Migrant students get
'Close Up' look at
federal government

By Editor Ken Harvey

Six migrant students representing the Secondary Education for Migrant Youth (SEMY) program and six more representing the new Ambassadors for Student Knowledge (ASK) program joined students from California, Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona for nearly a week in Washington D.C. as part of the “Close Up” program.

The program teaches students about the federal government, important federal issues and encourages students to think critically, develop leadership skills and accept civic responsibility.

Sergio Abundiz, Melinda Amaro, Selena Barreras, Jessica Gonzalez, Ali Velasco and Naomy Velasco represented SEMY. Representing ASK were Juanita Tellez, Aristeo Borges, Felicitas Garcia, Angelita Madrigal, Mayra Tapia and Cynthia Gutierrez.

The program was divided in four main sections, according ASK coordinator David Cuesta:

(1) Founding Documents Activity, focused on the two main documents on which the U.S. Government was created: the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

(2) Legislation Activity, where they witnessed Congress through the legislative process in progress and the roles of different committees. While at the Capitol, the student met with the staff of Sen. Patty Murray.  SEMY student representatives then met with Rep. Doc Hastings, and ASK representatives met with Rep. Jim McDermott. They also were excited to pass Sen. Hilary Clinton in the hallway. They also met with Ana L. Avendaño of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who explained efforts to pass immigration reform.

(3) Election Activity, where the presidential election process was explained and they practice a mock-up exercise creating a blue and a red party and organized around registering their candidates, campaigning for them, and finally voting and electing a president.

(4) Community Action Activity, where they visited prominent community organizations that have been created around social issues, and they committed to return home and organize something that is of interest to them.

Among the issues the students studied in depth was the recent immigration bill that failed to pass the Senate.
   One of the students’ “best experiences” was to go to the Kennedy Center, according to Cuesta. There they watched a play that included interaction with the audience. The ending depended on input from the public.

"They received hands-on information on the immigration legislation that was at the time being debated in the Senate and practiced writing their own bills," says Jamie Fleming, SEMY’s Program Facilitator who worked with students onsite.

“The conference was fast-paced. We were on the move, and we can truly say that we experienced a great deal of D.C.,” she says.

The program had a profound effect on the students, as well.   

"The kids realized they do have a voice," Fleming says. "They know they have a responsibility to act in the community.”

They also learned about the government’s system of checks and balance system.

She says the program was very valuable and one the state Migrant Education Program, which funded the students’ participation, should continue to support.

“It was a series of firsts for the six students and myself,” Fleming says. “First time for all of us in Washington, D.C., and for five it was their first plane flight.  Now the challenge remains for students to become more active in their communities as a result of this experience.  For starters, SEMY-sponsored students will be presenting to their school board, and they may opt to write an essay on their experiences, earning them credit in a core subject.”

Close Up hosted its first group of students to Washington, D.C., in 1971. Since that time, more than 650,000 participants from across the country and around the world have participated in Close Up programs, according to program representatives.

SEMY has sponsored two groups in the past to attend Close Up.