Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of our Podcast At The Root. Once again this is Alex, Mae, and Andrea. This is the second episode of the MCCDC’s Podcast “At The Root” where we focus on creating a safe haven for Underrepresented students on our campus, as well as unapologetically talk about social justice issues and our POC communities. We wanted you all to get to know us better so we have a reflective topic for this episode. We would like to start off by saying a huge thank you to our audience for taking the time to be here today! The world has gotten much crazier and we appreciate your time and energy in listening. This is the second episode of the MCCDC’s Podcast “At The Root” where we focus on creating a safe haven for Underrepresented students on our campus. As well as unapologetically talk about social justice issues and our POC communities. Today, we will be discussing the question: What does community mean to us? We will be exploring what drives us in our communities and all the impacts our communities have had on us through the course of our lives.

This week, we interviewed and sat down with three immigrant justice leaders to discuss the topic of: Disrupting the Good Immigrant Narrative!! 🌱✨

Valeria Suarez (they/she) is an undocumented queer organizer from Lima, Peru. During the past few years, they have focused on supporting deportation defense cases to free undocumented community members from detention. Valeria is currently the Bay Area Youth Coordinator for the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance (@ciyja ). Their work is centered around creating spaces for undocumented youth to learn deportation defense models in order to protect themselves and their communities. Valeria also serves as the coordinator for FREESF Coalition, organizing at the intersection of criminal justice reform and immigrant rights.

Laith 'Lai' Ocean (They/Them) is a disabled UndocuQueer Nicoya and ex-organizer. Lai transferred to UC Berkeley as a spring transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College to major in Sociology. Laith is currently an intern at the Multicultural Community Center (MCC) continuing their work with immigrant justice through an abolitionist framework.

Nate Tan is the Co-Director of Asian Prisoner Support Committee. He has organized for the freedom of immigrants and refugees with criminal convictions for over five years with Asian Prisoner Support Committee. Asian Prisoner Support Committee has provided reentry services and anti-deportation organizing for formerly incarcerated Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since 2003. Asian Prisoner Support Committee also offers an Ethnic studies/Asian American studies class in San Quentin State Prison providing culturally relevant and community-responsive education since 2011. Since it’s founding APSC has seen the release and freedom of over 100 community members.

Welcome, Everyone! We are Mae, Andrea, Alex and we are At The Root!!🌱✨