{"id":25368,"date":"2019-06-13T18:40:01","date_gmt":"2019-06-14T00:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/mountain-dreamers-emerges-as-new-resource-for-immigrant-population-in-summit-including-dreamers-and-daca-recipients\/"},"modified":"2019-06-13T18:40:01","modified_gmt":"2019-06-14T00:40:01","slug":"mountain-dreamers-emerges-as-new-resource-for-immigrant-population-in-summit-including-dreamers-and-daca-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/local-news\/mountain-dreamers-emerges-as-new-resource-for-immigrant-population-in-summit-including-dreamers-and-daca-recipients\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain Dreamers emerges as new resource for immigrant population in Summit, including Dreamers and DACA recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Javier Pineda Thursday June 13, in Frisco.<\/strong>
Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

FRISCO \u2014 There\u2019s a new nonprofit organization in Summit County focused on building awareness and providing assistance to the area\u2019s immigrant population.<\/p>\n

Mountain Dreamers informally was founded last year and has quietly grown into a volunteer-based group hosting educational events across the county, providing legal resources for individuals appearing in immigration court and trying to build bridges between communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur purpose is to educate and empower everyone in our community \u2014 in Summit and the mountain region \u2014 to stand up for the rights of the immigrants and their families who are such a large part of making our community so successful,\u201d Mountain Dreamers executive director Peter Bakken said. \u201cWe took our name from the Dreamers (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors), a name for young people who have been members of our community since they were kids and came to the U.S. with their parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite growing up here and being American in every way, many of them are still undocumented immigrants. Even though they are in their 20s or 30s, and some have temporary DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) protections, they have no permanent pathway to citizenship currently. So we take our name from them, and we are focusing on the issues involving the Dreamers.\u201d<\/p>\n

To that end, the group already has begun offering a series of community events to help educate people on the issues facing the immigrant population in Summit. In March, the group partnered with the Breckenridge Film Festival to screen a documentary called \u201cQuiet Force,\u201d a look into the human and economic impact of Hispanic immigrants in ski towns. Last month, the group hosted a panel discussion with the county\u2019s law enforcement leaders in an effort to build relationships between the two groups and allow immigrants in the county to ask questions regarding ICE and other issues facing the community.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s second initiative is developing a legal defense fund to help provide legal resources for locals who are facing deportation or seeking asylum but can\u2019t afford an attorney. Of note, because immigration is a civil matter, individuals appearing in immigration court aren\u2019t afforded a public defender.<\/p>\n

Next year, Mountain Dreamers also will bring to Summit County a Family Leadership Training Institute course, a national leadership and family advocacy curriculum run by Colorado State University Extension. The 20-week course is designed to help develop leadership skills and knowledge about the civic process to give participants the skills to make positive changes in their communities.<\/p>\n

As the conversation surrounding the county\u2019s immigrant population continues to grow \u2014 the Summit County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution late last month declaring June Immigrant Heritage Month \u2014 so does the necessity for groups to help lead the discussion.<\/p>\n

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