Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

The United States is a nation of immigrants; it is a nation where the so-called American dream beckons to hard-working families immigrating for a life better than the one they left behind. However, immigration has had in general a negative image in the country. This image directly impacts those students who are known as DREAMers- children who were brought to the country by their parents and who are American in every sense of the word except for on paper. In 2012, former President Barack Obama implemented an executive order known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that gave DREAMer’s protection from deportation, opportunity to obtain a Driver’s License and the possibility of higher education. In 2017, President Donald Trump set a deadline for Congress to create a resolution, whether it be a pathway to citizenship or dissolving the program, leaving them further in limbo. Dmitry Khodyakov in “Trust as a Process: A Three Dimensional Approach” argues “that trust is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon, which consists of a mix of trust in strong ties, weak ties, and institutions.” Considering Khodyakov’s argument, the workshop we propose aims to provide programming ideas on how to cultivate the three dimensions of trust in an institution of higher learning regarding DACA recipients. Our discussion group brings forth the perspectives of a diversity, equity, and inclusion assistant director, a language and culture professor, and a DACA specialist to foster understanding of immigrant experiences to whole campus communities stemming from previous programming and campus initiatives.