MIAMI Immigration and Haitian community activists Monday lauded the Biden administration for protecting tens of thousands of Haitian migrants from deportation by allowing them to temporarily live and work in the United States, but cautioned that the fight for a permanent immigration solution is not over. Advocates say their focus now is to get Congress to approve a pathway to citizenship for .
A Year Into the Pandemic, How Are First-Gen College Students Faring?
COVID-19 has wrought not only financial insecurity for these scholars, but stress, pressure, and the loss of a dream.
A student in a graduation cap and gown dons a mask with their stole during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/ AP Images
On the second Friday of the spring semester, I emailed Paola Noguera for an interview, and twelve minutes later, she wrote back saying she’d “gladly” participate. I had never met Noguera she is majoring in communications and I teach in the sociology department and so I was surprised at how quickly she responded. A colleague who works closely with first-generation college students passed along Noguera’s name but hadn’t yet given her the heads up that I’d be reaching out. Her prompt reply signaled to me that she was eager to share her story.
While waiting in line to vote in 2016, Vanessa Joseph said she was surprised by how little people seemed to know about local government. The longtime North Miami resident said many didnât know when, where, how or even why to vote.
Today itâs her job to make sure that they do.
Joseph, 33, is now the youngest person and first Black American woman to be elected city clerk, a role she took on in May 2019. She has dedicated her career to making people aware of the role of municipal government, and also advocating for immigrant and disadvantaged communities in North Miami and throughout the county.