Cristina Jiménez to be 2018 Gala Keynote

Arkansas United is thrilled to welcome Cristina Jiménez as the keynote speaker for our 2018 Change Champions Gala. Cristina is the co-founder of United We Dream, the first and largest organization run by youth to protect and defend immigrant rights. After arriving in Queens at the age of 13 from Ecuador, Cristina experienced living in the shadows firsthand and wanted to fight back.  Cristina and the rest of the tireless United We Dream members played an important role in the decision to sign the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Cristina will be introduced by University of Arkansas professor, sociologist and author of five books and numerous articles, papers and technical reports, William A. Schwab. Dr. Schwab has shared the stories of immigration reform advocates in his book Right to DREAM, which argued in favor of the DREAM Act that would have provided conditional residency for undocumented youth brought to the United States as children, and followed up on those stories in his recently publication Dreams Derailed.

We invite you to take part of this wonderful opportunity and join us in welcoming these passionate speakers.  See you there!