Our Fellows
The Opportunity Agenda’s Communications Institute Fellows are media-ready experts on some of the country’s most urgent challenges, coming largely from communities most affected by those challenges. For journalists seeking voices with a grassroots perspective that links economic opportunity, criminal justice, immigrant opportunity, and racial justice issues to the lived experiences of Americans, Communications Fellows are ideal spokespeople.
John-Michael Torres
Communications Coordinator, La Unión del Pueblo EnteroFrom Mission, Texas, John-Michael attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he got involved with the Student/Farmworker Alliance and the farmworker-led Campaign for Fair Food. After graduating, he returned home to South Texas and joined local organizing efforts for farmworker rights and against corporate-led globalization. He now works as...
Get To know John-MichaelAdrianna Torres-Garcia
Program Coordinator, Free Migration ProjectAdrianna Torres-Garcia, MSW has an extensive background in social and scientific research, as well as experience in policy and advocacy in nonprofit organizations.
Get To know AdriannaNatalicia Tracy
Executive Director, Brazilian Immigrant CenterNatalicia Tracy has been Executive Director of the Brazilian Immigrant Center (BIC), the New England Region’s largest Portuguese-speaking workers center, for two years. Before becoming Executive Director, she was Secretary of the BIC board from 2006-2010. Natalicia has long experience as an organizer and leader within many sectors of the Brazilian...
Get To know NataliciaDavid Trujillo
Advocacy Director, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial CountiesDavid Trujillo serves as Advocacy Director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. ACLU-SDIC is a prominent force for the protection and expansion of fundamental rights in California’s second-most populous county and southern borderlands. David guides the affiliate’s public policy and civic engagement agenda. David was born in...
Get To know DavidNaomi Tsu
Deputy Legal Director of the Immigrant Justice Project, Southern Poverty Law CenterNaomi Tsu oversees the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) legal and advocacy work on behalf of immigrants in the Deep South. She represents clients who have experienced wage theft, discrimination, human trafficking, and other abuses. She was counsel for immigrant workers in David v. Signal, one of the largest labor...
Get To know NaomiBianca Tylek
Founder and Executive Director, Worth RisesBianca Tylek is one of the nation’s leading experts on and advocates against the prison industry.
Get To know BiancaJessica Valoris
Jessica Valoris is a multidisciplinary artist and community facilitator. Through ritual performance, sound collage, and mixed media painting, Jessica creates sacred spaces that honor the earth-based traditions of her Black and Jewish ancestors. Her art is rooted in practices of collective care, ancestral reverence and embodied study.
Get To know JessicaJesse Van Tol
Director of Membership & Organizing, National Community Reinvestment CoalitionJesse Van Tol is Director of Membership and Organizing for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. In that capacity, he is responsible for implementing comprehensive communications and outreach strategies that highlight the organization’s membership, public policy positions and programs. Van Tol oversees a department of three communications staff, who are responsible...
Get To know JesseLaura A. Vazquez
Legislative Analyst, National Council of La RazaLaura Vazquez monitors immigration policy and conducts legislative and administrative advocacy in order to advance humane reforms to the current immigration system. She served as a caseworker for Congresswoman Norton, assisting D.C. residents with their immigration applications. As a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Fellow, she researched laws passed in 1996...
Get To know Laura A.Monique Verdin
Monique Verdin is a transdisciplinary storyteller, citizen of the Houma Nation and director of The Land Memory Bank & Seed Exchange, responding to the complex interconnectedness of environment, economics, culture, climate, and change in the Gulf South.
Get To know Monique