New Haven – On Thursday night the Morris Cove restaurant buzzed with music, glitter and the sound of hopeful voices as Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D) celebrated its 16th anniversary. More than 150 students, parents and community allies filled Anthony’s Ocean View to honor a generation of illegal‑immigrant youth who have learned to organize, advocate and thrive despite the intensifying threat of ICE detention.
From Shy Student to Community Leader
Melanie Yunga, a former Wilbur Cross High School student now a freshman at Eastern Connecticut State University, recalled how she entered C4D feeling “really shy” and without a sense of community. Through C4D she found her voice, standing up for herself, her family and friends facing the specter of unmarked ICE vans. “Even though our community endures hard times, we can still feel the light,” Yunga said, noting that faith and togetherness kept them moving forward.
Celebration with Purpose
The gala featured Attorney General William Tong delivering a keynote address to a packed crowd. After the speech, Yunga helped friends apply glitter under a color‑changing dance‑floor spotlight, turning the night into a joyful act of resistance. “Sometimes celebration is resistance,” immigration lawyer Tina Colón Williams observed, adding that laughter and dancing defy the fear‑based tactics of anti‑immigrant policies.
Legislative Wins and Local Impact
Since its founding, C4D has secured several legislative victories that expand rights for illegal‑immigrant students and families, including in‑state tuition eligibility, financial aid access and broader health‑care coverage. These successes were achieved while the Trump administration pursued a firm stance on immigration, prompting C4D to step up as a local leader in protecting its members from ICE raids.
Grassroots Organizing on the Front Lines
Members of C4D have repeatedly traveled to Hartford to demand that legislators allow students to attend school without fear of detention and that families receive affordable medical care. When ICE seized classmates, C4D organized protests that ultimately secured their release. The organization also launched the Red Folder Project, helping families compile essential legal documents, and the American Immigrant Legal Clinic, which trains pro‑bono lawyers to fill the state’s shortage of immigration attorneys.
Voices from the Movement
“They helped me have a voice so I can help other people have a voice,” said Nancy, a 16‑year‑old C4D member. Executive Director Tabitha Sookdeo called the attendees “some of the most powerful people you will see in your life.” Long‑time organizer Yenimar Cortes, who grew up in C4D, reflected that the group taught her the meaning of community love and resilience. “In this room we are all struggling, but together we feel hope and power,” she added.
Looking Ahead
Co‑founder Camila Bortoletto, now board chair, recalled the organization’s humble beginnings around a coffee‑shop table with “no idea what we were doing.” Today, C4D stands on the front lines of defending illegal‑immigrant youth, continuing to train new leaders and expand its legal‑aid network. Andrea Sánchez, special projects manager, noted that the past year and a half under President Trump’s second term has highlighted the courage of undocumented students, even as they face heightened ICE activity.
As the celebration wound down, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose. “We would not be fighting alone,” Yunga affirmed, underscoring the enduring power of faith, family and community in the face of adversity.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
