It’s National Volunteer Week! Pt. 1
April 18-24, 2021 is National Volunteer Week. Each year, we take this week to celebrate the many volunteers who make our work possible. Without their hard work and dedication NMILC would not be able to accomplish all that we do. We are grateful for not only the skills they generously offer, but the enthusiasm that they bring to the work.
We asked our staff to nominate exceptional volunteers to highlight during this week. The list was long! The fifteen volunteers we chose are just a representation of some of the amazing folks we have volunteering at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center. Throughout the week we will be posting about them on our social media pages but we’re giving our blog a sneak peek. Without further ado…
Alexandra Ogunsanya
Alexandra is an AmeriCorps Public Ally who volunteers on a full-time basis with our DACA/Citizenship teams and goes above and beyond with her work.
“I chose to volunteer with NMILC because I am passionate about working with and supporting the immigrant community here in New Mexico. Being able to have a direct positive effect on the lives of immigrants in New Mexico has been an amazing opportunity and experience for me."
John Dinh Hoang
John is an intern who volunteers to help our legal staff complete pre-screens for DACA applicants—an important job!
“Volunteering at NMILC, an organization that resonates with my values as a first-gen Asian-American with immigrant parents, and being able to feel the tangible and positive effects of my service has been absolutely amazing. Knowing we have the power to change the mutual struggles and truth that encompasses our collective experience is encouraging and empowering."
Hannah Neal
Hannah is a law student extern who helps our legal staff expand access to citizenship across the state. She also completes pre-screens for DACA applicants.
“I decided to volunteer with NMILC because I believe the work they do is so important and life changing. Being a part of such an important time in someone’s life and helping them achieve their dreams, specifically in working with the DACA program, has been such an honor.”
Renee Wolters
Renee is one of our incredibly skilled, DOJ Accredited Representative volunteers! Her efforts have expanded our citizenship services as well as our SIJS capacity.
“This will be my 6th year as a volunteer with NMILC. It has been a privilege and honor to be able to do this work. The NMILC team has spent much time and effort in training me to become a DOJ Accredited Representative; having that title now gives me more capability to be useful to the organization. I have learned so much in this volunteer work over the years, and am so grateful to the team at NMILC for your patience and confidence in me!”
Stephanie Lawyer
Like Renee, Stephanie is a DOJ Accredited Representative and helps with citizenship and survivor advancement. She is a longtime volunteer who has been an incredible asset to NMILC.
“Volunteering at NMILC and working with the immigrant community here in New Mexico have been such positive experiences for me. This work matters!”
Mary Beth Stevens
Mary Beth began as a data entry/admin volunteer. What we appreciate most is her willingness to share her professional expertise by providing our staff with valuable workplace skills-building trainings.
After a trip to El Paso & Juarez in the Summer of 2019, I found volunteer opportunities with NMILC on social media. Prior to the pandemic, I worked in the NMILC office a couple of hours a week doing administrative/data entry work. For the past year I have been offering online communication skills-building presentations to NMILC staff. This gives me a great opportunity to get better acquainted with many of the wonderful individuals who work at NMILC.
David Meischen
If you have ever read our monthly newsletter, you have benefited from David’s volunteering! In addition to other admin work, David copy edits our monthly e-newsletter.
"Now more than ever, we need individuals and organizations to advocate for the immigrant community. NMILC is doing that good work here. I want to support it."
Jenifer Getz
We are so grateful for volunteers like Jenifer, who donate their unique time and expertise to benefit our work. Jenifer volunteers with our development staff to serve as a professional consultant.
“Over the last four years the immigration policies in our country have become barbaric and inhumane. I wanted to see asylum seekers and DACA applicants treated with the appropriate respect and dignity they deserve. I knew I had to do something to support the good work that was being done by grass roots organizations like NMILC. As individuals it sometimes feels like we are powerless, but if we can make a contribution to the work we support in our own community, it allows us to take back our power.“
Once again, thank you to all of our incredible volunteers! This is part one of our National Volunteer Week posts. We will be sharing more throughout the week both here and on social media. Are these posts making you want to become an NMILC volunteer? Fill out an interest form today!
Published April 19, 2021
Written by Lydia Phillips, NMILC’s Communications Specialist.
