Shadow Politics, January 28, 2018
America was built by hard working men and women and each of them had a dream. A dream of a better life, a dream of freedom and a better future for their children. It is the dreams of the millions who came that built America and made it great. Join us as we discuss DACA with our guest Adrian Escarate! Adrian was born in Santiago, Chile and moved to the United States when he was three years old. Thankfully, when Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was passed in the summer of 2012, Adrian was able to acquire a work permit, social security number and a Florida Driver’s License. DACA changed his life because he finally felt like he was somewhat out of the shadows of his immigration status and felt like he could give back to American society. Today, Adrian is a professional tennis coach at the Biltmore Tennis Center and Salvadore Tennis Center. This coming Tuesday, U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) will be bringing Adrian Escarate to Washington, DC as his guest for the President's State of the Union Address. Let's hear his perspective. Call in with your questions and tell us your American dream!
Guest, Adrian Escarate
Adrian was born in Santiago, Chile and moved to the United States when he was three years old. Initially, his parents had only intended to live in Miami for five years so that they could work and save enough money and ultimately return to Chile. However, after years of assimilation, Miami became their permanent home. Growing up, Adrian played competitive tennis while also achieving great academic accolades during his primary schooling. Adrian was also able to attend secondary schooling at University of North Florida and St. Thomas University as a student-athlete by playing on the men’s tennis team at both universities. Although undocumented, he was able to attend school with private scholarships and graduated Cum Laude Honors from St. Thomas University in 2011 with a Degree in Communications Arts and a minor in Psychology. It was a great accomplishment, but unfortunately he could not exercise his degree because of his undocumented status. Thankfully, when Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was passed in the summer of 2012, Adrian was able to acquire a work permit, social security number and a Florida Driver’s License. DACA changed his life because he finally felt like he was somewhat out of the shadows of his immigration status and felt like he could give back to American society. Today, Adrian is a professional tennis coach at the Biltmore Tennis Center and Salvadore Tennis Center.
Shadow Politics
Shadow Politics is a grass roots talk show giving a voice to the voiceless. For more than 200 years the people of the Nation's Capital have ironically been excluded from the national political conversation. With no voting member of either house of Congress, Washingtonians have lacked the representation they need to be equal and to have their voices heard. Shadow Politics will provide a platform for them, as well as the millions of others nationwide who feel politically disenfranchised and disconnected, to be included in a national dialog.
We need to start a new conversation in America, one that is more inclusive and diverse and one that will lead our great nation forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century. At Shadow Politics, we hope to get this conversation started by bringing Americans together to talk about issues important to them. We look forward to having you be part of the discussion so call in and join the conversation. America is calling and we're listening… Shadow Politics is about America hearing what you have to say. It's your chance to talk to an elected official who has spent more than 30 years in Washington politics. We believe that if we start a dialog and others add their voices we will create a chorus. Even if those other politicians in Washington don't hear you — Senator Brown will. He's on a mission to listen to what America has to say and use it to start a productive dialog to make our democracy stronger and more inclusive. If we are all part of the solution we can solve any problem.