Heriberto Bolanos immigrated from Mexico as a young child. He shares how he became a gang member in middle school but avoided the school-to-prison pipeline thanks to a kind educator who set him on the right path. In his senior year of high school, Heriberto worked on the Bring Them Home campaign, a project to bring 250 asylum seekers across the border. He also helped organize a walkout that led to the creation of the Oregon Ethnic Studies bill. He now attends Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, on a full scholarship and works as the facilities, operations, and IT manager for nonprofit Adelante Mujeres. Heriberto is a passionate advocate of education, social justice, and queer rights. Though just 24 years old, Heriberto already has five years of experience administering high-level programs for local nonprofits.
DREAMs Deferred Live is a production of the award-winning nonprofit The Immigrant Story. The stories were broadcast live on YouTube from St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. With a focus on stories and experiences from our undocumented community, DREAMs Deferred Live provided a space for storytelling, cultural exchange and empathy in light of looming threats to DACA. They were coached by Erin Briddick and assisted by Marie Gettel-Gilmartin.
Subscribe to The Immigrant Story Live channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPai…
Major funding for DREAMS Deferred Live is provided by the generous contribution of the presenting sponsor Zidell Family Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the City of Beaverton as a part of the Beaverton Welcoming Week.