Ana Delia Espino
Ana Delia Espino (she/her) is the Executive Director of ACIJ: The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice is a grassroots, statewide network of individuals and organizations that works to advance and defend the rights of immigrants in Alabama. Since joining the organization in 2020 Espino has worked tirelessly to strategically build leadership in immigrant communities that will lead to systems change. Ana Delia came to ACIJ after more than 17 years of leadership experience. Prior to joining ACIJ, Ana Delia served as program manager with The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, a community development and advocacy organization that champions economic equality, civic engagement, and social justice for Latino and immigrant families in Alabama. There, she served as lead organizer, Civic Engagement Program Manager and eventually Supervised the merge of two programs- community organizing and immigration legal services. Ana Delia served at the Arc of Blount and then Arc of Jefferson County for over 10 years. At the ARC she learned the importance of autonomy, self advocacy and people-first language. Ana Delia currently serves on the board at Alabama Arise and is an Alabama approved Spanish Interpreter. She is a Midwestern Academy, Lideramos and Center for Creative Leadership alumni. Ana Delia is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who migrated to New Mexico and then California. She has lived in Alabama for more than 20 years. She is a first generation Mexican American who has lived the experience to the fullest, a pioneer in every aspect of the Mexican-American experience with all of its contradictions, complexities and gifts.