Communications Institute
The Opportunity Agenda’s Communications Institute is an annual event that brings together diverse social justice leaders from around the nation for intensive communications skill-building and support. The Institute, which takes place in New York City, is a four-day residency that prepares the movement’s up-and-coming voices to cut through the noise with effective messages that will persuade and mobilize key audiences.
Victor Palafox
Steering Committee Member/Organizer, Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice/Immigrant Youth Leadership Initiative of AlabamaVictor Palafox is a community organizer and aspiring History teacher based in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama with the Immigrant Youth Leadership Initiative of Alabama and a Steering Committee member with the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. Born in Mexico City, he was raised in Alabama, has resided there ever...
Get To know VictorAndrea Panjwani
Co-Executive Director, Immigrant Defense ProjectAndrea serves as Co-Executive Director of the Immigrant Defense Project, an organization dedicated to protecting immigrants from deportation, detention, and separation from their families and communities through legislative and policy advocacy, impact litigation and training, and advising advocates and judges. Andrea previously served as legal director of African Services Committee,...
Get To know AndreaDennis Parker
Director of the Racial Justice Program, ACLUDennis Parker is the Director of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program, which seeks to create equal opportunities for communities of color through litigation, public education, organizing, and legislation. Prior to joining the ACLU, he was Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and...
Get To know DennisStevie Paz
Digital Organizer, NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe (CAFe) & CAFe ActionStevie Paz was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, about 100 miles away from the border. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. She has been a New Mexico Comunidades en Accion y de Fe now for 6 years. Stevie believes that...
Get To know StevieOlivia Peña
Deputy Program Director, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s RightsOlivia Peña oversees the Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio teams where staff are appointed as the independent Child Advocates for unaccompanied and separated children in immigration custody.
Get To know OliviaJessica Peñaranda
Special Projects Coordinator, Sex Workers Project/Urban Justice CenterJessica Peñaranda is the Special Projects Coordinator for the Sex Workers Project, providing direct services to sex workers and survivors of trafficking after arrest, documenting best practices, and conducting trainings with court personnel and service providers. Jessica has worked on issues relating to violence against marginalized communities for over eight...
Get To know JessicaJohnny Perez
Safe Reentry Advocate, Mental Health Project/Urban Justice CenterJohnny Perez is a non-attorney mental health advocate for the Urban Justice Center’s Mental Health Project, a law firm providing pro-bono legal representation to underserved populations affected by social justice issues. When he is not advocating on behalf of New York’s most vulnerable populations, Johnny works to change the status...
Get To know JohnnyMaritza Perez
Director, Office of National Affairs, Drug Policy AllianceMaritza Perez, Esq. leads her organization’s federal legislative agenda and strategy to end the war on drugs.
Get To know MaritzaCarmen Perez-Jordan
President & CEO, The Gathering for JusticeCarmen Perez is an award-winning, internationally-known civil and human rights leader and Chicana feminist. With a 25-year career advocating for civil rights, she currently serves as President & CEO of The Gathering for Justice.
Get To know CarmenNicole Pittman
Stoneleigh Fellow, National Council on Crime & DelinquencyNicole is a national expert on defending juveniles charged with sex offenses. In 2013, as a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow at Human Rights Watch, she authored Raised on the Registry, the first examination of the consequences of registration on youth sex offenders. In 2014, Pittman received a Stoneleigh Fellowship with...
Get To know Nicole