Project Space: USEU de CSUN

1. Project Space: USEU de CSUN By: Cristal Ramirez, Isela Iraheta, David Loyola, and Evan Stevans

2. What is U.S.E.U.? U.S.E.U. is an organization with various locations which seeks to improve the Salvadorian community by campaigning, providing community service and education on the social issues that are present in the Salvadoran Community. The Purpose of this Organization is to empower the Salvadoran community through: 1. Developing an interest towards higher education amongst the Salvadoran community. 2. Developing awareness about cultural, political and economic issues that directly affect the Salvadoran community. 3. Preserving the historical and cultural identity of El Salvador. 4. Mobilizing the Salvadoran student population to take action

3. UC, Davis UC, Berkeley University of San Francisco San Francisco State U. UC, Santa Cruz UC, Santa Barbara Cal State, Northridge Cal State, Los Angeles UCLA Cal State, Polytechnic U. Pomona coming soon Chapters

4. U.S.E.U. in CSUN California State University Northridge is the second Cal State campus that has been established as part of USEU. • It was organized and formally established by Jenny Zuniga and Jorge Martinez in the fall of 2010, after meeting with the USEU leadership in the fall of 2009, when for the first time this chapter met

5. Mission Statement “Rescue our identity in order to empower our community.” 3rd or 4th Largest Latino Population in the U.S. Felt Like an invisible community Created USEU (Salvadorian University Student Union)

6. Mission Statement cont. • Give visibility to the student population in the U.S. • Transform Salvadorian society in both El Salvador and around the world. • Promotes and supports research that seeks to understand and empower the community. • USEU is the synthesis of the struggle of the Salvadorian Student Movement

7. 3 Upcoming Projects • College Fair 2011 • Bichos de USEU • Emergencia El Salvador 2011: Caminata Por Nuestro Pueblo

8. “Bichos De USEU” • This project will basically be consisting of group members of USEU visiting to two different high schools. They will do this in order to inform students about college and its preparation needed towards it. • As compañeros, they will present students with the opportunities their are given out there like College, Scholarships, and helpful facts about how the be a successful college student. • USEU will mentor and help them with the college application project and inform them especially about our campus and why it is a great choice and as well as informing them about the organization at the same time.

9. Emergencia El Salvador 2011: Caminata Por Nuestro Pueblo Date/ Time: Sunday, October 30 · 9:00am - 1:00pm Location: Balboa Park, 6300 Balboa Blvd Members : Griseleda Martinez and Tatiana Geraldine About: In the past few weeks rainstorms have left the country of El Salvador in devastation. Many communities are being left without food, shelter,warmth, and other necessities to continue daily life. The Unión Salvadoreña de EstudiantesUniveristarios (USEU) is therefore having a “CaminataporNuestro Pueblo” The mission is to walk for the community and collect as many funds. In order to provide aid to individuals who... have been affected by the disaster that has occurred.

10. Personal Opinion and Observations My personal opinion towards USEU is that although it is a small chapter in our campus, it will slowly progress in becoming really successful even though it doesn’t have many members. With the determination every member in this organization has to help communities in the United States and abroad, USEU will embark a difference within communities and will show that along with other chapters from different campuses, they can become stronger than ever before if they stand together for what they believe in. My personal observation when I stepped into the meeting was that I noticed that all members were very welcoming and optimistic. If anything, the members of this organization make it less awkward and instead of feeling out of place or new, they will make you feel the opposite of that and will welcome you with gratitude to their meetings. I became very interested as I sat and listened to their meetings that because of their welcoming support and determination, I decided to join this organization. My decision was right there and than because they made me feel part of their group even though I was doing it for the a class assignment. I enjoyed listening and learning about their events and decided that I wanted to be part of the process of change in the United States and abroad within the Salvadorian communities.

11. My experience and observations. • My best friend Jenny is the sibling of a USEU member . Her and Jorge (now chair) started it at CSUN. Since we carpool to school together I was always around the organization. I supported her as a best friend. But I was not in the organization. • As I continued to attend every meeting I truly loved their goals, and the people. And that’s when I committed to the organization • Never did I feel like an outsider or uncomfortable. • Everyone is determined and wants to make a difference within the community to help their people. • And fun is also important! Right we are preparing to practice for a soccer tournament against other USEU chapter.