It’s National Volunteer Week! Pt. 2
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. This is our second post (if you missed the first one, click here!) about our awesome volunteers. Without further ado…
Stella Sommer
Stella has been invaluable as a Development intern, working on administrative and development-related projects. She lives out of state and is a perfect example of how we benefit from remote volunteers!
“I joined NMILC as an intern looking to expand my understanding of our current immigration landscape and explore working with immigrant communities through a legal lens. The bonus was a front row seat as our programs continue to adjust to policy changes under the Biden administration, and the icing on the cake was working with a team of tenacious, kind people committed to social justice.""
Thalia Fort
Thalia was a 2020 intern who volunteered with our Development team. Like Stella, she helped build systems, fostered partnerships, and helped us manage logistical and administrative projects.
“My grandparents were immigrants from Germany and the Ukraine, and I have family members who are adopted from outside the US. Seeing the complicated immigration system personally made me want to volunteer with NMILC.
I love Albuquerque and I love New Mexico. I want to help people stay here.”
Alondra Reyes
Alondra is a pre-law fellow and an invaluable asset to our legal staff. Soon, Alondra will be attending law school and carrying on the vision of NMILC.
“As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, I have lived through the hardships of immigration and felt the need to get involved. NMILC has given me the opportunity to be a social justice leader through direct legal assistance for my community. Furthermore, they continue to mentor me through my own legal professional development."
Iris Wohner
Iris is an intern within NMILC’s Survivor Advancement Program. She helps our clients access holistic services, connecting them to important community resources and opportunities. Interns like Iris play such an important role in supporting NMILC’s legal work!
"I chose to intern with NMILC because I believe in its mission of uplifting and empowering underserved immigrant communities in New Mexico. I love the collaboration that goes on with other local nonprofit organizations because it allows for the specific needs of each client to be met and brings about truly holistic solutions. "
Once again, thank you to all of our incredible volunteers! This is part two 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 21, 2021
Written by Lydia Phillips, NMILC’s Communications Specialist.
