Without a father figure I felt lost. I resorted to the street. Many young teens are in the same situation I’m in. Some go even deeper by turning to gangs for guidance.
Dad family Father Growing up without a dad Single mom spotlight youthThe day I found out they were having problems, my dad told me he was going to leave the house for a while. “I need to leave, to stay away for a while,” were his exact words. That day I couldn't stop crying.
divorce divorced parents spotlightObama’s expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and launch of a new program for undocumented parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA), could provide millions of undocumented immigrants temporary relief from deportation and access to work permits.
DACA families immigration immigration reform spotlightCheong had graduated at the top of his class in Baltimore, but here in the Bay Area, college after college turned down his application for in-state tuition. He finally enrolled in De Anza Community College in Cupertino, working part-time as a cashier in local restaurants to help with tuition. The college fees, he said, were not exactly affordable, but they were “manageable.” His father’s salary as a pastor at a small South Bay Korean church, and his mother’s job as an announcer at a Korean radio station barely covered his tuition.
Asian American DACA DACAmented Dreamer immigration immigration reform Korean spotlight“I’m just working and trying to have a better quality of life for my family here and in Mexico,” explained Graciela’s husband. The 42-year-old came to the United States 15 years ago. The sole breadwinner in the family, he commutes daily to work in the Bay Area.
deportation families ice raids immigration raids spotlight undocumentedThanks to the Affordable Care Act and laws like SB4, which gives undocumented youth in California access to health care through Medical, more Latinos and residents of the Eastern Coachella Valley have gotten insured. But it’s not just about access. Yes, residents here need more and better quality care, but they also need it from doctors who are bilingual and can easily communicate with families so they don’t have to fear their doctor’s visits.
affordable care act doctor desert eastern coachella valley health carea health desert sb4 spotlight