As part of a series of events for Bellevue College’s annual Homecoming Week, on Monday, Oct. 9, Seattle Councilmember Lorena González will share her personal story and speak about the city of Seattle’s stance on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The event is open to the public.
Born to a Spanish-speaking migrant farm worker family and raised in Yakima Valley, González relied on scholarships and earnings from three jobs to work her way through community college, Washington State University, and Seattle University Law School where she graduated with honors in 2005. She went on to become a nationally recognized civil rights attorney and community advocate. After a decade of experience representing workers in wage theft and anti-discrimination cases, she ran for office and was elected the first Latina/o to serve the Seattle City Council.
Earlier this year, González successfully advocated for a Seattle City Council ordinance that dedicated $1 million to help indigent immigrants and refugees who work or live in Seattle get legal representation, and recently González presented a resolution to support immigrant survivors (Res. 31775) and protect DACA recipients (Res 31779), which passed unanimously Oct. 2.
“Standing up for the rights of immigrants, and particularly DACA recipients, is something I’m deeply committed to, not only because of my personal journey, but because the contributions of our immigrant friends and neighbors strengthen our shared community,” González said. “I applaud Bellevue College for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with DACA recipients when their board of trustees passed their own resolution in support of DREAMers. Community colleges play a big role in creating pathways for immigrant and first generation students to achieve their dreams, just like mine.”
On Sept. 6, the Bellevue College board of trustees passed Resolution 314, which stated that the college “will urgently and forcefully advocate to all of our elected federal officials that Congress act to protect students and other childhood arrivals from deportation and provide these individuals with long-term opportunities to live, study, and work in the United States.”
The talk will take place at 12 p.m., Oct. 9 in Building D, room 106. Following the presentation, González will participate in a Q&A.
For information about González’s, visit www.seattle.gov/council/gonzalez.
