Oakland, Ca., January 19, 2024– The CLINIC-CYLC Community-Based Immigration Legal Services Career Pathways third cohort began CLINIC’s Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL), an eight-week virtual e-course. Seventeen students from three community colleges in the State of California were selected to participate in this unique fellowship, which places students at DOJ accredited community-based immigration legal services providers while they are pursuing a post-secondary credential at a participating community college.

The purpose of this program is to expand the number of well-trained advocates, practitioners, paralegals, legal assistants, and nonprofit executives who are well equipped to better serve low income immigrants in underserved communities across California.

“Our fellows are eager to learn and acquire the knowledge and skills they need to become effective community-based immigration legal services providers, advocates, practitioners, and leaders in their local communities. We are excited that our program is introducing and preparing these young people for a career in this area. These CYLC students are preparing to enter careers that help to improve the daily lives of immigrants with low incomes.”

Rosa M. García, Ed.D., Executive Director of CLP & CYLC

During their fellowship, CYLC students will be awarded up to $10,000 for their work-based learning experience. The CLINIC-CYLC community-based immigration legal fellowship has partnered with three community colleges in California: La Mission College, San Bernardino Valley College, and Fresno City College. Our third cohort fellows have been placed at the following community-based immigration legal services providers in California.

List of participating community-based immigration legal services organizations:
Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, International Rescue Committee IRC, Education & Leadership Foundation ELF, Fresno Center, United Farm Workers Foundation UFW, Central California Legal Services, Al Otro Lado, Catholic Charities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights CHIRLA, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, CARECEN LA, and Pomona Economic Opportunity Center.

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Community Learning Partnership (CLP) is a national non-profit organization committed to building a workforce of credentialed, knowledgeable, and skilled leaders to organize for community change in their local communities. California Youth Leadership Corps (CYLC) was established under CLP to empower  historically marginalized youth and ensure that they are civically engaged. CLP/CYLC community change career pathways offer certificates and degrees in community leadership, development and organizing along with community work experience.