


About Dream
Support for Undocumented, mixed-status families, DACA, and AB 540 Students
Students can receive support with financial aid and the California Dream Act (CADAA), scholarships, and emergency resources, academic and career guidance, internships and professional opportunities, workshops, and connections to campus and community resources. DREAM is here to help students navigate college, build community, and reach their educational and career goals.


Meet: Kim Leyva
DREAM Resource Program Coordinator | Coordinadora del Programa de Recursos DREAM
¡Hola! Soy Kim
I’m the DREAM Resource Program Coordinator, and I’m here to support you as you navigate your college journey. Whether you need help connecting with resources, understanding your options, finding financial support, exploring career opportunities, or simply having someone in your corner, I’m here to help.
As a first-generation Latina college graduate, I know what it feels like to navigate college without always knowing where to turn or who to ask. That experience is a big part of why I’m passionate about creating a space where students feel comfortable asking questions, seeking support, and being themselves.
I grew up in Gilroy, and working in Watsonville has strengthened my connection to my culture and to the students and communities I serve. My goal is for every student who walks through our doors to feel welcomed, supported, and reminded that you belong here.
Contact Info:
📍 Watsonville & Aptos Campuses
📞 (831) 786-4724


Meet: Margarita Mercado
Program Specialist - DOJ Accredited
Hi everyone, I am Margarita Mercado and I am a program specialist at the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, and we partner with Cabrillo College to offer free consultations and legal assistance to students, faculty and staff. A little bit about me, I am an alumni of Cabrillo College and got my associate's in Criminal Justice, Psychology and Liberal Arts. I transferred to Sacramento State to obtain my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, Stinger's Up! If you have any immigration legal questions, you can make an appointment at FindYourAlly.com. I am on campus on Wednesdays biweekly in both Aptos and Watsonville campuses, and you can look at the website to see my available times and dates for each campus. We operate by appointment only and if you have any questions on how to book you can contact our Outreach Liaison, Lucy Garcia via email at lucyg@cabinc.org. Thank you and hope to see around campus!
Locations & Hours




Visit our Free Immigration Legal Services page to explore resources available to students, staff, faculty, and their immediate family members. Connect with trusted and confidential immigration legal services to discuss your unique situation, understand your options, and plan for the future.
Limited funding is also available to help cover USCIS application fees for:
DACA renewals
Advance Parole
Naturalization (U.S. citizenship)
Asylum
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)