Further expanding the student assistance services provided by its Immigrant Student Success Office (ISSO), Brooklyn College is pleased to announce it has received $150,000 in support from poverty-fighting organization Robin Hood.
The Robin Hood Relief Fund grant provides $500 in emergency assistance to 300 immigrant students at Brooklyn College who have lost low-wage jobs or who have another COVID 19-related emergency expenses, such as food, housing costs, and technology for remote learning. This aid will further support ISSO’s mission to assist immigrant students — those granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), who identify with the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAMERS), certain first-generation and other qualified students — through academic and non-academic means to ensure they graduate on time.
Brooklyn College is a diverse urban institution in the heart of Brooklyn. Students hail from over 143 countries and speak over 90 languages. Out of the 17,179 students in the 2019 Spring semester, 2,125 held a citizenship status other than permanent resident or American citizen, making them ISSO’s target population. More broadly, the Dream.US, a college access program for DACA students, recently surveyed more than 3,700 scholarship recipients (45% response rate) on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their ability to continue their college education. The biggest challenges facing Dream.US recipients were found to be job loss and reduced work hours.
ISSO Director Jesús Pérez ’95 said the office has helped 360 students so far, and this latest gift from Robin Hood will help many more.
“This pandemic has disproportionately impacted Asian American, Black and Latinx communities, and a majority of our undocumented, DACAmented, and first-generation immigrant students come from the communities most heavily affected,” Pérez said. “Given the uncertain times that these students are facing, Brooklyn College is extremely thankful for this incredible support from Robin Hood.”
About TheDream.US
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for immigrant youth, having provided more than 5,000 college scholarships to DREAMers at more than 70 partner colleges in 16 states and Washington, DC. We believe that all young Americans, regardless of where they were born, should have the opportunity to get a college education and pursue a meaningful career that contributes to our country’s prosperity.