JoelCSati

Hello, My name is Joel Sati, and I am undocumented. I was born in Nairobi, Kenya on June 3, 1993. At the age of nine, my family packed up and moved to the United States on October 24, 2002. Right after my 17th birthday, my mother took me to the local DMV to get a learners’ permit. They told us we needed to provide proof of residency; we didn’t have it so we left. I didn’t know why we didn’t have it, so I asked my mother – she said nothing, and we left it at that. I didn’t know that I was undocumented until September 2010, while applying to college. There was that part of the application that asked for the SSN. A huge part of the depression that ensued was the fact that I had received this news at such an expectant time in my life, where I had just finished my formative education and was about to make headway into adulthood. I couldn’t look at a financial aid form, and my new f-bomb was “FAFSA.” Because of my status, I was unable to apply for merit-based scholarships. I had received offers from prestigious four year colleges, which I accepted, but due to the extremely high costs, I could not attend. I then enrolled in Montgomery College, A community college in Rockville, MD, where I graduated valedictorian. I am an American in every sense of the term. I have gone to school here; I have my diploma and my Associates degree. I have ambitions to pursue a career in academia and research. I am heavily involved in my community, having worked with CASA de Maryland among many organizations. Outside of all this, I am someone who has a deep love for Philosophy, writing, and the Atlanta Falcons. I am a son of a single mother, a brother, and an uncle. My personal motto is short – strive not to just attain knowledge, but to advance it. The reasons I am behind efforts to pass the DREAM Act are not just limited to me. I know of so many young people around the country that have the skills and the intelligence to be successful citizens, but the current system precludes them from doing so. The author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said that “stereotypes are so not because they are incorrect, but because they are incomplete; they make one story become the only story.” This issue is not just a Hispanic issue; it is also an African issue, an Asian issue and most importantly, it is a human issue. I have come to learn that there is more than one face, more than one story to this struggle. I became an activist to stand for these who have given all of themselves for the betterment of their community. For a large part of my journey, I have had the rather incomplete mantra “If I only had the opportunity….” That’s what I always say to myself. I am sure that a lot of young men and women share my sentiment. I want to stand with the rest of the DREAMers and secure opportunities we have dreamed of having. It is my firm belief that if America refuses to legitimize those who could be integral to our recovery, then America is not living up to the creed of equal opportunity for all. Regards, Joel C. Sati Find me on Twitter @JoelCSati

Hello All, My name is Joel Sati, and I am an undocumented student from Kenya. I have been working in the movement for about two years, and I have been inspired by the movement for immigration reform. More importantly, I have been inspired by the many stories that make the fabric of this movement. In that respect, I am looking for prose or poetry from the undocumented community to be part of a blog/manuscript titled Unafraid, Unapologetic: Stories of Undocumented America to be released at a later date. As the title indicates, the focus is on being undocumented and the struggles that come with it. - Submission Guidelines Poetry and ProseProseAll languages accepted (English translations of each work should accompany non-English submissions.) Each story can be no more than 2,500 words; We accept previously unpublished work; Work MUST be of the non-fiction literary genre AND; An author can submit a maximum of two (2) essays. PoetryAll languages accepted (English translations of each work should accompany non-English submissions.) No more than two (2) typed, double-spaced pages on one side of the page only; Poetry can be in any literary style AND; An author can submit a maximum of three (3) poems. Author must agree with the editorial staff for minimal editorial changes.Those deemed unwarranted, i.e. typographical or grammatical errors. Editorial staff may ask for thematic changes provided the work is exceptional otherwise. Essays that are not on theme will not be considered. Previously published works will be accepted, although original works would be AWESOME! I am working on an FAQ list that answers the major questions. Thanks for reading – now get to writing! Best, Joel C. Sati P.S. If you have any questions or if, for any reason, you experience difficulty in obtaining a translation, do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. You could also just attach them to this post. P.P.S. I have found a publisher interested in the project - good news!

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IT WOULD BE A LITTLE WEIRD TO ASK FOR STORIES WITHOUT GIVING YOU MINE, SO HERE IT IS. TO THE FATHER OF A SINGLE SON (3 OF 7) – ANAGNORISIS