Press Release

For Immediate Release
August 6, 2015

CONTACT:
English: Healy Ko, hko@nakasec.org
Korean: Ga Young, gchung@nakasec.org

Houston Community Organizations Welcome “Dream Riders Across America” to Community Event and Prepare for Joint Voter Registration Activity

HOUSTON, TEXAS – For two days, August 5 and 6, 2015, the Dream Riders Across America joined Houston organizations including BPSOS-Houston, Chinese Community Center, and VN-Teamwork for a press conference followed by community event at the Golden Bamboo Village III Community Room and a voter registration drive in front of the Hong Kong Mall. The Dream Riders, a diverse group of Asian American, Latino, and African American youth who are traveling across the country to educate and learn from local communities about immigration and racial justice, shared their stories and engaged in a dialogue with Houston community members about the importance of developing youth into agents of social change to significantly contribute to their communities at the Wednesday evening community meeting with residents from Greater Houston including from the Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities.

The following afternoon on August 6, the Dream Riders and Houston leaders encouraged families and individuals to register to vote in front of Hong Kong Mall, a mall highly serving the Asian American community.

Saba Nafees, Dream Rider from Fort Worth, Texas, said: “A country we call home is our greatest gift. We are only millions of young dreamers who have been raised in this land we call home, yet solely due to the lack of comprehensive immigration solutions, we struggle with having the rights that we deserve, the opportunities that we are capable of earning, and the inability to live with freedom. But we ride on in this dream journey of ours and dance through the obstacles as that is what we believe is the American spirit.“

Victor Huynh, Dream Rider from Annandale, Virginia, said: “I joined Dream Riders Across America because I want to support everyone who is fighting for their families. These families, like my father came to the U.S. by boat as a refugee, are seeking a better life and future for their children. I want to share my story as a Vietnamese American youth with all communities who are building a stronger, welcoming America together.”

Clara Kim, Dream Rider from La Crescenta, California, said: “I am participating in this campaign because I want to learn more about what I can do to help myself and others who are in similar situations as I am. It is eye opening for me to see the different parts of the country, and understand that I’m not alone. I hope that this campaign will strengthen me to be able to stand up for myself and others in the name of immigrant rights and racial justice.”

The Dream Riders are departing from Houston to arrive in their final destination, Dallas, Texas, on Friday, August 7 for a press conference with local organizations and supporters.