Nguye, Christine

Christine Nguye

Christine Nguyen (she/her) the Policy Manager at the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum. A second generation Vietnamese-American, she previously served as Policy and Research Manager for The Fairness Project, where she provided campaigns research expertise and worked with coalitions to draft policies for ballot initiatives to raise the minimum wage, pass Medicaid expansion and reform policing in states and cities across the country. Christine has experience working for women’s health advocates, physicians’ trade groups, and think tanks where she built her career working towards protecting patients, ensuring access to high quality health care coverage and bridging policy issues. Christine earned her Masters of Public Health from George Washington University and has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Christine lives in Washington, D.C. with her partner and their retired racing greyhound, Woody. 

Ahmad, Azizah

Azizah Ahmad

Azizah Ahmad (she/her)  is the Policy & Community Advocacy Manager at the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF). In her role, Azizah uses her decade’s worth of advocacy experience in indigenous, Southeast Asian and Muslim American communities to assess and advocate on policy that impacts the health of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Prior to joining APIAHF, Azizah worked in immigration law, providing legal aid to residents of the Bay Area and served at the office of the California Attorney General, analyzing policy on immigration, environment, health care, and criminal justice reform.

Dorn, Stan

Stan Dorn

Stan Dorn is the Director, Health Policy Project of UnidosUS. Since June 2022, Stan has directed UnidosUS’s health policy advocacy. In his previous roles, Stan has served as director of the National Center for Coverage Innovation at Families USA, one of the country’s leading health consumer advocacy groups; Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center; Health Division Director at the Children’s Defense Fund; and Managing Attorney for the National Health Law Program. With more than 35 years of state and federal work focused primarily on protecting and promoting health coverage and care for low-income people, Stan has made major contributions to streamlined enrollment provisions in the Affordable Care Act; Express Lane Eligibility; the creation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Health Coverage Tax Credit program for trade-displaced workers; increased premium tax credits under the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act; defeat of Medicaid block grant proposals; federal funding guidelines for the Basic Health Program; improvements to federal risk-adjustment systems for Marketplace coverage; state fiscal relief provisions in 2009 federal stimulus legislation; and state policies to improve affordability of Marketplace coverage through premium alignment and fees on insurance premium revenue, streamline enrollment into health coverage based on state income-tax filing, and limit health program discrimination based on immigration status.  

D’Avanz, Ben

Ben D’Avanz

Ben D’Avanz (he/him) is the Senior Health Policy Analyst at the National Immigration Law Center, works on access to health care and healthy lives for low-income immigrant communities. Through advocacy, relationship-building, and analysis, he advances policies that enhance the health of immigrant families and works to block those that bring harm, with a focus on federal legislation and executive action.

Gonzales, Shelby

Shelby Gonzales

Shelby Gonzales (she/her)  is the Vice President for Immigration Policy. She focuses primarily on leading the Center’s work related to access to public benefit and other supports for immigrants and their families. Gonzales also provides strategic direction related to implementation of effective outreach and program simplification strategies to promote enrollment and retention in benefit programs. From 2011 to 2015, Gonzales served as a member of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education, which provides expertise to the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator on matters related to education and outreach to enroll and retain individuals in health coverage programs. She currently sits on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Children’s Health Insurance Program Advisory Committee, is a board member of the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, and is on the executive committee for the Protecting Immigrant Families coalition.

Reith, Mireya

Mireya Reith

Mireya Reith (she/her) is the founding Executive Director of Arkansas United, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering immigrants and their communities through rights advocacy and closing service gaps. Founded in 2012, Arkansas United boasts a network of more than 200 immigrant organizers and 800 members in 17 communities across Arkansas, and operates regional Immigrant Resource Centers in Springdale and Little Rock. Reith spent the first 14 years of her career in the field of international political development, working across five continents with nonprofits and the UN to engage marginalized communities in democratic processes. Reith was the first Latina appointed to the Arkansas State Board of Education, and the youngest chairperson in state history. She also serves on the boards of directors for the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (is the current co-chair), National Partnership for New Americans, and the National Immigration Forum, and amongst her recognitions, she received the White House Cesar Chavez Champions of Change Award in 2013.

Rendón, Eréndira “Ere”

Eréndira “Ere” Rendón

Eréndira “Ere” Rendón is the Vice President of Immigrant Justice at The Resurrection Project (TRP). Ere created TRP’s Immigrant Justice Department and serves as the organization’s lead strategist and manager of local and state-wide campaigns impacting the lives of immigrants. Ere has played a leading role in the successful passage of many pro-immigrant legislation in Illinois, including Temporary Visitors Driver's Licenses, the renewal of Illinois’ All Kids healthcare program, the expansion of healthcare to undocumented seniors and older adults in Illinois, the Chicago Legal Protection Fund, and the creation of the first ever immigration unit in the law office of the Cook County Public Defender. In 2019, Ere led the successful passage and implementation of Illinois Access to Justice Program, a now 20M first in the nation program that provides free legal representation and mass "know-your-rights" education to vulnerable and resilient populations ravaged by the twin scourges of mass incarceration and mass deportations.

Kassa, Amaha

Amaha Kassa

Amaha Kassa (he/him) is the founder and Executive Director of African Communities Together. Amaha has 25 years of professional experience as a labor and community organizer, nonprofit director, and social entrepreneur. For nine years, Amaha directed East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, a workers’ rights nonprofit in Oakland, California, growing it from a startup to one of the leading organizations in its field. Prior to launching ACT, Amaha earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. He is an immigrant from Ethiopia.

Stewart, M.S, Cynthia

Cynthia Stewart, M.S

Cynthia Stewart, M.S. is the Ramirez June Developmental Disabilities Navigator at the NYS Office for New Americans (NYS ONA). Leading the ONA Ramirez June Initiative, Cynthia builds capacity at the state level for new Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families to connect with vital resources, information, and services in New York State. Cynthia has a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and has provided therapy for individuals with I/DD as a clinical intern. As a direct support professional for the ARC Mid-Hudson, she has supported individuals with I/DD to achieve their goals.

Cedor, Jennifer

Jennifer Cedor

Jennifer Cedor (she/her) is a staff attorney on the Access to Care and Coverage Team at Health Law Advocates. Prior to HLA, Jennifer worked at the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Boston Court Service Center providing access to justice to self-represented litigants. In this capacity, Jennifer assisted marginalized and underserved litigants navigate the judicial system in various Probate and Family and Housing Court matters. Before joining the Boston Court Service Center, Jennifer worked as a Public Defender with CPCS in the Mental Health Litigation Division. At CPCS, she represented clients who were facing civil commitment in mental health institutions. Jennifer received her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. She attended Clark University where she received her undergraduate and graduate degree.

Uipi, Sina

Sina Uipi

Sina Uipi (she/her) is the Washington, DC-based Policy Associate for Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC). She leads EPIC's national advocacy and policy efforts for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities. Sina voices NHPI needs at the national level, manages the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans' health and immigration policy committees and advises NHPI programming and issue-based campaigns.

Sina is a former fellow of National CAPACD’s 2021 Community in the Capitol Fellowship where she developed her strengths and leadership skills. As a product of the California public education system, Sina earned her BA at SFSU in Political Science, with minors in Counseling and Women and Gender Studies. Born and raised in LA, Sina is a first generation Tongan. She was shaped into the advocate she is today by her parents and her community.

Garcia, Michelle

Michelle Garcia

Michelle Garcia (she/her) is the Manager of Organizing and Community Development for Access Living. She has worked for Access Living since 2009 when she joined the staff as the Latinx Community Organizer since 2009. As a Community Organizer, Michelle is responsible for increasing the number of Latinx leaders with disabilities and raising awareness in the Latinx community around disability issues, including immigration and healthcare. In 2021, Michelle was promoted to the role of Manager of Organizing and Community Development (MOCD) and took on a new position of leadership position within Access Living’s Advocacy Department. Michelle has collaborated with many others working in the Latinx community and has helped expand their knowledge about disability-related issues.

Guadalupe Cedano Robles , Mayra

Mayra Guadalupe Cedano Robles

Mayra Guadalupe Cedano Robles (she/her) is the Executive Director of Comunidades Unidas. She has expert knowledge in immigration law, social justice, and immigrant rights. She protested immigration raids at the state capitol during her teenage years after immigrating to the U.S. as a child. After graduating from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's in Sociology and minors in Chicana/o/x Studies and Psychology, Mayra joined "CU" Comunidades Unidas. She organized immigrant families and led numerous immigrant justice actions, rallies, and marches. CU's Immigration Legal Clinic was co-founded by Mayra, along with the Awaken Workers Rights Campaign in 2014. Mayra became Executive Director at CU in 2019, and in the same year became accredited to practice immigration law by the Department of Justice.

Delia Espino, Ana

Ana Delia Espino

Ana Delia Espino (she/her) is the Executive Director of ACIJ: The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, 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. Ana Delia currently serves on the board at Alabama Arise and is an Alabama approved Spanish Interpreter. Ana Delia is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who migrated to New Mexico and then California.

Fisseha, Adey

Adey Fisseha

Adey Fisseha (she/her) is US Senior Program Officer at Unbound Philanthropy, where she helps develop, implement, and evaluate the Foundation’s grantmaking strategies in the United States. Adey joined Unbound in 2012, after working for 10 years at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), most recently serving as a policy attorney and campaign coordinator. She worked on a wide range of federal policy issues at NILC, including, notably, as lead lawyer on a national advocacy campaign to pass the Dream Act. Adey was a compelling media spokesperson on the effort and led a coalition of more than one hundred national faith, education, labor, and immigrant/civil rights groups on the campaign. She also has served as a legislative aide to Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA). Adey graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in government and a certificate in African studies, and earned a law degree at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was a Cardozo Public Service Scholar. Adey is a refugee and immigrant from Ethiopia.

Echeverri, Andrés

Andrés Echeverri

Andrés Echeverri, he/him, is the founder and president of ACSI Translations® (AXSEE). Originally from Colombia, South America, Andrés has experienced life as an undocumented immigrant and now as a proud American citizen, shaping his vision for social entrepreneurship. Andrés founded and presides over ACSI Translations® (AXSEE), a seasoned firm with a nationwide reach supporting Public and Private Enterprises to evaluate and improve language access services and policies. Since its 2011 inception, ACSI pledges over 12% annual profit supporting NGOs focusing on education, health, and legal services for immigrant communities. Holding an MBA from American University, Andrés lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife, Elsa, and their two amazing kids, Bruno and Luciano.

Castillo, Claudia

Claudia Castillo

Claudia Castillo, she/her, is the Language Access Program Manager for the City of Denver and works in the Denver Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (DOIRA). Prior to joining the City of Denver in December 2020, Claudia worked as an asylum paralegal and as a Legal Assistance Coordinator for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. After serving ~20 years in the Army in Korea, Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Kuwait, and Honduras, Claudia retired in 2016 and pursued her Master’s degree in international human rights at the University of Denver, where she graduated in 2018. It was at DU where Claudia rediscovered her passion for advocating on behalf of immigrant populations and comprehensive immigration reform, including on language access-related issues. Claudia understands first-hand how language access affects immigrant communities, as she was her parent’s own translator and interpreter from the age of six. Claudia prioritizes the ability of Denver’s immigrant and refugee residents to receive language access services and knows how life changing receiving critical information in one’s preferred language can be. She strives to bring this kind of change to Denver and all residents regardless of English proficiency. 

González, Catalina

Catalina González

Catalina González, she/her, Senior Technical Advisor, World Education, Inc. has worked with communities in South and Central America, The Caribbean, India, and the United States. The LEGO Foundation, Brookings Institution, HundrED, and others have recognized her work. Prior to joining World Education, Catalina worked for the City of Philadelphia, managing citywide adult education programs and initiatives. 

Ajanel, Ernesto

Ernesto Ajanel

Ernesto Ajanel (Maya K’iche’), he/him, is the Language Rights Program Coordinator at International Mayan League. Ernesto is a youth leader born after the signing of the Peace Accords in Iximulew (Guatemala). His parents are survivors of the internal-armed conflict and due to the war and genocide in Guatemala, his family was internally displaced, leading to his birth in the mountains of Nebaj, Maya Ixil territory. He is fluent in Maya K’iche’, Ixil, and Spanish because of his upbringing, and is conversational in English. Ernesto’s natural leadership formation stems from his parents resistance, teachings, and survival. Throughout his childhood, he learned about the importance of languages as a tool to fight for the rights of the Maya. He currently lives in Ohio where he is a community leader and supports the Maya community’s access to resources and better understanding of their rights.

Hirakawa, Kaori

Kaori Hirakawa

Kaori Hirakawa, she/her, is the Chief Executive Officer of One Language, helps organizations connect with their constituents, customers, and audiences through language access and plain language consulting and training. With sixteen years of experience in immigrant integration and language access at a local government, Kaori provides culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches to systemic change to maximize access to program and service delivery. Her experience includes working as a diplomat for the Embassy of Japan in Russia and managing educational programs at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and other educational institutions. Kaori earned a master’s degree from the University of London and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Osaka.