Resilience, a student organization, and Undocumented Student Support Services will host events through March 8 to raise awareness about immigration issues, including an immigration story exhibit in the William H. Hannon Library called “Sharing Dreams.”
Resilience, a support network for undocumented students/allies within the LMU community and outside LMU. Together, the organization collaborates to offer resources and a safe environment to undocumented students and allies. As activists, they seek to be leaders in the campus-wide conversation surrounding immigration, as well as connecting to external forces in the cooperative effort to unite the immigrant community.
For Zoe Zidon ’26, a chemistry major from Houston, Texas, who is part of Resilience and works for the newly created Undocumented Student Support Services, the week offers “a chance for allies to show their support to undocumented students at LMU. It is also a way to advocate for and with immigrant students,” said Zidon. “And for me, being a part of Resilience has increased my knowledge on immigration. There are so many resources that are there to help immigrants and undocumented students like me that I personally didn’t know about.”
The week kicked off with a special event on Monday, March 4, in Hannon Library for “Borders and Bridges: An Immigration Attorney’s Journey of Hope and Humanity” with Karina Gutierrez, an immigration attorney born in Mexico who immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 4 years old. She understands the fear, worry, and desperation to find answers that often lead to becoming prey of individuals who are not authorized to practice law and damage cases. In 2014, she returned to her home county of Orange County where she worked with a private immigration attorney before joining the pro bono organization, Public Law Center in 2016. Gutierrez became the interim lead attorney at Public Law Center prior to working with the University of California system, serving as the first full-time immigration attorney for the UC Riverside students and immediate family members. Gutierrez has a passion to advocate for basic human rights and believes in the power of awareness and education.
The “Sharing Dreams” exhibition is composed of stories from the students and family members of LMU, the same individuals who help shape this community every day. Although no story is the same, each demonstrates levels of strength, ambition, and resilience. These dreams turned into realities, are proof that although there are both physical and emotional boundaries, there are brave individuals who fight endlessly to seek opportunity. Do you have a story you want to share? This could be a poem, short story, photo, or other creative print media. All stories will be kept confidential except for images you might share. Submit a story here.
Resilience will be tabling during Wellness Wednesday to fundraise for BoundlessLMU, a program that offers professional development opportunities to UndocuScholars regardless of immigration status. A minimum $20 donation is recommended for a limited-edition T-shirt or tote bag. There is a limited quantity of shirts, so pre-orders here are highly recommended.
The week also highlights awareness by offering the LMU community opportunities to attend events including:
Monday, March 4, Hannon Library, 4-6 p.m.
“Borders and Bridges: An Immigration Attorney’s Journey of Hope and Humanity”
Tuesday, March 5, Daum Hall, 8 p.m.
Art as a form of Healing with UNDOCU+ Collective
Wednesday, March 6, Regents Grass, 11 a.m.
Tabling at Wellness Wednesday
Wednesday, March 6, Daum Hall, 8 p.m.
Game Night
Thursday, March 7, Daum Hall or Zoom, 2-3 p.m.
“Living in Uncertainty” A Documentary and Q+A with Zara
This is an event with an undocumented filmmaker who made a film “Living in Uncertainty” and is willing to share it with the LMU community. A Q&A will follow the event.
Friday, March 8, 10 a.m-5 p.m.
UNDOCU Eats and CEO Meets: “A Culinary Escape in the Heart of L.A.”
A culinary escape in the Heart of L.A. (Open to undocumented and mix-status students). RSVP here.
