P R E S S R E L E A S E
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: 480 – 983-1445 E-mail: books@hisi.org
2008 ‘Living the Dream’ Award Recipient Compiled Letters
High School Students Document Immigration Plight in New Book
Phoenix, Arizona
February 6, 2008
A compelling account of the struggle that students without legal status in the U.S. are facing has taken the form of a bilingual
book. Under the title of Documented Dreams, the Arizona-based Hispanic Institute of Social Issues (HISI) has published a
collection of letters written by students from Gateway Early College High School, and compiled by the school’s principal —and
2008 ‘Living the Dream’ award recipient— Yvonne Watterson
The letters were written in response to the anonymous and generous donations by people from the community, who made
financial contributions to help students unable to qualify for in-state tuition continue taking college classes. The group of High
School students then decided to write thank you letters to show their appreciation.
Watterson revealed that after reading the letters from students, “a book seemed the obvious way to capture forever their
collective thanks. The students wanted to thank the strangers who were making their continued college education a reality.
They could only convey their gratitude anonymously, from the shadows.”
The idea for a book emerged simultaneously with the defeat in the U.S. Senate of the Dream Act last Fall. Millions of students
were hoping to regularize their status and be able to continue with their education.
“Mrs. Watterson contacted us, we read the letters, and immediately jumped into giving form to the book project”, stated Eduardo
Barraza, HISI’s director. “We recognize that we are living in a historical turning point; publishing the students’ letters is an
attempt to ensure we accurately record history as it happens before our eyes, and in the voice of its protagonists: the students
themselves.”
Documented Dreams is a book of enormous human value, mainly because it symbolizes the aspirations of millions of
students caught in a sociopolitical midpoint. The book will further contribute to the efforts of keeping students taking college
classes at this early college program, as it will be used as a tuition fund-raising tool.
For further information visit www.hisi.org/books.html or call 480 – 983–1445.
Book Details: Documented Dreams • Edited and compiled by Yvonne Watterson • Photographs by Eduardo Barraza •
ISBN: 978-0-9797814-3-8 • Paperback • Language: Bilingual in English and Spanish. $25.00 Minimum Donation
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2008
FOR ITS IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: 480 – 983-1445 E-mail: books@hisi.org
2008 ‘Living the Dream’ Award Recipient Compiled Letters
High School Students Document Immigration Plight in New Book
Phoenix, Arizona
February 6, 2008
A compelling account of the struggle that students without legal status in the U.S. are facing has taken the form of a bilingual
book. Under the title of Documented Dreams, the Arizona-based Hispanic Institute of Social Issues (HISI) has published a
collection of letters written by students from Gateway Early College High School, and compiled by the school’s principal —and
2008 ‘Living the Dream’ award recipient— Yvonne Watterson
The letters were written in response to the anonymous and generous donations by people from the community, who made
financial contributions to help students unable to qualify for in-state tuition continue taking college classes. The group of High
School students then decided to write thank you letters to show their appreciation.
Watterson revealed that after reading the letters from students, “a book seemed the obvious way to capture forever their
collective thanks. The students wanted to thank the strangers who were making their continued college education a reality.
They could only convey their gratitude anonymously, from the shadows.”
The idea for a book emerged simultaneously with the defeat in the U.S. Senate of the Dream Act last Fall. Millions of students
were hoping to regularize their status and be able to continue with their education.
“Mrs. Watterson contacted us, we read the letters, and immediately jumped into giving form to the book project”, stated Eduardo
Barraza, HISI’s director. “We recognize that we are living in a historical turning point; publishing the students’ letters is an
attempt to ensure we accurately record history as it happens before our eyes, and in the voice of its protagonists: the students
themselves.”
Documented Dreams is a book of enormous human value, mainly because it symbolizes the aspirations of millions of
students caught in a sociopolitical midpoint. The book will further contribute to the efforts of keeping students taking college
classes at this early college program, as it will be used as a tuition fund-raising tool.
For further information visit www.hisi.org/books.html or call 480 – 983–1445.
Book Details: Documented Dreams • Edited and compiled by Yvonne Watterson • Photographs by Eduardo Barraza •
ISBN: 978-0-9797814-3-8 • Paperback • Language: Bilingual in English and Spanish. $25.00 Minimum Donation
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2008
