Futbolistas 4 Life
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- Transcript
FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE takes you into the lives of two East Oakland high schoolers. One is a college hopeful and DACA applicant who's navigating his immigration status, and the other is an American citizen facing the reality that her undocumented parents could be deported. These youth take solace in the game of soccer that lets them, if only for a moment, put their worries on the sidelines. The film features the fighting spirit of their coach Dania – a former professional soccer player and the daughter of political refugees from Chile. Dania uses her love for the game and her family's own immigrant experience to connect with and empower her players. As an athlete and educator, Dania has been using her platform to speak out against injustices in her community and around the world, doing this work at a time when few others were, and as we've seen pro-athletes like Colin Kaepernick, members of the WNBA, Naomi Osaka and Megan Rapinoe risk their careers for in more recent years. FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE sheds light on the overwhelming stress experienced nationwide by immigrant youth living in communities with high rates of poverty and violence – communities increasingly in the crosshairs of harsh federal immigration policies.
Remezcla | Manuel Betancourt
“Futbolistas 4 Life is equal parts informative and eye-opening.”
The Guardians | Matthew Hall
“...putting human faces to the story of immigration in the United States…”
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[tap water rushes]
00:00:07.633 --> 00:00:09.009
-Sassy, oh....
00:00:09.009 --> 00:00:10.761
-Wait, what?
-From the beginning.
00:00:10.761 --> 00:00:14.306
BOTH: [singing] Sassy
So sassy
00:00:14.306 --> 00:00:17.976
Sassy, sassy
So sassy
00:00:18.518 --> 00:00:22.147
Sassy, sassy
So sassy
00:00:23.023 --> 00:00:25.025
-Okay. We're finished.
-Okay.
00:00:25.025 --> 00:00:26.276
[tap water pours]
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I got this.
00:00:45.337 --> 00:00:47.339
I'm gonna go to school...
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and just do what I gotta do.
00:00:53.095 --> 00:00:55.097
-Come on, dog.
00:01:00.519 --> 00:01:03.230
[engine rumbles]
00:01:05.315 --> 00:01:09.319
[slow, pulsing music]
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[music builds in energy]
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[music fades]
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-So, these issues are critical.
00:01:46.857 --> 00:01:48.817
The time is now
to see the change.
00:01:48.817 --> 00:01:51.445
-So, right now there's an
openness and willingness
00:01:51.445 --> 00:01:55.157
in this country to allow
immigrant children to be able
00:01:55.157 --> 00:01:57.576
to take this country
to the next level,
00:01:57.576 --> 00:01:59.328
because we need creativity.
00:01:59.328 --> 00:02:01.830
We need to grow our economy,
and our immigrant children
00:02:01.830 --> 00:02:03.332
will play a great role in that.
00:02:03.332 --> 00:02:08.378
[translation into Spanish]
00:02:10.547 --> 00:02:12.466
[students laugh]
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[music continues]
00:02:20.349 --> 00:02:21.975
[music ends]
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-Huh?
-How was the dance on Thursday?
00:02:34.154 --> 00:02:35.447
-It was good.
-Yeah?
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-Hello, teacher.
-Hello.
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[animated conversations
all around]
00:02:51.171 --> 00:02:53.048
-Hi, Nancy.
-Hi, Dania.
00:02:53.048 --> 00:02:55.217
-Hi, how are you?
-Good, and you?
00:02:55.217 --> 00:02:57.761
Good! Are all the futbolistas
coming to practice today?
00:02:57.761 --> 00:02:59.554
-Most of them.
-Nice.
00:03:00.806 --> 00:03:05.102
[shoes squeak and
tap rhythmically]
00:03:07.396 --> 00:03:10.065
DANIA: If you are the people
that are not up to be that
00:03:10.065 --> 00:03:13.777
two in the game, you must be
cheering for the people
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who are playing.
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Whether they make mistakes
or not, that's irrelevant.
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We do not care.
We encourage mistakes
00:03:19.157 --> 00:03:21.159
'cause the only
way we really get better
00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:22.661
is by making mistakes.
00:03:22.661 --> 00:03:25.205
[fast, rhythmic
sneakers on wood]
00:03:29.042 --> 00:03:32.671
-The way my soccer coach
explains it to me is that
00:03:32.671 --> 00:03:35.298
it's like you're
writing on the field.
00:03:35.298 --> 00:03:36.842
You know, the way
you move your feet,
00:03:36.842 --> 00:03:39.177
the way you touch the ball,
the way you kick the ball,
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it's a way of
expressing yourself.
00:03:43.098 --> 00:03:45.809
[enthusiastic calls
across the gym]
00:03:48.645 --> 00:03:51.273
Everybody here, like, they
treat each other like family.
00:03:52.816 --> 00:03:55.777
Soccer, it's definitely
like a haven for us.
00:03:55.777 --> 00:03:57.863
It's a way to cope with things
00:03:57.863 --> 00:04:00.240
that we don't know
how to cope with.
00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:02.409
STUDENT: One. Two. Three.
ALL: Futbolistas!
00:04:05.829 --> 00:04:10.834
[hum of traffic]
00:04:12.794 --> 00:04:15.005
[a crow caws]
00:04:18.842 --> 00:04:21.303
[gate rattles open]
00:04:23.430 --> 00:04:27.976
[feet shuffling, ball tapping]
00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.855
DANIA: I was a part
of youth sports
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in Oakland my entire life.
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[mellow music]
00:04:36.776 --> 00:04:40.197
The fact that I was kind of
one of very few Latinas
00:04:40.197 --> 00:04:43.575
or young girls of color
on any team growing up,
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that's something that's
really driven my inspiration
00:04:46.077 --> 00:04:47.996
for the work that I do now.
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That's where my passion lies in
making sure that my youth know
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that all of the benefits that
I've gained from soccer—
00:04:56.421 --> 00:04:58.882
the discipline, the work ethic,
the community building,
00:04:58.882 --> 00:05:01.134
the confidence—
that they can translate
00:05:01.134 --> 00:05:03.178
to the lives of my students.
00:05:11.770 --> 00:05:14.814
[hallway filled
with conversations]
00:05:17.025 --> 00:05:20.612
You joined a group here,
the Futbolistas 4 Life,
00:05:20.612 --> 00:05:23.907
founded in part
by Mr. Waldemar Ochoa.
00:05:24.491 --> 00:05:26.159
-This space is different
because
00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:28.203
we don't just play soccer.
00:05:28.203 --> 00:05:30.163
We do more stuff
with the community.
00:05:30.163 --> 00:05:32.541
We talk about issues
in the community.
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DANIA: We're gonna be
doing different exercises
00:05:34.334 --> 00:05:37.379
that get you, as futbolistas
and community members,
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to think about our
participation in sport,
00:05:40.131 --> 00:05:41.925
what it is, what
it means to you.
00:05:41.925 --> 00:05:43.718
What does it mean
to win or lose?
00:05:43.718 --> 00:05:45.720
Everybody meet in the middle.
00:05:47.806 --> 00:05:49.808
This is the first
of 20 questions.
00:05:49.808 --> 00:05:51.685
What I say is something
that you disagree with.
00:05:51.685 --> 00:05:54.563
Futbolista means soccer
player in Spanish.
00:05:54.563 --> 00:05:57.774
Most of the kids that
go to Life are Latino,
00:05:57.774 --> 00:06:01.486
so it made perfect sense
to start an afterschool club
00:06:01.486 --> 00:06:03.947
that was focused around soccer.
00:06:03.947 --> 00:06:07.284
And it was a way to keep them
engaged in something they love
00:06:07.284 --> 00:06:09.119
and are passionate about.
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APRIL: Soccer's a form of art
because art is beautiful,
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and I consider soccer
to be beautiful as well.
00:06:16.334 --> 00:06:17.669
DANIA: Why does it
look so beautiful?
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What is it about the way
that they're playing?
00:06:19.629 --> 00:06:20.380
-Samba.
00:06:20.380 --> 00:06:22.966
DANIA: Dancing. Samba!
Dancing!
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[slow but joyous
samba music plays]
00:06:31.182 --> 00:06:35.186
[samba rhythm continues,
feet and ball pattering]
00:06:39.190 --> 00:06:42.694
-Goalllllll!
00:06:52.621 --> 00:06:57.542
DANIA: My parents came here
with my two sisters from Chile
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in 1976, three years into
the Chilean military coup,
00:07:03.131 --> 00:07:06.259
where thousands of
Chilenos were murdered
00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:09.804
and many family members
had to exile.
00:07:09.804 --> 00:07:11.014
Soccer was an escape.
00:07:11.014 --> 00:07:14.392
It was liberation in a family
that was suffering from
00:07:14.392 --> 00:07:16.478
post-traumatic stress.
00:07:16.478 --> 00:07:19.731
I started playing soccer
when I was five years old.
00:07:20.857 --> 00:07:23.652
And it was a way for
me to express myself.
00:07:23.652 --> 00:07:26.112
[tender, lyrical music]
00:07:26.112 --> 00:07:30.909
When I got to college, I was
offered a scholarship to play
00:07:30.909 --> 00:07:33.161
at the University
of California, Berkeley
00:07:33.161 --> 00:07:36.498
on their Women's
Division 1 soccer program.
00:07:36.498 --> 00:07:39.709
And after that, I played for
Santos in Brazil and
00:07:39.709 --> 00:07:43.672
ended my career playing for a
professional team in California.
00:07:43.672 --> 00:07:44.964
Get to know each other's names!
00:07:44.964 --> 00:07:47.342
When I started to
work in high school,
00:07:47.342 --> 00:07:50.720
I saw that my students and
I shared a lot in common.
00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.890
What it means to start
a brand new life here
00:07:53.890 --> 00:07:55.517
in the United States.
00:07:55.517 --> 00:07:58.103
Our parents weren't necessarily
the ones that were gonna be
00:07:58.103 --> 00:08:01.064
advocating for us, but that
we needed to know how
00:08:01.064 --> 00:08:02.649
to navigate the systems
for ourselves.
00:08:02.649 --> 00:08:03.900
It'll help you be quicker
on your feet,
00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:05.944
it'll help you in your
dance moves,
00:08:05.944 --> 00:08:07.946
it'll help you be
lighter on your toes.
00:08:07.946 --> 00:08:11.866
Every Futbolista needs to be
light on her toes, all right?
00:08:12.951 --> 00:08:15.745
[music fades]
00:08:18.123 --> 00:08:20.375
APRIL: Make him stand up.
00:08:20.709 --> 00:08:22.460
-Good boy.
00:08:22.460 --> 00:08:23.962
Okay.
00:08:23.962 --> 00:08:26.881
No.
Sit. Sit.
00:08:32.554 --> 00:08:36.391
My parents being undocumented
has always put fear into
00:08:36.391 --> 00:08:38.685
everyone who lives
in this house.
00:08:38.685 --> 00:08:42.063
At any moment, if my parents
got stopped by the police
00:08:42.063 --> 00:08:45.442
or Homeland Security was around,
they would be
00:08:45.442 --> 00:08:47.485
sent back to Mexico.
00:08:48.695 --> 00:08:50.947
I don't know what
would become of me, and
00:08:50.947 --> 00:08:52.866
I don't know what would
become of my sister
00:08:52.866 --> 00:08:54.325
or my parents.
00:08:54.325 --> 00:08:56.703
-I wanna try. [giggles]
00:08:56.703 --> 00:08:59.080
APRIL: It's a fear that
we've dealt with all our,
00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:00.790
all our lives.
00:09:05.712 --> 00:09:09.716
[pensive music]
00:09:13.762 --> 00:09:15.972
REPORTER: Immigration remains
an intense political issue
00:09:15.972 --> 00:09:16.973
in this country.
00:09:16.973 --> 00:09:19.142
-Conservative folks just
don't like the idea of
00:09:19.142 --> 00:09:22.061
people not having a legal status
living in this country.
00:09:22.061 --> 00:09:24.230
SENATOR WARREN: We need to
do immigration reform,
00:09:24.230 --> 00:09:26.107
and it needs to happen now.
00:09:26.107 --> 00:09:28.485
PRES. OBAMA: Eligible
individuals who do not present
00:09:28.485 --> 00:09:32.238
a risk to national security or
public safety will be able to
00:09:32.238 --> 00:09:35.992
request temporary relief
from deportation proceedings
00:09:35.992 --> 00:09:38.536
and apply for work
authorization.
00:09:39.412 --> 00:09:42.415
[birdsong, pensive
music continues]
00:09:44.125 --> 00:09:45.794
[music fades]
00:09:45.794 --> 00:09:48.630
DANIA: Downtown San Francisco
on a Saturday morning!
00:09:49.464 --> 00:09:51.841
The day before the Super Bowl.
00:09:51.841 --> 00:09:54.094
Where are you watching
the Super Bowl or are you?
00:09:54.094 --> 00:09:55.386
BEN: Nah.
DANIA: No?
00:09:55.386 --> 00:09:58.264
I'm not gonna lie.
I kind of love football.
00:09:58.264 --> 00:10:01.059
It should be called handball.
We all know that's the truth.
00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:01.976
BEN: Yeah, like football.
00:10:01.976 --> 00:10:03.978
Come on, you don't
like football?
00:10:05.230 --> 00:10:07.190
DANIA: One of my
futbolistas, Benjamin,
00:10:07.190 --> 00:10:11.194
and I are going to do an
exhibition that invites people
00:10:11.194 --> 00:10:13.279
to move freely through soccer.
00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.074
[applause]
00:10:16.074 --> 00:10:19.744
All right. So, I'm a sport
liberation educator.
00:10:19.744 --> 00:10:22.288
In a context where
laws, policies,
00:10:22.288 --> 00:10:25.834
and institutions seek to
restrict our movement
00:10:25.834 --> 00:10:30.171
across borders and confine our
bodies in detention centers,
00:10:30.171 --> 00:10:34.008
I believe that in playing,
we can create freedom,
00:10:34.008 --> 00:10:37.262
even if it's just
for a few minutes.
00:10:37.262 --> 00:10:40.932
It is my honor to introduce you
to one of my first futbolista
00:10:40.932 --> 00:10:45.687
students, Benjamin Gonzalez,
whose life story has been
00:10:45.687 --> 00:10:48.147
a huge inspiration for me
in doing what I do
00:10:48.147 --> 00:10:50.108
and what we're
about to set today.
00:10:50.108 --> 00:10:51.109
BEN: [in Spanish] Good
afternoon, everyone.
00:10:51.109 --> 00:10:53.528
I'm Benjamin Gonzalez.
00:10:53.528 --> 00:10:56.656
I'm here with you to share
my story of how I came here,
00:10:56.656 --> 00:10:59.075
my traditions, and why
I'm here right now.
00:10:59.075 --> 00:11:01.995
DANIA: [in English] I'm here
with you today to share my story
00:11:01.995 --> 00:11:03.788
of how I came to this country.
00:11:11.421 --> 00:11:14.382
[somber music]
MICHOACÁN, MEXICO
00:11:15.758 --> 00:11:17.135
BEN: It was just
like a normal day,
00:11:17.135 --> 00:11:20.263
me getting ready to
say bye to my sister.
00:11:20.263 --> 00:11:22.223
And then I just, we just
got a call from Dad.
00:11:22.223 --> 00:11:23.474
You know what?
He was like, "Hey,
00:11:23.474 --> 00:11:25.143
you're coming too."
00:11:26.144 --> 00:11:27.770
There's nothing I really
could say, you know?
00:11:27.770 --> 00:11:29.647
It's, I'm a little kid.
00:11:29.647 --> 00:11:32.066
[music turns dramatic]
00:11:32.066 --> 00:11:34.360
We crossed through a tunnel.
00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:38.197
Then I looked up, and I see
these camo green pants.
00:11:39.032 --> 00:11:43.578
The tunnel was right under
the immigration services.
00:11:45.246 --> 00:11:47.874
Once we got out of the tunnel,
so we went up this little ramp
00:11:47.874 --> 00:11:49.792
with, like, bushes
around, you know?
00:11:49.792 --> 00:11:52.170
So, that's where we were hiding
when this mini car
00:11:52.170 --> 00:11:53.713
just showed up.
00:11:53.713 --> 00:11:55.381
The guy just told me,
like, "This is your turn.
00:11:55.381 --> 00:11:58.426
You gotta run, and then you
just gotta get on the trunk."
00:11:59.510 --> 00:12:01.679
When we got to the
apartment from there,
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:04.515
we got under a seat of a truck.
00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:09.520
My family feels that we are
better over here, you know,
00:12:09.520 --> 00:12:12.106
especially me and my
brothers and my sisters.
00:12:13.149 --> 00:12:16.069
[train horn blares
in the distance]
00:12:18.321 --> 00:12:20.073
ANNOUNCEMENT: Eight-Car Fremont
train now
00:12:20.073 --> 00:12:22.200
approaching Platform One.
00:12:25.954 --> 00:12:29.958
[train whines as it slows]
00:12:33.628 --> 00:12:35.964
And for that reason,
I cannot drive
00:12:35.964 --> 00:12:39.133
or have a legal job or
apply for financial aid.
00:12:44.347 --> 00:12:46.099
My parents never
went to school,
00:12:46.099 --> 00:12:48.518
so I'm just gonna end up
with my dad working
00:12:48.518 --> 00:12:50.687
in the construction and then
probably just doing
00:12:50.687 --> 00:12:52.480
mechanics on the side.
00:12:53.856 --> 00:12:57.360
[train hums and whirs]
00:12:59.487 --> 00:13:03.116
[many conversations
near and far]
00:13:03.491 --> 00:13:05.284
TEACHER: Okay, so we've
been talking about energy
00:13:05.284 --> 00:13:07.286
in the form of heat.
00:13:10.999 --> 00:13:12.417
STUDENT: In the
name of baby Carlos,
00:13:12.417 --> 00:13:13.751
in the name of baby Hiram.
00:13:13.751 --> 00:13:15.253
CLASS: In the name
of baby Carlos,
00:13:15.253 --> 00:13:16.838
in the name of baby Hiram.
00:13:16.838 --> 00:13:19.590
STUDENT: In the name of Gabriel
Martinez, Raymen Justice,
00:13:19.590 --> 00:13:20.633
Luis Garibay.
00:13:20.633 --> 00:13:23.761
CLASS: In the name of Gabriel
Martinez, Raymen Justice,
00:13:23.761 --> 00:13:25.179
Luis Garibay.
00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:26.931
STUDENT: We reject
violence and the injustice
00:13:26.931 --> 00:13:28.099
that profit off of them.
00:13:28.099 --> 00:13:29.851
CLASS: We reject violence
and injustice
00:13:29.851 --> 00:13:31.519
that profit off of them.
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.271
STUDENT: We commit to
unify our community
00:13:33.271 --> 00:13:34.689
to build lasting peace.
00:13:34.689 --> 00:13:36.649
CLASS: We commit to
unify our community
00:13:36.649 --> 00:13:38.985
to build lasting peace.
00:13:38.985 --> 00:13:42.572
BEN: And in the last year,
I had a friend that got shot.
00:13:42.572 --> 00:13:45.867
It was a really close friend
for me, Alejandro Aguilera,
00:13:45.867 --> 00:13:48.953
and that really affected
the whole school.
00:13:50.705 --> 00:13:54.876
[tender music]
00:14:01.424 --> 00:14:04.719
DANIA: What does it mean
to have a space to play?
00:14:04.719 --> 00:14:06.721
What does it mean
to have your parks
00:14:06.721 --> 00:14:09.140
overrun by crime or violence?
00:14:09.140 --> 00:14:10.683
What does that do
to a community,
00:14:10.683 --> 00:14:12.810
and what does that
do to young people?
00:14:13.895 --> 00:14:17.398
[music fades into birdsong
and distant traffic]
00:14:23.905 --> 00:14:26.407
DANIA: We lost a
player last year.
00:14:26.407 --> 00:14:28.326
We lost a young man
who was one of
00:14:28.326 --> 00:14:31.329
the leaders of the Futbolistas.
00:14:31.329 --> 00:14:34.624
Because can anybody take
a guess why we lost him?
00:14:34.624 --> 00:14:37.543
Not to death, not gang,
not gang-related.
00:14:37.543 --> 00:14:39.629
STUDENT 1: ICE.
DANIA: ICE.
00:14:39.629 --> 00:14:40.630
STUDENT 2: Oh, really?
00:14:40.630 --> 00:14:43.549
DANIA: We lost a
student to ICE raids.
00:14:43.549 --> 00:14:47.512
We have students that are
a part of the Futbolistas
00:14:47.512 --> 00:14:51.724
that have incredible stories,
struggles of immigration,
00:14:51.724 --> 00:14:54.185
of families, of being separated.
00:14:54.185 --> 00:14:56.813
We're not just here going
to school every day,
00:14:56.813 --> 00:14:58.606
learning and playing soccer,
but there are these
00:14:58.606 --> 00:15:01.734
other really, really deep,
heavy underlying issues
00:15:01.734 --> 00:15:03.903
that are taking
place in our lives.
00:15:03.903 --> 00:15:05.488
So, check it out!
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:15:05.488 --> 00:15:07.198
let me explain to you
a little bit
00:15:07.198 --> 00:15:09.200
the history of the
Futbolistas 4 Life.
00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:14.247
You can't really know where
you're headed unless you know
00:15:14.247 --> 00:15:16.999
where you're from and where
you've been, all right?
00:15:16.999 --> 00:15:19.877
So, we had senior girls
and freshman guys,
00:15:19.877 --> 00:15:21.754
and the leaders were the girls.
00:15:21.754 --> 00:15:23.756
They were like,
"We're starting a team!
00:15:23.756 --> 00:15:25.675
We're gonna start
a club, Dania."
00:15:25.675 --> 00:15:29.262
So, the issue that this group
decided was that we need
00:15:29.262 --> 00:15:31.806
more safe spaces to play.
00:15:31.806 --> 00:15:33.599
-The school kind of looks
like a prison out there,
00:15:33.599 --> 00:15:35.226
so we wanted to
change that idea.
00:15:37.103 --> 00:15:39.564
-The gym is not that good to
play soccer in, so we're like,
00:15:39.564 --> 00:15:41.107
let's try to get a field.
00:15:41.107 --> 00:15:45.403
BEN: We have 60,000 people
around this community,
00:15:45.403 --> 00:15:47.196
and we only have
one soccer field.
00:15:48.322 --> 00:15:50.908
DANIA: In Oakland Public
Schools, we don't necessarily
00:15:50.908 --> 00:15:53.911
have great organized
sports leagues.
00:15:53.911 --> 00:15:57.707
We don't have a lot of
fields to play the sports
00:15:57.707 --> 00:16:00.543
other kids in suburban areas
where there's more space
00:16:00.543 --> 00:16:02.628
have a lot more access to.
00:16:02.628 --> 00:16:04.839
BEN: So, we decided we want
to build a soccer field
00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:06.924
for Life Academy.
00:16:06.924 --> 00:16:09.552
DANIA: So, we thought,
let's start a campaign to build
00:16:09.552 --> 00:16:11.971
a field at our school.
They were super excited.
00:16:11.971 --> 00:16:13.723
"We're gonna start
this campaign,
00:16:13.723 --> 00:16:14.640
and we're gonna
have a tournament.
00:16:14.640 --> 00:16:17.643
We're gonna raise money."
And I was like, "okay."
00:16:17.643 --> 00:16:19.896
I didn't really know how much
money we were gonna raise.
00:16:19.896 --> 00:16:22.607
I didn't know how much it even
would cost to build a field,
00:16:22.607 --> 00:16:24.734
but I knew that we really
did have the space
00:16:24.734 --> 00:16:26.194
to build this field.
00:16:26.194 --> 00:16:28.446
So, we had this tournament, and
then we passed around the hat
00:16:28.446 --> 00:16:29.989
and asked people for money.
00:16:29.989 --> 00:16:33.701
We raised 300 bucks,
and we were so excited.
00:16:33.701 --> 00:16:37.580
And everybody was adamant,
we do not touch that $300.
00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:39.916
We don't touch it because
that's going to the field.
00:16:40.917 --> 00:16:44.253
[birds singing, dogs barking]
00:17:00.561 --> 00:17:02.647
BEN: I have to work
the whole weekend.
00:17:02.647 --> 00:17:04.982
I work the weekend
so I could, like,
00:17:04.982 --> 00:17:07.318
pay for my stuff because
I don't like asking my—
00:17:07.318 --> 00:17:10.613
I feel like if I ask for my dads
and my mom for the things
00:17:10.613 --> 00:17:13.199
that I need or I want, it's like
too much on them
00:17:13.199 --> 00:17:14.408
because they already have
00:17:14.408 --> 00:17:16.702
my little brother and my little
sisters to take care of.
00:17:17.828 --> 00:17:21.499
[pensive music]
00:17:26.337 --> 00:17:30.091
DANIA: Ready?
Remember!
00:17:30.091 --> 00:17:34.303
Keeping it fun,
keeping it light. Play.
00:17:36.472 --> 00:17:39.517
[players call out]
00:17:39.517 --> 00:17:41.018
BEN: When I'm playing,
it's just like, you know,
00:17:41.018 --> 00:17:42.812
you just forget
about everything.
00:17:42.812 --> 00:17:45.982
You're having a good time, and
you don't have to worry about
00:17:45.982 --> 00:17:48.234
what you're going
through, you know?
00:17:48.234 --> 00:17:51.070
Because you know you focus on
the ball and your friends
00:17:51.070 --> 00:17:53.531
and have fun, you know?
00:17:53.531 --> 00:17:55.741
So, yeah, that really
helped me a lot.
00:17:56.617 --> 00:18:00.162
[music brightens,
students yell cheerfully]
00:18:03.082 --> 00:18:05.835
[music fades]
00:18:06.836 --> 00:18:09.338
TEACHER: So, you're gonna show
up here without your materials.
00:18:09.338 --> 00:18:10.548
APRIL: [whispers] Oh my gosh.
00:18:10.548 --> 00:18:14.593
It's 'cause I forgot that I had
to come here and then, yeah.
00:18:26.272 --> 00:18:31.444
APRIL: My grades last marking
period weren't so hot, so...
00:18:31.444 --> 00:18:36.032
I know there's some
things I need to fix, and so.
00:18:36.032 --> 00:18:38.784
And when this marking
period's over,
00:18:38.784 --> 00:18:42.038
'cause a new marking period has
started, I'm gonna update again.
00:18:42.038 --> 00:18:45.249
And I'm going to see how
much I've progressed,
00:18:45.249 --> 00:18:50.796
because I think I can use this
experience to kind of boost,
00:18:50.796 --> 00:18:55.509
boost my confidence and boost
my motivation in school.
00:18:56.719 --> 00:18:58.929
[a distant dog barks]
00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:04.101
DANIA: A colleague told me
to look into this grant
00:19:04.101 --> 00:19:06.187
from the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
00:19:06.187 --> 00:19:08.606
So, one night I'm looking,
and I'm reading the different
00:19:08.606 --> 00:19:10.691
grant applications
that they have.
00:19:10.691 --> 00:19:13.861
And there's one that
is essentially to build
00:19:13.861 --> 00:19:16.113
a soccer field in an urban area.
00:19:16.113 --> 00:19:18.616
[music builds anticipation]
00:19:18.616 --> 00:19:20.951
If you really build a soccer
field in the heart of the
00:19:20.951 --> 00:19:24.246
Fruitvale, there's so many
schools in the neighborhood.
00:19:24.246 --> 00:19:25.581
There's middle schools,
high schools.
00:19:25.581 --> 00:19:29.043
More than a thousand kids
would have access to be able
00:19:29.043 --> 00:19:32.213
to play on a soccer field
and in a league.
00:19:32.213 --> 00:19:36.675
BEN: We decided to write a
grant to the soccer association.
00:19:36.675 --> 00:19:39.136
DANIA: Which was essentially
telling the entire story
00:19:39.136 --> 00:19:41.639
of the Futbolistas soccer
program and what they do
00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:45.518
and how the Futbolistas do it,
and highlighting how many kids
00:19:45.518 --> 00:19:48.062
would have access to this field.
00:19:53.067 --> 00:19:55.069
[music fades]
00:19:59.115 --> 00:20:02.451
APRIL: Something really cool
that my mom has done
00:20:02.451 --> 00:20:05.996
is that she enrolled
into English classes.
00:20:05.996 --> 00:20:09.417
The first time she brought home
an essay she wrote and like,
00:20:09.417 --> 00:20:10.835
she's like, "I got
a good grade on it."
00:20:10.835 --> 00:20:13.838
And I was like, I wanted to
cry because I was so happy.
00:20:15.631 --> 00:20:17.383
APRIL: Ready? Okay.
00:20:17.383 --> 00:20:18.926
[both giggle]
00:20:18.926 --> 00:20:23.264
[R&B pop beat
in the video]
00:20:23.722 --> 00:20:28.519
[cheery laughter]
Oh my God, mom!
00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:31.230
[tense music]
00:20:31.230 --> 00:20:34.692
APRIL: One day, me and my
mom went to Smart & Final.
00:20:34.692 --> 00:20:38.362
When we were going home,
we stopped at a red light,
00:20:38.362 --> 00:20:40.531
and my mom all the
sudden got all nervous.
00:20:40.531 --> 00:20:43.200
And I was like, "What's wrong?”
And she was like,
00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:45.911
"The immigration people
are right next to us."
00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:49.081
And right when the
light turned green,
00:20:49.081 --> 00:20:51.459
she tried to go as
fast as she could.
00:20:52.418 --> 00:20:55.713
It's scary knowing
that you can get deported
00:20:55.713 --> 00:20:57.965
and separated from your family.
00:21:05.264 --> 00:21:06.557
TEACHER: All right,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:21:06.557 --> 00:21:09.727
you should thank your partners
if they did their homework
00:21:09.727 --> 00:21:11.479
to help you out.
00:21:26.744 --> 00:21:28.954
TEACHER: We must have a bad
case of the Mondays because
00:21:28.954 --> 00:21:31.790
I got five students that
did their homework, okay?
00:21:31.790 --> 00:21:34.084
APRIL: In the beginning of the
year, I was just like, yeah,
00:21:34.084 --> 00:21:38.047
I'm gonna do this.
I'm gonna go into it all I got.
00:21:38.047 --> 00:21:40.716
And then in the middle,
like it just crashed.
00:21:40.716 --> 00:21:43.511
Like the pra-, like the
plane totally crashed.
00:21:44.053 --> 00:21:46.972
I did not care about school.
Like, I hated it.
00:21:46.972 --> 00:21:48.891
TEACHER: Right?
So, I want you to look it up....
00:21:48.891 --> 00:21:50.893
APRIL: My relationship
with my dad was
00:21:50.893 --> 00:21:53.187
the trigger point of everything.
00:21:53.187 --> 00:21:56.106
I don't have a very safe
relationship with my father,
00:21:56.106 --> 00:21:59.109
so I would go to school
already super stressed out,
00:21:59.109 --> 00:22:00.444
like super anxious.
00:22:00.444 --> 00:22:03.948
And then I get to school,
and then any little thing
00:22:03.948 --> 00:22:06.158
seems ten times worse.
00:22:06.909 --> 00:22:11.121
[quiet conversations]
00:22:15.668 --> 00:22:17.795
People always ask me,
what do you need?
00:22:17.795 --> 00:22:20.172
What can we help you with,
and what can we do
00:22:20.172 --> 00:22:23.300
to make you feel better?
And I don't know.
00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:25.636
I just don't know the answer
to that because I don't even
00:22:25.636 --> 00:22:27.680
know what's going on with me.
00:22:28.764 --> 00:22:31.892
[somber music]
00:22:32.685 --> 00:22:35.229
REPORTER 1: DACA, that
stands for Deferred Action
00:22:35.229 --> 00:22:38.649
on Childhood Arrivals.
It gives temporary
00:22:38.649 --> 00:22:41.318
legal status to undocumented
immigrants who were
00:22:41.318 --> 00:22:43.320
brought to the U.S.
as children.
00:22:44.863 --> 00:22:46.490
REPORTER 2: They can get
a social security number
00:22:46.490 --> 00:22:48.492
and protection from deportation.
00:22:52.246 --> 00:22:55.082
[laughter, conversation]
00:22:55.082 --> 00:22:58.752
BEN: Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals.
00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.965
When I heard, I first heard
about the DACA application,
00:23:02.965 --> 00:23:05.509
I went to talk to a lawyer.
00:23:05.509 --> 00:23:08.929
One of the costs to having DACA
is we have a tag on us now,
00:23:08.929 --> 00:23:11.056
you know, from the government
that they already know
00:23:11.056 --> 00:23:13.934
who they are, where they live,
what do they do.
00:23:13.934 --> 00:23:17.813
They want to take DACA
away and send us back.
00:23:17.813 --> 00:23:20.858
It's kind of like an
easy process for them.
00:23:20.858 --> 00:23:24.028
So, as long as we have it,
we gotta take advantage of it.
00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:36.332
[students talking all at once]
00:23:36.332 --> 00:23:37.750
DANIA: Welcome, welcome.
00:23:37.750 --> 00:23:40.294
Are there more people that
we're expecting to come?
00:23:40.294 --> 00:23:41.045
STUDENT: Jackie.
00:23:41.045 --> 00:23:42.588
DANIA: No, this is this?
This is us?
00:23:42.588 --> 00:23:44.423
-Yeah.
DANIA: Where's April?
00:23:44.423 --> 00:23:46.216
I haven't seen her
since, in a couple weeks.
00:23:46.216 --> 00:23:48.052
-April just, I don't know.
-She's having some problems.
00:23:48.052 --> 00:23:49.845
-She's not feeling well.
-Oh, okay.
00:23:49.845 --> 00:23:54.558
[chill music, footsteps
keeping the beat]
00:23:56.685 --> 00:23:59.480
APRIL: I had a panic
attack at soccer practice.
00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:05.819
And I was crying, and I had
trouble breathing and my hands
00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:09.740
were clenched up and, like, I
was on the floor and shaking.
00:24:10.699 --> 00:24:14.078
I feel like I'm on the cliff,
but I'm clinging.
00:24:18.248 --> 00:24:19.917
[voice shaking] It's
not something that,
00:24:19.917 --> 00:24:24.046
that you know it's gonna happen.
It's...
00:24:24.046 --> 00:24:26.840
it just comes out of
nowhere, and it kind of like,
00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:29.551
attacks you kind of.
[sniffles]
00:24:30.344 --> 00:24:34.139
[music fades, a
train horn blares]
00:24:42.147 --> 00:24:44.858
BEN: When I introduced
college to my parents,
00:24:44.858 --> 00:24:47.569
they had zero idea
about it, you know.
00:24:47.569 --> 00:24:50.322
The farthest grade my mom
went, it was fifth grade.
00:24:50.322 --> 00:24:52.866
The farthest grade my dad
went, it was like second grade.
00:24:53.992 --> 00:24:56.578
I didn't know nothing
about college until,
00:24:56.578 --> 00:24:59.873
like, my junior year.
00:24:59.873 --> 00:25:03.794
So, that's when I got more, a
little more informed about it,
00:25:03.794 --> 00:25:07.756
and I start seeing that
after DACA, I had a chance.
00:25:07.756 --> 00:25:09.258
[typing]
00:25:32.406 --> 00:25:34.450
APRIL: I just got, like,
really overwhelmed.
00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:39.913
I went to the psychiatrist, and
I started taking medication for
00:25:39.913 --> 00:25:44.376
the stress and for the panic
attacks I had been having.
00:25:44.376 --> 00:25:47.421
Four of them happened in
less than like a week.
00:25:48.797 --> 00:25:51.800
[wind chime sings
in the breeze]
00:26:38.597 --> 00:26:43.352
[Reggaeton plays from
a speaker nearby]
00:27:41.285 --> 00:27:43.871
APRIL: It was like the first
time I'd ever seen my dad cry.
00:27:45.289 --> 00:27:47.666
He apologized for...
00:27:47.666 --> 00:27:49.126
for everything.
00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:55.257
It's been really cool to see
how much my dad
00:27:55.257 --> 00:28:00.304
especially has grown in
terms of handling his emotions
00:28:00.304 --> 00:28:01.680
and handling his anger.
00:28:02.556 --> 00:28:05.142
And it makes me really
happy that we can finally
00:28:05.142 --> 00:28:08.145
talk about things, and we can
talk about things in a way
00:28:08.145 --> 00:28:11.440
that won't stress any of us out.
00:28:12.983 --> 00:28:17.070
[chill music]
00:28:26.538 --> 00:28:29.374
DANIA: I got an email that
said, "Dear Dania Cabello,
00:28:29.374 --> 00:28:33.837
you are the recipient of
the 2012 Field Grant."
00:28:33.837 --> 00:28:37.424
And I was just blown away!
00:28:39.927 --> 00:28:42.220
The grant required
matching funds,
00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:45.098
and there was a fear that
the school district wanted to
00:28:45.098 --> 00:28:47.309
use it for something else.
00:28:47.309 --> 00:28:49.519
When the word got
to the Futbolistas,
00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:53.148
they were ready to march
down to the school district.
00:28:53.148 --> 00:28:54.816
STUDENT: Two years ago
we started a campaign
00:28:54.816 --> 00:28:56.485
to get this field built.
00:28:56.485 --> 00:28:59.988
DANIA: The students did not
hold a bake sale for this field.
00:28:59.988 --> 00:29:02.532
They did not sell tamales
outside of their school.
00:29:02.532 --> 00:29:05.535
They raised $100,000.
00:29:05.535 --> 00:29:07.120
STUDENT: Again, we are
not asking for handouts.
00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:09.206
We have done our part.
Please do yours.
00:29:09.206 --> 00:29:10.916
Thank you.
[applause]
00:29:10.916 --> 00:29:13.669
DANIA: In the end, the district
were like, you're right.
00:29:13.669 --> 00:29:15.545
This field is yours.
You deserve it.
00:29:15.545 --> 00:29:17.255
You're gonna get it.
00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:22.344
[music soars with emotion]
00:29:25.472 --> 00:29:27.474
[music fades]
00:29:28.475 --> 00:29:29.267
TEACHER: So, yay!
00:29:29.267 --> 00:29:32.396
You got Cal Grant B.
Congratulations.
00:29:32.396 --> 00:29:34.648
So, this is considered
this part is a stipend,
00:29:34.648 --> 00:29:36.900
and that goes to you
for your expenses.
00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:39.444
Any four-year university,
it'll end up being
00:29:39.444 --> 00:29:40.821
whatever that tuition is.
00:29:40.821 --> 00:29:42.489
BEN: Okay.
TEACHER: Mmhmm.
00:29:52.833 --> 00:29:56.503
BEN: All the work that I did in
these four years were worth it
00:29:56.503 --> 00:29:58.714
because now I'm graduating
from high school.
00:29:58.714 --> 00:30:02.050
I have my diploma, and I'm
going to a four-year college.
00:30:02.050 --> 00:30:03.427
-Thank you.
Drive carefully.
00:30:03.427 --> 00:30:07.848
BEN: I'm hopefully graduating
in criminal justice.
00:30:12.811 --> 00:30:15.188
I got my Social Security
by mail.
00:30:15.188 --> 00:30:18.275
It's like awesome to just
be, like, I feel more,
00:30:18.275 --> 00:30:20.152
more connected here.
00:30:20.152 --> 00:30:22.863
Now I feel like more,
not like more legal,
00:30:22.863 --> 00:30:26.241
but something like more
legal, but not more legal.
00:30:26.241 --> 00:30:29.411
I just feel more accepted.
That's the right word.
00:30:29.411 --> 00:30:31.830
I'm more, like, have
more opportunities now.
00:30:33.040 --> 00:30:35.917
[cheery voices on the field,
a whistle blows]
00:30:35.917 --> 00:30:37.669
APRIL: Freshman
year was the worst,
00:30:37.669 --> 00:30:42.549
and I was dealing with a lot of
things emotionally and mentally.
00:30:42.549 --> 00:30:45.385
Sophomore year was a lot
of recovering from that.
00:30:46.178 --> 00:30:49.181
And then junior year
was like the star year.
00:30:49.181 --> 00:30:51.808
And I had good grades.
00:30:51.808 --> 00:30:54.019
I was in a very good place.
00:30:56.188 --> 00:31:00.901
Senior year it's now just
making it out and trying to,
00:31:00.901 --> 00:31:02.861
trying to go to college.
00:31:08.867 --> 00:31:10.911
This is for you?
00:31:28.762 --> 00:31:30.806
APRIL: What really
helped me push,
00:31:30.806 --> 00:31:34.392
push myself out of this
hole I thought I was in
00:31:34.392 --> 00:31:37.729
was reconciling with
my dad and like,
00:31:37.729 --> 00:31:39.940
getting everything
better at home.
00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:46.446
There's a typo in it. Wow.
Come on, Berkeley.
00:31:46.947 --> 00:31:48.156
I got into Cal.
00:31:48.156 --> 00:31:52.119
I got into UC
Berkeley and UCLA...
00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:58.166
and UC Santa Cruz
and UC Irvine and...
00:31:58.166 --> 00:32:01.753
Humboldt State and
San Diego State.
00:32:01.753 --> 00:32:04.172
And what was the last?
00:32:04.172 --> 00:32:06.758
Oh, San Francisco State.
Yeah.
00:32:07.801 --> 00:32:10.303
And I'm going to Berkeley.
00:32:10.887 --> 00:32:14.558
[applause, huge cheers]
00:32:15.976 --> 00:32:19.563
Good evening, graduates,
families, friends.
00:32:19.563 --> 00:32:23.650
My name is April Rojas, and I'm
proud to be the co-salutatorian
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for the class of 2016.
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So many things
happened this year
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that I would have never thought.
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I would've never thought
that I would be salutatorian.
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I would've never thought that I
would've gotten into Berkeley.