Student Equity Center

Dream Resource Center

Empowering and Elevating the Voices of Undocumented Students and Students from Mixed Status Households

Dreamers welcome butterfly

We Support Undocumented Students!

You are not alone during these challenging times. The Dream Resource Center remains deeply committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive campus environment for all students, regardless of immigration status. Please reach for support and/or questions about our services.

Mission

The Santa Monica College Dream Resource Center is committed to cultivating a safe, nurturing, and supportive community for undocumented students, and students from mixed-status households, to feel empowered to achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals.

Here's how we're committed to supporting students:
 
  • Advocacy and Understanding: We advocate for and with the undocumented community on campus and share the rich histories, ongoing challenges, and triumphs of immigrant communities to foster deeper understanding.
  • Community Building: We help students build a strong sense of community, connecting them with peers and campus resources.
  • Empowering Leadership: We help students discover their voice and leadership potential, providing tools and opportunities to inspire positive change and uplift the undocumented community.
  • Fostering Self-Empowerment: We elevate self-confidence, self-care, and entrepreneurial spirit, recognizing the incredible strength and resilience within each student.
  • Inclusive Campus Environment: We build an inclusive and non-discriminatory campus by raising awareness about immigration legislation and policies and their impact on college students.
  • Legal and Community Support: We provide FREE immigration legal services and connect students with relevant community resources for undocumented and immigrant communities.

Who We Serve

We serve undocumented students, students from mixed-status families, and their allies. Undocumented students are individuals who do not have legal immigration status. This includes people who entered without inspection, overstayed their visas, have or do not have DACA, or are working toward legal status. Our allies are dedicated supporters such as friends, family, partners, or colleagues who stand alongside and advocate for the undocumented community.  To learn more about who is included in the term undocumented, please review: Defining Undocumented. 

Our Partnership with the DREAM Program

The Dream Resource Center is a student support service that partners with the Dream Program. Together, we assist and guide undocumented and mixed-status students through their educational journeys. This collaboration is dedicated to ensuring student success by connecting them to vital campus resources, services, and a supportive community of peers.

The Dream Resource Center is located in the Student Equity Center, on the lower level of the Cayton Building. The Dream Program is on the second floor of the Student Services Building. For more information about the Dream Program, please contact dream@smc.edu or visit their website DREAM Program - Santa Monica College.

Partnerships

Institutional Resources Available to Undocumented Students

DREAM Program

Student Services Center (SSC) 238 

Offers dedicated services including academic, career, and personal counseling, financial aid guidance, workshops, mentorship, and access to legal and health resources to support undocumented students in achieving their educational goals.

DREAM Program - Santa Monica College

Wellness & Basic Needs

Cayton Building (Bodega) and neighbors the Health Services office and the main cafeteria on the east side (by the science building)

Offers a variety of wellness and basic needs services to support all students, regardless of immigration status. These services include mental health counseling, food and housing support, emergency aid, and other essential resources to help students succeed both in and out of the classroom. 

Basic Needs - Santa Monica College

Student Equity Center

Cayton Center, Basement Level (below the cafeteria and the bodega)

Offers a welcoming space for students to study, relax, and participate in workshops. It brings together the Gender Equity, Racial Justice, Pride, and Dream Resource Centers to foster an inclusive environment where students can connect, celebrate their identities, and build community.

Student Equity Center - Santa Monica College

 

Connect with Us!

Fall Hours

Monday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Visit Us: Cayton Center, Basement Level (below the cafeteria and the bodega). You can reach us through two main entrances. 

Phone: (310) 434-4666

Questions: dreamresourcecenter@smc.edu 

Staff Contact Information

Dr. Marisol Moreno (she/her/ella),
Faculty-Lead, Dream Resource Center
dreamresourcecenter@smc.edu 

Valeria Garcia (she/ella), M.S.
Project Manager, Student Equity Center
garcia_valeria_p@smc.edu 

Emily S. Chavez (she/ella), M.S.
Student Services Specialist, Student Equity Center
chavez_emily@smc.edu 

 

Confidentiality 

We are dedicated to protecting student privacy in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and California state laws. All student information, including educational records and personally identifiable data, is kept strictly confidential and is never shared with unauthorized parties. This ensures that students’ personal and immigration information remains secure and private.

For more information about federal and state laws that protect student data, please read Immigrant Rising’s Protecting Student Data in California.

Land Acknowledgement
The Student Equity Center's Dream Resource Center acknowledges our presence on ancestral unceded territory of the Tongva or Gabrielino, Kizh, and Chumash peoples. We honor the indigenous caretakers of these lands and their elders, past, present, and future.