Dream to Belong music video: in support of the DREAM Act and CIR: Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Free song download at  http://www.facebook.com/ImmigrationReformVideos
Dream to Belong -Music and lyrics by Andres Useche A video in support of the DREAM Act & Comprehensive Immigration reform; filmed and photographed with hundreds of DREAMers and immigration reform activists across the country. Dedicated to all the Dreamers and in memory of Dreamer Joaquin Luna and our ally Shaun Chapa. (scroll down for full performer + video credits after this):



This country was built on a DREAM: A dream of freedom, of opportunity, the belief that if you put in the hard work you could become anything you wanted to be, that you could achieve anything. It was that dream that inspired waves of migration and brought so many to build railroads and work the fields, that drove so many to join the beautiful diversity that helps make the United States the country that it is today. It was that dream of opportunity that led parents to bring their small children into the US, seeking to give them a better life. These children grew up here, undocumented: we call them Dreamers. It is that same Dream that fuels our struggle for the DREAM Act & immigration reform today. Dreamers too have had to seek the land of opportunity where they already live, where their fulfillment has been denied for too long. Dreamers have inspired me as they have inspired so many because they embody the struggle to belong, to grow, to achieve and to give back as much as they possibly can. Through their relentless pursuit of education and their desire to work, Dreamers not only better themselves but the country they grew up in, the land they love. When this nation opens its arms to Dreamers, it's getting closer to a more complete fulfillment of its fundamental promise. It is this embrace that brings us closer to a more perfect union, a nation with an arc bending towards justice. 

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was a giant leap and a testament to the hard work of DREAMers themselves who have organized for what is right. We are grateful to the Obama administration for this temporary measure but as the President himself has said, this is only the beginning. Dreamers and allies will not stop until the solution is permanent and includes the hardworking families who made such a tremendous effort to give their children, the DREAMers, a brighter future. Join our efforts. Together, Si, Se Puede!!! -Andres Useche

Videos: TV news interviews about our Obama grassroots efforts, songs, videos and what comes next

Two Interviews about the role of our videos and song played during the Obama campaign, about my career and about what comes next for all of us who volunteered.

Video:

Below is another, shorter interview I gave later that day (the day after performances on Obama's inaugural galas):
Video:


You can find the full music video question "Si se Puede Cambiar" at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ky8Hvq-F0U
and the later english version at Will.i.am's website
http://dipdive.com/member/Andres-Useche/tv/

In the second Univision interview I spoke also about the meaning of this democratic victory and the need for our continued engagement to be able to seize this opportunity to make real lasting change.

La entrevista en espanol para Agenda Washington (Univision) fue relizada en Enero 21, 2009. In the interview I also mentioned working with United for Obama and pointed to our page on youtube, I also want to praise the amazing work of Eric Byler and Annabel Park specifically.




Photos from both interviews

My NEW OBAMA MUSIC VIDEO!

The english version of Si, Se Puede Cambiar with lots of new footage (specially the later part). Please help us share this video and spread the word. OBAMA 08!

Will.I.Am and Andres Useche: Yes we Can meets Si Se Puede Cambiar

Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and yours truly. He first came to know me from my pro-Obama video Si, Se Puede Cambiar, which he put on his website DipDive long before he met me. This is the link www.dipdive.com/dip-approved/?p=15
He also put me on the hope.act.change poster and their website...

http://www.hopeactchange.com/media/view/4319
Will, a multiple Grammy award-winner, is the creator of the Wonderful YES WE CAN Obama video and a great, down to earth guy with a heart in the right place. In the photo up top we were throwing up peace signs but, alas, we were framed too closely.

We connected because we see eye to eye on the crisis this country is going through and agree on the way we can all help to move it forward. Obama 08 is an impotant part of that.
Here is his video Yes We Can and mine Si Se Puede Cambiar below
Yes We Can by Will.I.Am

Si Se Puede Cambiar by Andres Useche


and as an extra, here's Will.I.Am's and the Black Eyed Peas' "Where is the Love?" which he put out after we begun unjust and deceitful war.


We're doing all we can to make sure that we're all focused on the critical issues, the war and the economy and not he pity attacks the Republicans are using to try to distract the population. Time to think more about our economy and less about lipstick.
Si Se Puede!

RICHARDSON endorses BARACK OBAMA

"This is a man who understand us and will respect us" Said Richardson in Spanish ("Este es un hombre que nos entiende y nos va a respetar") in his glowing speech endorsing Barack Obama's candidacy for the presidency of the United States. As a former member of the Clinton administration this was an extremely difficult choice to make for the Governor of New Mexico, but his choice reflects what he believes is "best for the country". Governor Richardson also credited Obama's recent "historic speech" on race and unity as a factor that "cinched" his decision.
"He's a really good guy" "Who could've thrown me under the bus but he stood behind me" referring to a question Richardson missed on a debate, and Obama whispered it to him.
Richardson, part of the 90's Clinton administration and with impressive foreign policy experience said to Barack Obama: "You are a leader who has shown courage, judgment and wisdom throughout the years, you understand the security challenges of the 21st century and you will be an outstanding commander in chief. Above of all you will bring all America together. Your candidacy is a one in lifetime candidacy and you are a once -in-a-lifetime leader. You will make every American proud to be American, and I am proud today to endorse your candidacy as President of the United States of America ".
Wow! Watch the crowd go absolutely ballistic, chanting "Yes we Can" and after Richardson, "Si, Se Puede".

Meeting Barack Obama and other recollections from Houston, TX

My friends from United for Obama were kind enough to get me to Texas, for the first time in years, to campaign for Barack Obama. It was an exciting whirlwind of activity which still seems like a blur: I hadn't gotten out of the airport when we hooked up with Obama volunteers coming from all over the country, ( one of them, Rob, gave us tons of cool Obama buttons and t-shirts that even the rental car guy wanted to wear... we gave him some) I met with Senator Cedillo and the people of the HQ, some of which knew me from the Si Se Puede Cambiar video. There was the canvassing and precinct-walking : we were welcomed by some people but some tall white guy walking his dogs in a very affluent neighborhood warned us that "people 'round here don't like Obama, they got shotguns and will shoot you". HE actually said that, no Kidding. We kept going and laughed it off, sure the guy was a strong conservative doing his bit to try to derail the huge, record-breaking democratic turnouts, which was probably the case, but later on the car radio we heard a report of someone actually getting shot for walking through somebody's lawn while the shooter was talking to 911. Crazy. I also did some press, gave interviews, performed live, made some great new friends. Will post links later on. We also got some good footage but haven't uploaded it yet as Eric and Annabel are in Japan, and I'm just trying to catch up here in LA.

I have to say one of my fondest memories from this trip was seeing my brother who is thirteen but since last I saw him has grown from a kid to a deep-voiced , sweet-natured young man! He knew the lyrics to my song better than I did. It was a bit embarrassing that I wrote the song, granted very recently, but quite a few people know the lyrics already and I still rely on the the printed words every now and then. My little brother (or not so little anymore) joined me for a whole day, always helpful , and got a glimpse of this flurry of grassroots activity in what will no doubt be remembered as a historic time in US politics.

I got to see my dad and his wife but unfortunately didn't have time to see more of my extended family or friends. However it was also great to connect with strangers on the street for a common cause, the ideals and dreams that unite us deep down. It was specially touching to be greeted so warmly by the Obama supporters who recognized me on the street as the guy from the video, I have this particular woman in my mind right now as I type this, a large African-American woman who was driving out of a parking lot when she saw me from the window and slammed on the breaks. Screaming to her friend, she got off the car which was now blocking the entrance to the lot, rushed up to me and gave me one big, long hug, "You brought tears to my eyes" she kept repeating, she was so excited, her friend too, I was speechless. It is very humbling to think that whatever you are feeling at any given point in time, whatever you're trying to express, that there are so many people in the world feeling the exact same way, that we're all connected, and all we have to do is to discover that thread to find each other again. This song has been such thread for me.

Another great connection where the two great guys who interviewed me for the Brazilian magazine Veja, who I'd keep meeting over and over again on the campaign trail and kindly gave me a ride when Eric took off with the car to help out in another district in dire need of Obama visibility. Hanging out with Eric and Annabel was a treat as was meeting their friend Duarte and fellow volunteers Quan, Gerry, K.S. and Joanne.

I also did a live translation of Barack Obama's touching, rousing speech when we joined him at the George Brown Convention Center and we'll post some video from that at some point. Another memory that stands out is my brief interaction with Barack Obama after the event, with the enthusiastic crowd surrounding us, this was truly the eye of the hurricane but these things stand out for whatever reason: the genuine sense of honesty and down-to-earth recognition in his gaze,( he struck me as such real, genuine individual). Also his uncannily soft, skinny hands. You'd think they would've hardened by so much contact with his followers. The apparent ease of pronunciation of the few words Obama spoke in Spanish, and most of all, his Chanting "Sí, se Puede" with me as cameras flashed (except ours, Eric and company where still at the opposite end of the stage!), Anyway, now I have a better grasp of the man, not only the ideas that moved me into action, but also great attitude and energy of the man in person.
Quite a trip indeed.

On the stump for Obama

Here with California State Senator Gilbert Cedillo.
Discussing immigration policies, discrimination, xenophobia and ways forward towards tolerance and equality.