Come to our Cultural Festival on March 17th!

By Kyle, 8^th Grade

This year, the 7^th and 8^th grade activism project is focusing on the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a bill that says that if you came to the U.S. before the age of fifteen and lived here for more than five years, you may become a U.S citizen if you attend college or serve in the military for at least two years.

On Saturday, March 17^th, from 2-5 p.m., we will be hosting a Cultural Festival at MCS to raise money for our activism trip to Washington D.C where we will lobby for the DREAM Act bill to pass. We will be participating in the American Immigration Lawyers Association Day of Action. Please come to our Cultural Festival and support student activism at MCS!

The Cultural Festival will include:

Food from around the world:

• Sushi
• Latkes
• Spanakopita
• Spaghetti and more…

Games/Activities that celebrate different cultures:

• Translation game
• Henna Station
• Mask making
• Cooking Station
• Storytelling
• Creating Dream Catchers and more…

Thank you!

Film Screening: Precious Knowledge

As part of our project, we have been learning about the ban on teaching ethnic studies classes in Arizona. We watched this amazing documentary, chronicling the experiences of students and teachers in Tucson as they protest the ban. See it on Friday night at Bank Street.

Breakthrough USA Visits the Activism Committee

By Mikah and Becca

On February 27, a group called Breakthrough came to visit with the Activism Committee. Their organization specializes in creating video games and short films about immigrant’s experiences with anti-immigrant prejudice. The organization started in India and focuses in India on Women’s Rights. In the US, Breakthrough focus on drawing attention to human rights issues. Their video games include I.C.E.D. (I Can End Deportation), America 2049, I Am This Land, and more. They publicize their games and videos through Facebook and other social media like Twitter. We hope to play some Breakthrough games in Computer/History Seminar and to work with Breakthrough on a project after our trip to Washington DC.

MCS Participates in NYSYLC DREAM Week of Action

From February 13-17, the New York State Youth Leadership Council led a Week of Action to drum up support for the New York State DREAM Act (S.4179) which would make undocumented students eligible to receive financial aid through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). To show their support, MCS 7th and 8th graders, signed the New Yorl DREAM Act petition and encouraged family and friends to sign as well. See the activists' email and link to the petition below. Join us in support of the New York DREAM Act!

Dear Friend,

Did you know that: "Of the 4,550 undocumented students who graduate from New York high schools every year, only 5-10% pursue a college degree due to tremendous financial obstacles" (http://www.nysylc.org)?

As part of this year's Manhattan Country School activism project, we are helping to raise awareness about the importance of acceses to education for undocmented youth immigrants. We support the New York State DREAM Act, which, if passed, will give undocumented immigrants access to the state Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and increase access to affordable education.

Please help us to spread the word about this important bill. Begin by signing this important petition to tell Governor Cuomo and the New York State legislature that unocumented youth should have access to financial aid: http://action.dreamactivist.org/nydreamact/

Thank you!