Um This is Holly Solis interviewing Monica Keys uh for the Undocumented
Voices Project on April 28th 2015.
OK. Um Could you just to start out? Could you just tell me where you're
from? Yeah, I'm from Rido So New Mexico. OK. Um So when did you come to um
Arizona in a XU? Um 2011? OK. How did you come over? Like what brought you
over here? Uh My dad's always lived here and then I came here for a
graduate program. Uh What graduate program is that the higher ed um
masters in higher education program? OK. Um What do you do now? Uh now I'm
an academic advisor for um undecided students essentially. Uh Can you
explain exactly what you do? Uh Yeah. So um help freshman and sophomore
students either as they're selecting their majors and making sure that
they're working towards classes that are going to keep them on track to a
four year graduation while being able to explore, you know, everything
from engineering to creative writing or whatever, you know, all 380 majors
we have. OK. Have you um have you encountered any undocumented students
within that kind of work.
I have not. Um No, I've been in this position. I just um for one year and
like two days now. So in, in this position, no, I haven't not in my like
daily day to day. I mean, of course, through dream zone and stuff like
that, but not through my job. At least none that have just closed to me.
Um So what brought you into the movement? What brought you to Dream Zone?
Um
OK, so I was working with international students when I first moved here,
I was doing um helping um schools around the US recruit international
students from Latin America specifically. And um I was um before that I
was living in Washington DC and I had done some advocacy work in the LGBT
community, which so I kind of had a little bit of advocacy background, but
I wasn't really doing it anymore. Um And then I came here and um was still
doing my recruiting job and then I was going to school here as well. And
then I heard about the Dream Zone project. Um But through my work with
international students, I was involved in um there's an organization
called NAF SA and it's NAFS A and it's the Association of International
Educators and they had a project called the Grassroots Leadership Program.
And um it was essentially um helping to advocate for uh issues that
international students face and a small part of that. It's mostly, you
know, things like visa issues and things like that. But of course,
undocumented students fall under that. And then having so I just started
that program when I had moved here, it's like a year long program. So then
I came across Dream Zone and I was like, oh, wow, this is, you know, they
had just, I went to the second session that they offered, I think it was
in like January of 2012. And then I would just, I kind of did more
research into the, into what was happening and, you know, it's a much more
visible issue here than, than I had been exposed to before. Um So, yeah, I
just became kind of like, I can't believe I'm living, you know, in this
community with community members who are so blatantly uh you know,
discriminated against or um disadvantaged for, you know, really, no um
good reason. Not that there's ever a good reason, but you know what I mean
for, you know, they, they've been here for just as long as longer than I
have in this state anyway. So, yeah. Um So could you talk a little bit
more about the grassroots leadership program and how that relates to
undocumented youth or undocumented? Uh um So
there was, there was four or five issues that um so we were a selected
group of like 11 individuals throughout the country, all who work with
international students and we had five, kind of federal issues that we
were advocating for. Um, a lot of one was like, um, I can butcher one, for
instance, one of them was like, um, lifting the cap on green cards because
more than half of green cards go to, um, uh, family members of those who
are actually,
yeah, and looking the cap on green cards because more than, more than half
of them go to just family members, not the actual individual. So there's
kind of a, you know, people always had a, a pretty serious gap there and
then um
oh, the other issues were again like, um you know, helping students to not
have to visit their visa office every time they came back from the US. So
basically things to help, help make it easier for international students
to study in the US. But part of that also was um
it was just kind of immigration issues in general and that, that fit into
that fit into it that way. So I mean, considering that undocumented
students are quote unquote international, I saw that as a way to a part of
something that I wanted to focus on. Um So to go back to Dream zone, what
uh what is dream zone can you describe what dream zone is for us? It's um
an ally program to it's a program to create allies and safe spaces for any
underrepresented group. Well, it, it was adapted from safe zone, which is
um kind of the same program for um anyone in the LGBT community. So it's
kind of in the same way that that program creates safe spaces and allies
for the LGBT community. It was to create those things for anyone in the
undocumented community at A SU OK. And who is Dream Zone for um students,
faculty staff, anyone associated with a SU. But it's also reached well
beyond a SU two different universities and different high schools and
community organizations, things like that. Uh Can you talk to me about um
how Dream Zone has um reached out into other universities and high schools
? Yeah. Um so universities came about, um uh there's many of us have
presented at different conferences. I presented at a NASA regional
conference in Montana. And, you know, we had um just about what the
program is and what it means and, you know, I implications that different
um schools can consider for their own use. Um So, um that's how their
universities find out about it mostly and then some find out about it just
from, you know, doing research and they kind of stumbled upon this program.
Um Also, I don't know if you've, I think you've already talked to Davie,
but um he put together a proposal and we got some recognition for the um
national to Global Clinton Initiative, Clinton Global Initiative,
University Award, whatever. And that kind of took it to a national stage
and I think that brought some attention. Um, and then high schools, um,
we've actually been reached out to, by high schools. Um, I, I'm not sure
how each of them found out about it. I think they're different. We're kind
of involved in different community organizations, you know, like ad ac and
all, you know, um, quip and I don't know if you, yeah, so a lot of those
different organizations kind of work together and spread the word that way.
Um What is your involvement with yours or Dream Zones? Involvement with
ad ac and a zip and organizations like that? Um You know, definitely
support each other, serve as a resource anytime we can. Um I think each uh
groove kind of serves a, a little bit of a different segment. So if, you
know, if there's someone who's involved in AD A who is looking to do
something at a SU or has questions about a SU, you know, usually they'll
refer them to Dream Zone and, you know, kind of vice versa or um And what
was the second part of that question? Uh Just how um actually you answered
that question. Um Yeah. So um you talk about uh if anybody needs resources
, they go to Dream zone, what kinds of resources do you give those people
who come to you? Um We have some links on our website, just general like
different scholarship links, um um instructions on even like how to read
your D A like um kind of various across the board, anything that an
undocumented student might need. Um Then um I think the biggest resource
we give is the list of allies that are associated who have been through
the program, who have at least some awareness and a little bit of
knowledge and then work in different sectors of the university. So you can
actually do a search by campus, by university department and even by name
if you want, but there's um
I forget how many allies I used to know that five to I think five or 600
maybe something like that. Yeah. And so that's, I think that is probably
the biggest thing we offer is having those names published on the web for
anyone and their contact info. Um
So
let me see it. Um So uh I've heard that dream zone um invites undocumented
students that go to a su to tell their stories. Can you tell me a little
bit about that? Yeah. Um So it comes in, there's the program has four
parts um kind of awareness of the issues um or awareness of like the
community, kind of what's happening, knowledge of what some of the issues
are. And then the third part is where students, you know, we invite
students in firsthand to kind of tell their stories and put a human face
on it. And I think that's, that was the most powerful part of the
presentation when I went to it and it still is. I think every time I, I
facilitate one and I think a lot of it is because, um, a lot of staff and
faculty, I mean, you can't, how do you know if someone's undocumented?
They don't like where, you know, like you just, it's just putting a face
on an issue that's seemed so, um, hot button or like, you know, there are
these people who have been labeled by some people as being illegal like
these uh you know, of course we say that, you know, humans can't be
illegal. You know, they're simply don't have the documents that are
required at this moment. But um I think it's just kind of this, you know,
like, wow, that's a, that's a person that I've heard so much about, but
maybe these people have never met anyone who's undocumented. So just
putting that actual face on it and especially some of the stories are,
yeah, some of the most powerful um what were the other parts of the dream
film? And so the last episode, um Knowledge Awareness. Um and then the,
the stories of the third part and then um uh putting those, all those
attributes to action. Like these are, these are some steps you can take uh
what kinds of in the knowledge section. What kinds of things do you tell
um people in the workshop, um different terminology, you know, what, what
is DACA? When did it pass like, what's the history of it? Um different uh
local state and federal legislation that could affect any undocumented
students. Um
um
Things like, um you know, can a student who has been issued DACA study
abroad? Yes or no, just kind of some basic again, like terminology and um
uh up to date issues, I guess. Uh Have you had any push back when you talk
about terminology um using the word dream or dreamer in, in your workshops
or push back like um like an audience member or from an undocumented
student that shares their story? Um Has there been any kind of tension
with the word dreamer? Not that I've heard. No. Um
So have you taken part in any action on campus or any kinds of um kind of
demonstrations or anything like that? Uh that has to deal with the
undocumented youth movement? Mhm. Um Yeah, just today. Um they had a uh
kind of a little demonstration about tuition. Um Abor has recently, I
think just today or yesterday, I know they've um instituted a policy that
students with DACA can get tuition at 100 and 50% of in state. And so this
demonstration was um asking for, you know, for basically saying tuition
equality is 1 to 1. It's not 150 you know, it's 100%. Um so that, and then
various things out the community, there was um uh a, a protest whenever
the attorney general was suing Maricopa Community Colleges for um to try
to take away in state tuition for undocumented students. And I
participated in a few of those. Uh can you tell me a little bit more about
that? Like, what, what happened during these demonstrations? What you saw
experienced?
Yeah. So um a lot of them were just at the Attorney General's office and
um you know, it was actually through um a different organization that I
heard about it, but it was people all from, all around the community, from
the faith community, from um kind of the political community, kind of just
different bases. And um we would, so one of the ones I went to um some of
the um there were some undocumented students who, you know, were burning
kind of fake copies of their diplomas and, and dressed in, you know,
graduation gear and just saying, you know, I'm in community college right
now and this is what this could be taken away from me and things like that.
Um And it was kind of more or less a sit in, in the lobby. Um A couple of
us may have gotten detained but just because we didn't leave whenever it
was closing time. So, um so you actually took part in the actual sit in?
Mhm OK. Um How did you, and you said that you heard about through an
organization? Do you remember the organization that was um yes um CB A uh
citizens for better Arizona. And I'd actually heard about it through the
Dream zone colleague.
Um And how do you hear about events like this? Is it social media, through
word of mouth usually? Um that one was through word of mouth and then I
joined, you know, joined their social media and that's how I learned about
future events too. Um Can you tell me a little bit more about the tuition
um the tension about tuition at a su at the moment? Um So recently, when
um DACA was passed a few years ago now, um the Maricopa community colleges
um agreed to uh consider uh a work permit enough of a proof that the, the
student is in state and whereas that was never in the abor policy, so
universities can't quite adopt that they would have to take some sort of
action on their own. Um There's been a lot of back and forth. Um uh you
know, since DACA came through with that and um ever since uh proposition
300 passed in 2006, that's what took away in state tuition from
undocumented students. Um I'm sorry, I don't know if, I don't know if you
know this or I don't know. OK, just tell me what. Um So, so yeah, since
2006 has been the main, the huge issue of in state tuition no longer being
available to those individuals like um specifically
uh excluding them actually. And so um, it's kind of just in the same and
then just yesterday or today is when it was brought down a little bit, you
know, but not really sufficiently for what I can gather. Um, the, at the,
have you been to any of the, a board meetings that have to deal with this
tuition? Um, I went to, um, I went to the one just a few weeks ago but I
wasn't able to go, they're all during the workday, so I wasn't able to go
during the tuition part. So I'm so I'm not during the tuition part. No. Um
So have you attended any, like specific organizations events? I know you
said you went to the demonstration but have you been to any like meetings
for a ac or anything like that? Um
No, I haven't been in a meeting, something. Have you been to any
organizations meetings? Mm. Not in a while. Um
I mean, except for citizens for a better Arizona. I've been to a few of
theirs but, ok. And do they focus, um do they focus a lot on uh
undocumented issues or is it mostly just a lot of just political? Um The
ones that I went to were all focused specifically on undocumented, but
they do a range of other things too, like different politicians, you know
,
you know, whatever it is that those politicians are doing wrong trying to
bring that to light things like that. Um So just to go back to dream zone
a little bit. Um So why do you think that dream zone is important to a su
or to the movement in general? Um I think it was the first of its kind, um
type of organization and I think that people hadn't really thought about
it. Um So it's, it just brings awareness to an issue that's, you know,
very, um, I guess, potent or, I don't know what the right word for that is
but um in, in Arizona, in our community and um I think that it shows
undocumented students that, you know, there is, you know, a place at a SU
for you, you know, I know the tuition thing is pretty much a giant barrier
but um showing them that, that, that the A SU community cares, you know,
that there are people here who want them here and who will fight for them
in whatever ways, you know, possible.
Um
Do you consider yourself an activist?
I'd say so, I guess, yeah, how would you define Acti an activist? Um
Someone who either takes part or participates in or speaks out against or
speaks out for something that they feel strongly about, I guess. Um
No, I think,
OK. Um So let's go to, what are your thoughts on the legis legislation,
like the Dream Act and DACA
in general? Mhm. Um
Sadness comes to mind with the Dream Act. Um That's why I did my um
research on in for my program and just, you know, researching all of, you
know, the kind of the life life and death of it really. Um,
and I especially I was completing my research in December of just, let's
see, over the year that the Senate passed, um, comprehensive Immigration.
And so they were waiting on the house and there was all this talk that it
might happen, you know, in that December, December of 2013 and then
nothing happened. And then there was more talk about it in the spring of
last year and then things just went towards campaigns and it hasn't been
brought up since. So, um, I mean,
I feel a little bit hopeless for the Dream Act itself just because, and
I've only followed it for a few years, but especially for those who are
now in their mid to late twenties who have been waiting on something for
10 years and have missed, you know, half of their, or the beginning of
their adult life because of all these stupid barriers that are preventing
them from being, you know, full citizens of this country. So, um,
and then in terms of DACA, um, I think DACA is great and I think it was,
you know, courageous of the administration to do that. Um, it's not enough
clearly, but I think there was hopes that more would happen that that was
kind of the first step and that Congress could back that up. But that
didn't happen. And so I like the fact that it's being expanded, but of
course, it continues to be challenged. So, I mean, it's something
I don't, it's when I hear the dream act it kind of hurts my heart a little
bit. And when I hear of DACA, it's a glimmer, but it's also a fading
glimmer. I mean, it's, now it's two years, it's over two years old and
people are worried about renewing and, and things like that. And I was
actually at, um I was in Washington DC for the grassroots leadership
program. Um The day that DACA was signed into um into being basically, and
we got to go to the White House and like be part of the announcement. It
was, it was, I never thought I would be in that position, but it was
really like looking back, it was really powerful experience and one that I
had so much hope, you know, and then here we are a few years later, but,
you know, it was exciting and it was something and it worked and I think
the, the best part is that it worked, you know, for the first six months,
everyone was nervous, but then it actually helped people and got them into
the working force and put this little band aid to allow them to, you know
, at least be here for a little bit. So, I don't know, uh when you were in
DC for that signing, um did you see any, like, organizations there that
were, um, like, what kinds of organizations did you see there? Um, if you
did I, well, it was, I still know they, they invited only a couple of
representatives from, um, from NAFTA and because I was part of that
program, they offered it to me and I was, like, sure. But it was mostly
someone asked me if I was an attorney. It was a lot of attorneys. It was,
um, people from the faith community like different. Um, I couldn't tell
you what. But, yeah, there was like breakout sessions afterwards. Um,
labor people from the labor community. Um,
yeah, it was kind of a strange, it was probably like 50 to 80 people,
maybe. So. Yeah, that was a weird thing. Did you say breakout sessions
after the signing? Oh, what were those breakout sessions about, um, to
talk about, you know, how different, these different people from different
communities could work together in helping to implement, get the word out.
Um, what they could do in their both literal, like their home communities
wherever they lived and then also within their, whoever they affiliate
with communities. Uh, what, um, what
was it? Is that what your, your group specifically talked about? Yeah.
There was only two groups and they were kind of large and so, and there
was only an hour I think, allotted for it. So I remember I didn't, I just
kind of listened and there was only like four or five people that were
kind of talking back and forth and they weren't super, you know,
incredibly productive as they probably could have been. I don't know how
the other group was, but my group wasn't, yeah, I mean, I learned some new
things but I don't, I honestly can't remember what, uh yeah, what the
specifics were. Um That's really great. Um So
what did you bring back to Arizona from, with that ex, from that
experience? What did you bring back to dream zone to your um work as a um
academist supports
ads?
Um
uh So one, a few things I did through that organization and after that, um
meeting was um we uh we were supposed to meet with each of our members of
congress. So I met with um Jeff Flake and his people, um Dan Schweikert,
legislative rep and then um mccain's legislative rep in their offices here.
And I, each time I took, you know, at least someone from the um the only
one person that came actually each time um from who was a dreamer quote
unquote. Um Just to kind of let them know like this is what's, you know,
this and we went over multiple issues, but a big part of it was the
undocumented issue and, and we were listened to um I was more of the, I
mean, when I brought someone else in, they, that person really had the
story and so they more li they more listened to that person, which is the
point of it. So that was good. And um I think the person also didn't fit
maybe the, the stereotypical dreamer um profile. Um sh she was Eastern
European and blonde hair, blue eyed, you know, and she was undocumented. I
think that shocked some people and they were like, you know, tell me more.
So that kind of put a different light on it. I'd say hopefully. Um so
just kind of making different congressional members aware of, you know,
things that hopefully their, that their constituents are concerned about
because we were their constituents. And then, um um I hosted like a
community roundtable event where um it was at Phoenix College and it was
just um I had a few speakers come, I had Ruben Gallego who's now a, he's
now a representative for Congress at the time. He was just a state rep. I
mean, just a state rep, but he was a state rep. And then um Anna Tovar,
she's, they were both incredible. Um She's the whip for
at the state one at some state level. Um So they came and just talked
about um oh, and Danny Ortega who is an incredible speaker and he was um
he's a ASU alum um attorney and that he was recommended to me by someone I
was speaking to at the White House because I was kind of working a little
bit with them through NFS A. So they recommended him and then I reached
out to the other ones. Um So that was a co and I invited members from the
faith community. Higher Ed. Um,
who else came? Um, business community. Um
Yeah, I think we had like 20 or 30 people. Um, were, were people receptive
to this kind of discussion forum kind of? Yeah, I think so. Um, um, you
know, each kind of person talked about different issues at state, local
federal level and what, you know, we as a community can look out for and
do. Um And it wasn't
uh it was just called like um what was it called? Uh nonpartisan community
roundtable on and I think it was just comprehensive immigration reform.
That's what we called it. So it wasn't, you know, it was a lot of
different things. But yeah. Uh Have you done anything else other like that
that are like that? Um mm
No, not uh not so sad. Um You seem really invested in this kind of
movement and the political side of it. Um uh has anybody that you've met
that influenced that or does that just come out of being um an aggregate
hit earlier in life or um
I think um the, the background that I got from that was being, was working
, I used to work for the human rights campaign and my job was to organize
congressional meetings in different districts. So I had a lot of
experience, you know, it's until, you know, that process, it seems really
daunting. But I had to do it, like, whatever, 60 hours a week. So I was
like, oh, that's easy. I can totally do that. And it was part of this
program and I was like, I'm the perfect candidate for that. Like, let me
do it. And then, um, you know, getting in dream zone, I think one of my,
what the thing that I like to talk about most, I'm not as, I'm certainly
not as well versed um on some of the um like teaching it and talking about
some of the issues as like Davie and Jesus, like they're and Liz, um
they're all just incredible at being able to answer questions and like, I
need, I, you know, can be shaking my research sometimes. So, but the part
that I love to talk about is how you can change how any community member
can change things for, you know, by the end of the workshop, people are
like, I can't believe this is happening. I just met these students.
They're really emotionally, you know, people cry all the time and they're
really moved. And then I think that's the time when they're like, well,
what can we do? You know, and that's when I like to come in and be like,
this is what you can do. You can meet with your representative, send an
email, call them, you know, like that's what I mean, I still believe in
the democratic process, you know, I mean, with enough calls and enough
nudging they're gonna, they have to listen. It's just a matter of
organizing that on a large scale. So that's something I just, that I felt
confident in just because I had that experience. And so that's one way
that I saw that I might be able to help. Um, do you see that kind of? Um,
so people are actually really receptive of that. Like, how do you do?
These are the things um, that you can change. Has anybody gone a dream
zone? Uh More than once or I think we have had a couple that have come
back to kind of learn more. Um I think it's still kind of an early, I mean
, it's been around for a few years now, I guess three years. Um, I mean, I
think after one or two years people might, yeah, come back. But yeah,
after the first year there wasn't a ton but I mean, because we do, it's,
it is kind of the same presentation a little bit except for updates,
obviously of anything that's happening legislatively. But um yeah, I mean
, that's something that we need in dream zone is like someone that's
dedicated to work with our database and get our community members involved
in it. That's what we're actually currently meeting about this month is to
try to figure out what our, what's our next direction, you know, how we're
gonna move this forward and get, keep people involved and get them more
involved and things like that. It's awesome. Um,
what kinds of things do you see for dream zone in the future? How do you
think it's going to expand or evolve?
Um, hopefully
we can get like a staff member who's because we all just do it on a
volunteer basis right now. And I think that's really just difficult to
maintain because everyone has full time jobs and that's, you know, it's
all done on the side basically. And so after, you know, a few years, it
gets hard to figure out who's doing what and, you know, have a clear
direction. So we're working on that now. Um So having a dedicated staff
member, at least one, you know, would be tremendous. Um I think that's
inhibited by the lack of undocumented students that we currently have
enrolled probably. Um, and what's inhibiting that is the tuition problems
? I think it's kind of a big cycle. Um
So, yeah, that, those are some of the, like if we, I think a dedicated
staff would be the best thing we could do. And that's what, that's what
we're going for. I know that there was a meeting with, um, the Dana
students last week and we're supposed to meet in a couple of weeks to see
what happened. Um Do you find, uh because of the lack of students, do you
find it, uh like getting funding and things like that um difficult. Um I
think because of all of the recognition that Dream Zone has got nationally
and at these different conferences, I mean, um, it, it was kind of a
really hot, like, big deal for the first year and a half or so and then I
think it's, and so that's how we know there was a little bit of funding
originally And so we still have kind of some and it's kind of we've got to
reapply and now it's like, whoa what's our next direction? So I think that
will be a challenge. It wasn't at first because of all the awards and all
the things like that. But that's kind of now there's gotta be some more,
some kind of a new direction or something. I think that we will definitely
face challenges. Um So you said that uh the Dream Zone was uh accepted for
the Clinton Global Initiative. Um What other kinds of awards or
recognition has Dream Zone gotten? Um
We just put together this report and uh so I think we got the um is it the
uh Chicano Faculty and Staff Association? Um There was like a program
award for that, we were nominated for a uh Cesar Chavez um Community Award.
I don't remember if I got that one or not. Um
The May is one, I think the Clinton one was the biggest one because that's
something that was like, on the national scale. I know there was like, uh
, the list is on a Google doc, but those are all the ones I can think off
the top of my head. Um, can you talk about that experience of actually, um
, winning the global initiative? Um It was great. I mean, it was, you know
, something that I was just all over social media that's, I dedicated my
life to that for like, you know, I don't know, a couple of weeks and then
, um Daer was the only one that actually went to Saint Louis to accept it.
Um I think it was kind of a let down in the end because there was no
funding or anything attached to it. It was just like a basketball that was
like signed and I was kind of like really all that for, I mean, it was
national recognition. I think that was the biggest part of it, but I think
there may have been some belief that there was some kind of funding
attached to it because there was all this hype, you know about it. And I
think that was on, on behalf of the Clinton Global Initiative. I, I don't
know where the, I don't know, I was only just told that we were nominated
so I was just trying to help us win it. Um So it was great. I mean, it was
like, like, again, um, Doctor Crow sent all of us you know, personal thank
you notes and like, it was a big deal for the university, I think,
especially having just come out of SB 1070. And like, I think it showed, I
think it was really great for a su um but in terms of her dream zone, it
didn't, I think that helped us secure university funding. So maybe in the
end it worked, I mean, it worked out but it was super exciting but it was
kind of like, I think um it wasn't super clear what they, what was gonna
happen with that a word. And so it was good and good and um bad, I guess.
Um So you said Doctor uh Doctor Crow actually sent you thank you notes. Do
you get support from the administration in that regard? I would say so, I
mean, he actually um he sent, he uh put together a letter of like 50
different colleges and universities um to Congress in uh I think it was
the third round that the dream match was being considered. I think it was
2009.
Um So, yeah, I, I certainly feel supported by the administration. Um not
so much by abor because I know that they're politically tied to or I know
what they have to do and satisfy, you know, different state um players and
different politicians and whatnot. So, um but yeah, as far as Doctor Crow
and his administration, absolutely. And the dean of students and every,
all the other organizations on campus, like everyone's very supportive. Um
Where do you see the um undocumented immigrant mo uh movement um going in
the future? Like, what are your hopes for it? Um,
I hope that something, something has to be passed at the federal level.
Like that's, that's it. Something has to be passed at the federal level
and it has to be passed to the house and it's not gonna happen until
someone new, like not someone new. But it's impossible. I mean, they kind
of, from what I can tell, I don't think it's gonna happen before Obama
leaves office. I think it's gonna be up to the new, I think people are
gonna run on that um as part of their platform and I think it's gonna be
up to the new administration to, I think Obama's done all he can with the
current Congress. I know I'm totally getting political but those are just
my very personal thoughts. Um But yeah, I think it'll be, unfortunately, I
think it's up to the new, whatever the new president will be. Um Is there
anything else that you want to talk about? That comes to mind?
That is. So this project is for Arizona specifically. Uh It's Arizona and
California. So we're partnering with UCL A. Um they're doing their own
interviews and then we do, we're focusing on Arizona, mostly the Phoenix
Valley area for now. We hope that it goes nationally. But, yeah, that's
for now, who else? I mean, how many people are you talking or what's like
the scope in terms of your interviews? Uh, right now we are looking at, um
, I think we've got
UCL A has, I think 15 interviews with, uh, um, with an organization where
they are called ideas. Um, and then we have, we're kind of all over the
board. We have, uh, we talked to David Garcia. We have interviews like
Davie and um I think we have with undocumented. Um
Yes, we have,
I think 5 to 10. 0, great now and then we have uh a few allies through
facilitation dream Zone. Um Yeah, so our scope is we, we want to tell a
story of the Indictment Youth Movement, but we also want to get the whole
story from all kinds of different sides and so our scope is rather big.
But um but yeah, that's what we want to try and do. Cool. Yeah. OK. So um
I just need you to give to put this um online. It will be available for
download on our website and it will be public, but if you give your
consent. Ok, perfect. Thank you so much. This has been Holly Soli
interviewing Monica Keys for the Adopt of Voices Project on April 28th,
2015.