Danielle Alvarado Awarded 2014 Michael Maggio Immigrants’ Rights Summer Fellowship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Danielle Alvarado Awarded 2014 Michael Maggio Immigrants’ Rights Summer Fellowship

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), joined by its project partners the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CHRCL), and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIP/NLG), are delighted to announce Danielle Alvarado has been named the recipient of the Michael Maggio Immigrants' Rights Summer Fellowship for 2014. Ms. Alvarado, a second-year law student at Northeastern University will use her time as a fellow to clerk at the New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice.

One of the reasons Ms. Alvarado's application was chosen was the powerful way she described her project, which coordinates three types of legal services: representation to victims of workplace abuse, deportation defense to those whose civil rights have been violated by law enforcement, and the securing of immigration protections for workers who are victims of employer and/or government misconduct.

"The work that Danielle Alvarado will do at the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice reminds me of Michael Maggio's approach to fighting for social justice and the way he was able to effect change through hard work, collaboration with others, and an abiding compassion for the oppressed," said Dan Kesselbrenner, Executive Director, NIP/NLG. He continued, "I hope this fellowship offers Danielle the chance to improve the lives of immigrants and strengthen the Center's important work."

AILA Executive Director Crystal Williams noted, "Michael Maggio's longstanding commitment to mentorship is why I think this fellowship resonates so much with those who knew and loved him. He was always looking for ways to offer opportunities for empowerment and growth to those around him, and this fellowship is just such an opportunity for Danielle. AILA looks forward to seeing the results of her work."

The three sponsoring organizations jointly created the fellowship in 2009 to commemorate the life and legal contributions of Michael Maggio. This fellowship honors him as an extraordinary immigration attorney, individual, and life-long advocate for justice, equality, and peace. Throughout his career, Mr. Maggio received countless professional awards and was honored for his extraordinary legal representation, astute strategizing, unwavering commitment to the highest ethical standards, and his deep passion for justice and upholding the rule of law. He was an active member of AILA, the National Lawyers Guild, and served on the Board of Directors of the National Immigration Project. He was also an active supporter of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. He died in February 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer.