Successful Skagit-Whatcom Conference in Jeopardy

By Editor Ken Harvey

The Fifth Annual Skagit-Whatcom Migrant Youth Conference was the most successful ever, but it may also be the last, say organizers.

Nearly 100 migrant students from throughout the two-county region attended the conference at Western Washington University in Bellingham in mid-May, and another 100 students had to be turned away for lack of funding and accommodations.

For the first three years the conference was led largely by Western’s staff, along with officials from the Secondary Education for Migrant Youth organization (SEMY) and local schools. The plan has always been for SEMY to gradually turn more responsibility over to local organizations as its own staff helps develop similar conferences in other parts of the state.

Western’s Woodring College of Education originally supported the conference to provide education students with first-hand experience teaching one of the most challenging of student populations – migrant students, many of whom speak English as a second language.

After the third year, college officials decided they could not justify the staff time and expense of running the program. But Western students refused to let the program die.

So during the last two years SEMY has continued to provide coaching and guidance, but the program has been run almost exclusively by volunteer college students – particularly co-directors Sierra Schraff-Thomas and Sabrina Gillman-Basave.

Without more college support, Sierra and Sabrina say they’re not sure how the conference will continue.

"We took over by default," Sierra says. "We were the most empowered, the most inspired by the program….

"You get emotionally attached to the migrant students," she adds. "There hasn’t been a year when I haven’t cried at the end."

The Leadership Conference curriculum, developed over the past 20 years by the SEMY organization, uses fun, student-centered learning activities that help participants improve their skills in communications, problem-solving, leadership, risk-taking, goal-setting, and community service.

"It’s such an empowering experience to see how it changes lives – not just the migrant students but also the volunteer staff," Sierra says.

Sabrina recalls how "mesmerized" the migrant students were this year during the opening session, when Hispanic college students and graduates shared their stories of how they overcame prejudice, poverty and other challenges.

"To see students who look like them that are succeeding and being leaders – it really affected the migrant students, and it gave me goose bumps," Sierra says.

It affects different students in different ways, however, she adds.

"Some students come already in leadership roles, and the conference empowers them," Sierra says. "Others come that are really struggling, and the conference rejuvenates them.

"Some students go back home and you can see an immediate change in their lives," she notes.

Sabrina agrees. "They can see that they can overcome mistakes and still turn things around," she says.

The middle and high school students learn that there are grants and programs and mentors to help get to college and succeed.

"It’s a lot of work, but the students see that it’s worth it," Sierra says, "and there is support on the other side. We want them to believe that they do belong on the college campus."

On the evaluation form at the end of the conference, most of the migrant students rated the conference as "excellent" and expressed a wish that it could have been longer than three days.

Rosalinda from Custer wrote: "I really enjoyed everything this year. It has been one of the best years. Everything was just on point. The people, facilitators, the food! It was great!"

Nancy from Mount Vernon enjoyed "meeting new people, the games, talking about problems." She said the SLIDE problem-solving approach was "the most important thing" she learned, and that she "will use the skills everyday with anything that needs improvement."

"I liked everything we did," said Mario from Burlington. "I learned how to do teamwork and to be nice and honest with everybody."

Alex from Mount Baker said he "met new friends and solved new problems" with skills he will use throughout his life, and he learned "everything is possible."

"The conference was great," said Beverly from Lynden. "I met a lot of new people and learned new things."

"I really liked the small groups. They were great. I got to meet really cool people," said Cesilea of Lynden. "I love the activities."

Viviana from Custer said, "You learn a lot about your near future, teamwork, respect, our history, and to be proud of who you are. I will use it wherever I go."

Rigo of Sedro-Woolley appreciated "all the things about how to get money for college" and "how to work with different kids."

"It taught me things I never knew and made me laugh, too," said Alex from Lynden.

Ana Isabel from Burlington enjoyed "everything, from the little talks to the activities to the food," to "be proud of who you are and respect others," and that that you should never give up -- "it's never too late."

Esmeralda of La Venture said, "We were able to talk about ourselves and our goals," but the most important thing was "to never give up on your dreams and goals."

Indeed, when asked if achieving their dreams now seemed possible despite the extraordinary obstacles they might face as migrant students, they were very positive.

For example, Elizabeth from Everson wrote: "Yes, I really want to be somebody."

Cristal of Nooksack said, "I am very motivated to continue my education in medicine because I love working with others."

"Anything is possible if you set your mind to it," said Orlando from Sedro-Woolley.

Viviana from Custer said, "People tell me I can't make it, but that just makes me want my dream even more."

"I know I can achieve it, and I know I WILL do it," said Rosalinda from Custer.

"I believe I can make my dreams possible. I just need to try," said Luna of Nooksack.

"My dream does seem possible, because I have people who support and encourage me," said Kimberly from Mt. Vernon.

Bianca of Nooksack said she now wants to share the conference teachings with other students. "I will convince people just to try hard in school and be successful."

Sabrina says the conference inspires many of the students to "help others as we have helped them."

Those kinds of experiences have caused Sierra and Sabrina to donate hundreds of hours of their own time to organize and oversee the past two conferences.

When it’s all said and done, Sierra says, "It’s really empowering. When it’s over, you have such a good feeling. That’s what I look forward to each year."

And while organizing the conference takes a lot of work and is frustrating at times, the young ladies say they, too, have profited from the experience.

Sierra. a Spanish major, wants to become an ELL (English Language Learners) teacher.

"I certainly don’t want to quit working with migrant youths," she says.

Sabrina, a political science major with double minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies, wants to work with a non-profit agency or other organization to help Latin America develop socio-economically, she says. Among other things, she wants to help "develop programs that are more culturally sensitive."

The conference leadership experience has helped prepare her for future career opportunities.

"We learned how to write grants and to look for alternative sources of funding," Sabrina says. "What works and what doesn’t. And how to delegate."

STUDENTS LEADERS NEED SUPPORT

Now, however, Sabrina is graduating and leaving campus, and while Sierra still has one more year, she feels the need to focus more on her classes and preparing for her own future.

"And there is no one we have mentored to take over," Sierra says.

Sabrina and Sierra feel Western should get back involved in the conference – at least in providing an adviser and some limited support.

They do recognize and appreciate the support given by the Admissions Office to secure scholarships or tuition waivers for some of the migrant students who attend the conference.

The department has committed three scholarships per year for participants who the students help select. Last year Admissions surprised everyone by announcing that all eight nominated students would receive scholarships.

"It made me cry," Sierra says.

MERO Director Mary Kernel says her office and educators from the public schools involved in the conference are willing to do more so the conference won’t be such a burden on the college organizers in the future.

"I am amazed at how smoothly Sierra and Sabrina coordinated the whole conference. I applaud their success. They did it all on their own time – often sacrificing their other school and work obligations," she says. "But it shouldn’t have to be like this."

Patricia Eastwood of SEMY has discussed the need for increased WWU involvement with college officials and is optimistic about the university’s role. They have discussed the college providing an adviser and also work-study grants for the college student organizers.

The MERO staff is willing to take over curriculum oversight and the training of facilitators, Ms. Kernel says. And SEMY staff will also remain a driving force in providing coaching and training in the Student Leadership Program curriculum and strategies.

CO-DIRECTORS GIVE MOMS CREDIT

Sierra and Sabrina both give credit to their mothers for instilling in them the importance of service. Otherwise, the two moms are very different.

Sierra’s mother has worked the fields and done other manual labor much of her life, whereas Sabrina’s mother is a university professor.

"My mom engrained in me since I was really young that you need to help people," Sierra says.

Sierra was home-schooled until seventh grade, and as part of her education her mother included numerous service projects, including serving at the Food Bank.

Sierra remembers her mother being upset with the poor quality of some of the food. Consequently, her mom started her own non-profit corporation, Small Potatoes Gleaning Project," Sierra explains.

"Just like us, she fights for funding all the time, so she’s having to work in the fields again herself," Sierra says. "My mom is the most giving person in the world. I aspire to be like her."

Sabrina’s mother works at University of Washington, while her father is a computer software expert.

Sabrina’s dad serves others by gathering used computers and sending them to non-profit agencies in Third World countries.

Her mother was recently honored for setting up service learning projects in state prisons. Her mother also leads groups of volunteers to other countries, such as Guatemala, to work with the indigenous people.

Sabrina’s mom recently set up a non-profit agency to develop sister schools in the U.S. and Guatemala. The relationship leads to funding donations for the Guatemalan schools, mutually beneficial pen-pal relationships between classes, and valuable U.S. contacts for Guatemalan educators and students.

"I also aspire to be just like my mom," Sabrina says.

Sabrina and Sierra hope the Student Leadership Conference at Western can be continued. In fact, they hope support will be found to build the program even bigger.

"In my dreams," Sierra says, "we would have 500 students at the conference."