IDSH 2025: Immigrant Rights Conference Agenda
9 a.m. Registration Opens
10 a.m. Overview of the Immigrants Rights Landscape (Federal and State Level) featuring Cristina Aguilera (ORI)
Cristina Aguilera Executive Director Massachusetts Office for Immigrants and Refugees
Cristina Aguilera Sandoval has devoted her career to advancing opportunities, policies and equity for immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts and across the country. She was raised in Valencia, Venezuela, and has worked for two decades to promote social equity and immigrant rights, building coalitions and strategies to promote social justice, campaigning for more equitable policies, and developing and implementing inclusive programs.
11 a.m. Immigrants Day the the State House – Our Advocacy Priorities as a Coalition – featuring Maroni Minter (MIRA) and Javier Luengo-Garrido (ACLU)
Maroni Minter Political Director MIRA Coalition
Javier Luengo-Garrido Organizing Strategist ACLU
1:15 p.m. Keynote Speaker Guerline Jozef, Haitian Bridge Alliance
Guerline Jozef Co-Founder and Executive Director Haitian Bridge Alliance
Guerline Jozef is a human rights advocate dedicated to bringing awareness to issues that affect us all locally and globally, such as immigration, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and other human rights issues. She leads Haitian Bridge Alliance, which is the only Black-led, woman-led, Haitian-American-led organization serving migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border with offices in Tapachula, Tijuana and San Diego focusing people of African Descent in migration and beyond.
Workshops
2–3 p.m. Fundraising for immigrant rights and services in 2025: Tips from funders
This workshop will feature three different foundation representatives giving their perspective on the fundraising landscape right now for immigrant serving organizations, and general advice for organizations on how to approach funders.
Moderator: Elsa Gomes Bondlow MIRA Board member, Principal of Ripple Acts Philanthropic Consultant, and CEO of Social Equity Access Fund
Speakers: Hehershe Busuego Vice President of Equity Initiatives, Essex Community Foundation
Javier Juarez Director of the Latino Equity Fund
Jennifer Segel Executive Director, Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Fish Family Foundation
2–3 p.m. Advocacy: How to talk to legislators
This workshop will feature an overview of MIRA’s POIC campaign and legislative priorities, and tips on how best to approach talking to legislators.
Senator Sal DiDomenico Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate
Moderator: Maroni Minter Political Director MIRA Coalition
Speakers: Senator Sal DiDomenico Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate
Amy Grunder State Government Affairs Director MIRA Coalition
3:15–4:15 p.m. Rapid Response Approaches to Immigration Enforcement
This workshop will highlight diverse approaches to responding to immigrant enforcement in the community, from the perspective of providing legal support and representation, community support, and accompaniment.
Moderator: Mariana Dutra Organizing Director MIRA Coalition
Speakers: Emily Leung Southeast Justice Center
Bridget Miller Lynn Rapid Response Network
TBD Boston Immigrant Justice Accompaniment Network
3:15–4:15 p.m. Wellness: Remembering Our Ancestral Resilience
In this workshop, we explore the definition and embodiment of resilience through ancestry, practice and movement. As we continue to face uncertainty on various levels of collective care, we will engage together in somatic practices, storytelling, and share strategies that keep us resilient. Community-care, self-care and remembering/ honoring our culture are the keys to co-creating a resilient collective.
Facilitator: A’dahi Baira CEO and founder Colectiva Wellness and Healing
5–6 p.m. Conference Closing – presentation of the inaugural Christine Ntagengwa Leadership Award
This award is given in memory of Christine Ntagengwa, former Senior Program Director at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. Christine, who came to the United States as an immigrant from Rwanda, lived a life of service, leadership, and love. The award is given each year to an immigrant or refugee or child of immigrants or refugees who lives and works in Massachusetts and who has demonstrated a commitment to these same values in service to the immigrant community.
Christine Ntagengwa former Senior Program Director MIRA Coalition