“What happens to a dream deferred?”
~ Langston Hughes, 1951
We commemorate the lives of two daughters, sisters, friends and DREAMers. May they rest in peace.

As some of you may have read the blog post, Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix Perez: Dream Activists Killed in Car Crash (thanks to Oiyan), I thought it was important that folks knew about what they can do to support Tam and Cinthya. More biographical information is listed below.

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I personally knew Tam Tran, reading her story inspired me to speak out about my immigration story and the various effects the immigration and deportation system has had on my family. Immigration is often a silent/taboo issue in the Pilipin@ American community, so I was glad that there was an Asian American woman who spoke out. Her bravery, courage, and fierce nature is exemplary to so many of us. After meeting her at UC Berkeley's RISE (Rising Immigrant Scholars in Education) Conference in 2008, she became a friend. Although I never got a chance to say goodbye, I am glad that I had a chance to tell her while she was alive what impact she had on my life. Her various actions in organizing, testifying in Congress, and creativity are exemplary. She helped give me the courage to speak out and so began my personal journey in immigrant rights. This led me in the direction of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) Immigrant and Immigrant Rights Program, working at on the California State DREAM Act at State Senator Gilbert Cedillo's office in Sacramento, interning at Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's office, and my continued involvement in KAYA & APAP, and RI4A. I have Tam to thank for these enriching experiences and for helping me break my own personal silence through her own inspirational actions.

I was shocked to hear the news, thinking initially, like others, that it was a sick joke. On this past Monday, the day of the UCLA Memorial, my heart went into pieces as I find that the news was true. I am sad to say that I will no longer see my a message from Tam in my gmail or facebook inboxes, nor read her Underground Undergrads blog posts, or will no longer be able to invite her to come to DC to speak for an event with the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), or have her and Matias *try* to visit me at House Subcommittee on Immigration, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's office when I was intern. She even wanted to host an APAP House Party at Brown for the call when CIR ASAP was introduced by Congressman Luis Guiterrez. I originally invited her to take part in the APAP-DC "AAPIs and the Urgency for Comprehensive Immigration Reform" Capitol Hill event, but dates conflicted.

I am still in shock and at a loss for words. I think like many of us, this unexpected tragedy, has pained us beyond belief. I always thought the DREAM Act would have passed sooner, that someday she would be teaching somewhere and I not only cite her in academic papers or utilize the videos she made in my classrooms in the far future, but that I could still have conversations with her about my dream research in Ethnic Studies. I am sure we will continue to recognize all the work she has done.

Tam and Cinthya will not have died in vain. I ask of our APAP Board Members, bloggers, readers, members to support the the memorial fund for Tam and Cinthya and to continue to push for the passage of the DREAM Act.

Tam changed my life. Because of her, I can say that I am the person I am today. Without her actions, I’m not sure what I would have done during the time period before I read about her story and met her (Dec 07-May 08). I felt more like myself again, that I had the ability to speak out. Some say that silence is a form of advocacy to protect immigrant communities, but for me, the silence was unbearable and I was conflicted on what actions I should take. But your DREAM Activist got me to open up again, and I no longer felt an emptiness, nor a victim of circumstance. Instead by Tam’s example, I too could become an active agent of change.

-Erin Pangilinan

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Tam Ngoc Tran (1982-2010)
Tam was born in Germany after her parents were forced to flee Vietnam. She immigrated to the U.S. and grew up in Garden Grove, California. She graduated from Santiago High School, attended Santa Ana College, and transferred to UCLA, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in American Literature and Culture. In 2007, Tam testified before a House subcommittee on immigration and advocated on behalf of the proposed Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. As a doctoral student in the American Civilization program at Brown University, she helped found the Brown Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. Tam was an aspiring filmmaker, and produced several short films, including the acclaimed documentary, “Lost and Found.”

Cinthya Nathalie Felix Perez (1984-2010)
Cinthya emigrated from Mexico and grew up in East Los Angeles, California where she attended and graduated from Garfield High School. She pursued higher education at UCLA, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in English World Literature and Spanish Literature, with a minor in Mexican Studies. At UCLA, Cinthya was a founding member of Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success (IDEAS), one of the nation’s first and largest undocumented student advocacy groups. In 2007, she became the first undocumented student admitted to Columbia University’s School of Public Health. Cinthya’s dream was to attend medical school and eventually return to her community as a physician.

Continue to fight. Continue to dream.

What you can do:

Call Congress
Also, if you have not called your Senators or Congressional members in the House for the passage of the DREAM Act, please do so.

Donate to their memorial fund
http://tamandcinthyamemorial.blogspot.com/

Change your facebook profile picture
In this post is a logo that was created by another DREAMer. I changed it to my
facebook profile and feel free to do the same with yours.