Higher Dreams Inc

FLUSHING, NY   |  higherdreams.org
This organization has not appeared on the IRS Business Master File in a number of months. It may have merged with another organization or ceased operations.
This organization's exempt status was automatically revoked by the IRS for failure to file a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, or 990-PF for 3 consecutive years. Further investigation and due diligence are warranted.

Mission

We believe that equitable access to higher education is a fundamental right. We recognize the unique challenges that exist for undocumented students applying to college, and address these unmet needs in two ways: 1) a comprehensive review of the college admissions system from the perspective of an undocumented student and 2) a network of students advancing equitable higher education for undocumented students.

Ruling year info

2016

Principal Officer

Jin Park

Co Principal Officer

Roscoe Wasserburg

Main address

3425 150TH PL APT 5E

FLUSHING, NY 11354 USA

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EIN

47-4688383

NTEE code info

Elementary, Secondary Ed (B20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Each year, about 65,000 undocumented students who have been in the United States for more than five or more years graduate from high school all around the country. Applying to college is a stressful and confusing time for all, let alone as an undocumented student. Being undocumented presents unique challenges that are compounded by the fact that no two institutions have the same policy on admissions and financial aid for undocumented students While there are disparate resources online for undocumented students, there is no comprehensive resource that gathers the relevant information for undocumented students in this important stage in their lives. Moreover, many resources are understandably written for undocumented students in specific states. Higher Dreams is a website devoted to serve the unmet needs of all undocumented students applying to college, written from the perspective of an undocumented student who has been through the process.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

School Counselor Trainings

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

HigherDreams is a 501(c)3 organization based in Boston that is dedicated to making higher education more accessible to undocumented and DACAmented high school students. Since each state, and indeed each school had their own administrative policies regarding undocumented applicants, I began to collect and systematize the process. The following year I began HigherDreams to take the knowledge I gathered and make it available for other undocumented students. Since 2016, HigherDreams has provided direct advising and trainings to students and school counselors in Boston Public Schools. This work began through my experience applying to college as an undocumented student, I found the process overbearing and incredibly confusing due to the absence of any federal guidelines. Some of the trainings are done in collaboration with the Boston Teachers Union “Unafraid Educators” group, but we provide most of the trainings independently to school counselors.

Higher Dreams is committed to in-person trainings as well as developing online resources for school counselors nation-wide. We also work directly with several other collaborators around Boston as well as national organizations for immigrant rights.

Growing up as an undocumented immigrant in the immigrant enclave of Flushing, Queens taught Jin the importance of a public school system that supports immigrant students. Thus, Jin has been working throughout his college career at Harvard to advance a fair and robust advising program for undocumented students in Boston Public Schools. After presenting this past July at the American School Counselors Association, HigherDreams has been able to expand to even more schools. We have secured some funding from different foundations and the President’s Office at Harvard University to continue the work to serve undocumented and immigrant students in Boston Public Schools.

Higher Dreams currently provides in-person trainings in collaboration with the Boston Teachers Union “Unafraid Educators” group, but we provide most of the trainings independently to school counselors. In addition, we are connected with various immigrant rights groups in Boston such as Massachusetts Immigration RA and Greater Boston Legal Services to educate the public. We intend to increase the number of available training sessions as well as awareness of these trainings. In addition, we plan to finance a more robust set of resources including a book that brings together practice, theoretical, and experiential aspects of advising undocumented students. This work is already underway -- we are currently in conversation with an editor from Routledge to publish a comprehensive resource for advising undocumented students.

Financials

Higher Dreams Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Higher Dreams Inc

Board of directors
as of 10/08/2018
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Jin Park


Board co-chair

Roscoe Wasserburg