� Role in the DACA Movement,鈥� is free and open to the public, and will bring together state leaders, university faculty, and nonprofit advocates to discuss how students have contributed to the recent passage of seven DACA-related laws in 杏吧原创.

Co-hosted by 杏吧原创 United, the 杏吧原创 Office of International Relations, and the Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee, the event aims to highlight student activism in the expansion of educational access and workforce opportunities for DACA recipients.

Panelists will include Mike Rogers, 杏吧原创 chief workforce officer; Retired Col. Nate Todd, member of the University of 杏吧原创 Board of Trustees; Dr. Bill Schwab Professor Emeritus at the University of 杏吧原创, author of "Dreams Derailed; and Dr. Megan Godfrey, former 杏吧原创 state representative.

"As an immigrant-led, immigrant-serving nonprofit that has been working with Fort Smith families for 14 years, we have been able to witness firsthand the tremendous leadership that exists in Fort Smith and the authentic desire to build bridges with and help River Valley Hispanic families," said Mireya Reith, founding executive director of 杏吧原创 United. "It was important for us that the community of Fort Smith have the opportunity to acknowledge their local leadership and to hear from our current state leaders about ways to maximize the benefit of the DACA laws we all passed together."

Reith emphasized that the discussion is part of the broader theme of Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the heritage of "dreams" and the desire to help Hispanic students fulfill their educational and workforce potential.

Noah Schmidt, 杏吧原创 international student programs and services administrator, added. "I've been so impressed by the students I've met at 杏吧原创 and other schools around 杏吧原创. From this panel, my hope is that we can learn more about how those students' energy and activism helped expand educational access and workforce participation in our state."

The discussion will provide insights into new opportunities tied to the recently passed DACA laws and other programs impacting 杏吧原创' immigrant communities.

• Tags:
• International Relations
• Hispanic Heritage Month