About This Episode
Season 5. Episode 19.
Gaby Pacheco, CEO of TheDream.US, and Fermin Vasquez, Director of Communications, are here to discuss their organization’s inspiring mission and vision. TheDream.US has become the largest organization in the U.S. providing college and career assistance to Dreamers, offering crucial scholarships to undocumented students. In this episode of Education Insight, Gaby and Fermin dive into what inspired the creation of TheDream.US and how the organization has evolved to become a lifeline for so many students in need.
As advocates for Dreamers, they share how TheDream.US defines success, measuring the impact of their work with key milestones and metrics. They also discuss the challenges they face in expanding access to scholarships and the ways in which the organization fights for policy change to support undocumented students, both at the state and national levels.
Beyond tuition support, Gaby and Fermin discuss the emotional and social support systems in place to help students thrive. They explain their unique Opportunity Scholarship for students in “locked-out” states and shed light on the future of the organization and the crucial work they do to ensure that Dreamers have the tools and resources they need to succeed. If you’re interested in the intersection of education, immigration, and student success, this episode is a must-listen!
Featured Guest
Gaby Pacheco
Biography
Maria Gabriela (“Gaby”) Pacheco, an influential immigrant rights and education leader from Miami, Florida, is the President and CEO of TheDream.US. As an immigrant with a mixed-status family, she intimately understands the complexities and challenges faced by immigrant families in the US. For two decades, Pacheco has played a pivotal role in advocating for immigration and immigrant rights. In 2010, alongside three undocumented students, she led the Trail of Dreams, a remarkable four-month walk from Miami to Washington, DC. Two years later, she spearheaded efforts to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Pacheco made history as the first undocumented Latina to testify before Congress on April 22, 2013, addressing the Senate Judiciary Committee and highlighting the urgent need for immigration reform.
Pacheco’s exceptional contributions have garnered recognition and accolades. She was listed in Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30: Education” and “40 Under 40: Latinos in American Politics.” She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Humanities from The New School in 2015 and was featured in Elle magazine’s 30th-anniversary issue, “This is 30,” alongside the world’s 30 most notable women. She also appeared on the June 2012 TIME Magazine cover along with 30 other immigrant leaders.
Pacheco is a highly sought-after national political analyst, regularly sharing her expertise on networks such as Univision, Telemundo, MSNBC, CNN, and CNN en Español. She has also contributed opinion pieces to newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today.
Despite being undocumented, Pacheco fought for higher education and earned multiple degrees in education from Miami Dade College.
On June 21, 2023, Pacheco achieved one of her biggest dreams and became a naturalized US Citizen. Gaby resides in Miami with her husband and their five rescued dogs.
Fermin Vasquez
Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement, TheDream.US
Biography
Growing up with a single mom in Pico-Union near downtown Los Angeles, Fermin understood the values of hard work, education, and giving back. He is the first in his family to graduate from college and has dedicated his life and talents to improving the lives of others.
As a communications professional with over 15 years of experience, Fermin has worked with some of the most dynamic organizations and political leaders in California, including Community Coalition, SEIU, CHIRLA, Senator Laphonza Butler, and LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. His expertise in the digital space has engaged millions of people to take action, transforming supporters into online activists, voters, and donors.
Fermin’s campaign work with employers and clients has been featured in major media outlets such as the LA Times, La Opinión, Univision, Telemundo, ABC, NBC, The Sacramento Bee, Teen Vogue, NPR, and more.
In his free time, Fermin is an avid soccer player.
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Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.