Daniel Rodriguez

Name: Daniel Rodriguez Location: Phoenix, AZ Undocumented. Student. Human. Brother. Son. Passionate. Immigrant Youth will lead Human Rights Movement! Add your support

A little about me

I’m a Co-Founder of the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition. Attended Arizona State University and attempting to finish Law School. At the epicenter of a movement promoting hate and inequality I see much hope in the dreams of immigrant youth. While Undocumented and Unafraid was a huge step towards empowerment I believe we must continue our work in solidifying a much-broader coalition of progressive organizations and individuals. My personal goal is to build substantive relationships with the LGBT and African-American communities; however, all cross-sections of oppressed individuals must be brought in the fight for human rights. All eyes are on Arizona and I am determined to send the message here that hate must be stopped.

I would describe myself as a

blogger

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I’m typing a call-to-action e-mail for immigrant rights supporters and listening to Lady Gaga “Born this Way.” Phoenix is starting to get hot but I refuse to turn on the A/C and just deal with the increasing warmth of my bedroom. I’ve been trying to finish a poem I’m writing and post it on my blog but the inspiration disappears with every text or e-mail asking me to do something. Three youth conferences coming up; presentations not ready. I need something more. I need to meet good people. I open my e-mail and by habit my eyes go straight to the word scholarship; next to it is the word Netroots. I can use that. I can learn from that. I can bring it back. Sure I am poor, I have never attended Netroots, I’m brown, undocumented, and very involved in the immigrant youth movement but I’m sure I’m not the only one with that profile to be applying for this scholarship. Still, I look outside, and Phoenix is getting hot. I can use a little bit more knowledge. I can use the networking. I just finished my e-mail and think to myself “man, I deserve this.” I think I can make a difference.

I manage these blogs

EducateOrganizeAct

The blogs I use most are

Daily Kos
Think Progress

What first inspired me to get involved

Honestly, money inspired me to get involved politically. In high school I went to my counselor and told her I wanted to go to college. She said there were scholarships but that I needed a good resume, get involved in clubs. I become co-chair of M.E.Ch.A., Black Student Union, Gay Straight Alliance, Newspaper, you name it. That's it, I wanted money for my education. Then I started learning about things. The Bracero Program in M.E.Ch.A., the 14th Amendment in the Black Student Union. I started to learn, then I started to care, then I started to act.

Eventually, because of my experiences, I decided to blog. At first the inspiration was for others to read. Then I just wanted to let stuff out, put it somewhere, and maybe it would add to something bigger that mattered.

How I've gotten others involved

I'm the Co-Founder of the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition. For years I've mentored immigrant youth, educating them about the issues facing our communities. I help them find their passion and insert the work of justice in everything they do. Many of my peers have amazing stories. After they tell me their stories I encourage them to write about it, create a blog, send a letter. Many times students step up because they see me do it, they start writing because they have ready my work, and it just continues growing.

The diary I am most proud of

My mom's diary. Not available online...yet.

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

There are many news outlets in the net nowadays. All of them have their slant and their own process of informing and what to inform on. Sometimes I don't want to read just another article that has been twisted and restated a million times. Sometimes I just want to read a story, about someone going through something. Real stories balance everything out. It is important to put real stories out there, to own our voices. That is the only way to keep meaning in an ever growing I.T. monster.

More about my involvement with DFA and local work

I'm not an active DFA member but work on many progressive issues. Immigration rights, women rights, voting rights. I helped President Obama's campaign in 2007 and have been involved in local democratic races since then.

More about my volunteer work

I'm with the Arizona Dream Act Coalition. We have primarily worked around the issue of the DREAM Act, partnering up with other organizations like Organizing for America, the ACLU, and LGBT groups. Much of the work we are doing now involves voter education.

My Twitter manifesto on online activism

What matters most is to show up. Show up at a meeting, show up at a rally, show up in front of someone’s door, and to show up on their twitter. They are there for a reason.

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

What part of the year1492 don't you understand?

My idea for a cool new online action

One page. One action. Many websites displaying it for a set period of time. No one takes individual credit for action.