RosaATX

Name: RosaATX Location: Austin, TX I'm an online activist for #uwd, fighting for the #dreamact. I am ready to #ownit! http://bit.ly/ekuR0p

A little about me

I am a DREAMer with a double degree in Bilingual Education and Spanish. Life has it's funny way of directing your life to your true calling, even when it maybe have been the last thing you would have expected. Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would be organizing for the DREAM Act instead of teaching in a classroom... but alas, I accept and embrace my calling.

I am truly passionate about helping undocumented youth find access to education. I strongly believe that it is fundamentally unfair for this country to deny opportunities to such talented and dedicated individuals. That's why I have committed myself to work on this issue full time so that I can see not only myself succeed, but also my fellow DREAMers.

I would describe myself as a

blogger

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I deserve the Netroots Nation Scholarship because I am dedicate my time and energy with to the DREAM Act with love and passion. My ultimate goal is to build a movement in which DREAMers and their families can go on to live successful and happy lives.

I currently work for United We Dream as an online coordinator. Although I never studied how to build power online, or have any experience with this topic, I have stepped up to the plate because the movement needed me. I have learned to edit and manage several types of websites on my own as well as list serves and social media sites.

I would like to continue to learn to better my techniques as an online coordinator so that I may better help my network of DREAMers.

I manage these blogs

United We Dream

The blogs I use most are

United We Dream
America's Voice

What first inspired me to get involved

I was first inspired to get involved politically in the summer of 2009 when I attended the DREAM Graduation in Washington D.C. Until then, I had no idea that there was even a DREAM Act network and that so many DREAMers were doing the work themselves. They inspired me to get involved and fight for our right to an education.

I have recently found blogging and social media sites to be helpful tools in political activism. I firmly believe that in order to have our voices heard, we must reach out to our allies and push our political leaders though blogging and social media.

How I've gotten others involved

I have found many DREAMers who have never identified themselves as DREAMers. However, I see in their eyes the same spark and potential that I know I have myself. When I meet such people, I always tell them that the network is alive and that we can all work together to strengthen the movement. Usually these DREAMers and intrigued and stop by our DREAM Act meetings.

I have also inspired DREAMers to voice their thoughts through blogging. At our recent United We Dream National Congress, I asked several DREAMers who would not have done so otherwise to write a blog for the network explaing their experiences and emotion. Many of them told me that through their writing they felt their voiced heard and a sense of freedom.

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

It's important to keep in touch with what other bloggers are writing about because many times our movements and causes overlap. There are several instances where I have found that cross-posting blogs can be very helpful to all parties involved.

More about my volunteer work

I started working as a volunteer with United We Dream during the Lame Duck session in 2010. I took charge of the Media team, where I wrote press releases, prepared people for interviews and spoke with different reporters.

I also work with the University Leadership Initiative in Austin Texas where I help plan and execute events to educate students and the general public about the DREAM Act. We strive to give undocumented students with the tools necessary to further their education.

My Twitter manifesto on online activism

I am a blogger, a photographer, a videographer, a reporter, an online activist. Plug me in and you will see that power of my organizing.

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

I am a DREAMer, I am Bilingual, I am a Professional, I am Ready to Work

My idea for a cool new online action

Undocumented Facebook