Alice Kleeman

Donor/Supporter, Educator

"I have a zillion memories of handing students, parents, and other educators a slip of paper with your website written on it."

Alice Kleeman was the college advisor at Menlo Atherton High School for 20 years before retiring in 2015. She continues to work with students at Menlo-Atherton High School, the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, and the Redwood City Library. Alice has been an ally of Immigrants Rising since its inception in 2006.

 

How did you get connected to our organization?

I’ve known about E4FC [Educators for Fair Consideration, now known as Immigrants Rising] from its inception because I knew Carrie from her experience at Eastside College Preparatory School in Palo Alto.

At the time, when people asked me the most difficult part of my job as college advisor at Menlo-Atherton High School, my response was always, “Frustration at being unable to help undocumented students to the extent I want.” The birth of E4FC gave me hope.

 

How has our organization influenced your understanding of undocumented immigrants?

It would take months to list everything I’ve learned and everything I learn from other sources! I continue to check with E4FC just to be certain. I’ve learned about legal rights, educational opportunities, personal challenges faced by undocumented students and families, and so much more.

I have a zillion memories of handing students, parents, and other educators a slip of paper with your website written on it.

When I think of E4FC, the word that comes to mind is “professional,” which is odd because at the same time I think of “warm and caring.” To serve students, we must be passionate, yes, but our passion must be backed up by research and professional action.

 

Do you have a message to share with others in our organization and community?

The students supported by E4FC’s work are among the most hard-working, deserving, motivated, determined, bright, and hopeful of all the wonderful students I’ve known over twenty-plus years of college advising.