Starting a new program is always exciting – not only do we get to expand our area of services to provide immigration services to a new sector or the immigrant community, but we also get to grow as an organization. With the start of our Children’s Program, we needed to hire a staff attorney and program manager/paralegal to help start the program and provide services, and we approached this task very carefully. The perfect candidates not only had to demonstrate experience in immigration law, but they needed to possess the skills necessary to work with children who often have been victims of violence, have endured trauma, and take a long time to be able to trust and open up about the experiences that lead them to come o the United States. We found such candidates.

Aldren Collins, our staff attorney for the Children’s Program, moved to Miami from Gainesville, Florida, where he had graduated from the University of Florida with both his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees. Although this is his first job in immigration law, he was involved in the University of Florida’s Immigration Clinic and also with clinics and programs focused on social justice and children, such as the Gender Justice Clinic and a field placement for Social Lawyering program with both Community Legal Services and Florida Legal Services where he worked on child-specific issues. When asked about what brought him to seek employment with Florida ILJ, specifically for work with the Children’s Program, Adren said,

“My goal in starting a career as an attorney has always been to help people who need it the most. In particular, children are the most vulnerable population among us. I felt drawn to Florida IlJ’s Children’s Program because it allowed me to fulfill my career goal of helping those most in need. Also, the work is gratifying because it truly illustrates the positive impact attorneys can have on people’s lives.”

When not working, Aldren enjoys collecting, cultivating, and hybridizing rare and exotic tropical plants – making South Florida a perfect place for him. So far, he has enjoyed learning about Miami’s culture through its cuisine – sampling foods such as Peruvian Lomo Saltado and African Jollof Rice. “There are endless options here in Miami, and I love learning about cultures through culinary experiences.”

Maria Eugenia Garcia Chiesa comes to Florida ILJ with over 13 years of immigration law experience, which she acquired while living and working in New York City. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maria obtained her law degree from the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires. She emigrated to the United States in 2002. She continued her education in New York, pursuing a certificate in Paralegal Studies from the Borough of Manhattan Community College and taking English classes at Hunter College. Maria’s passion for immigration law and her experience working with immigrants led her to apply for the Project Management/Paralegal role with Florida ILJ. She made the jump from private practice to a non-profit legal setting. When asked to reflect as to what drove her to make this change and seek the position of Program Manager/Paralegal with Florida ILJ’s Children’s Program, she stated,

“Once in Miami, I had the opportunity to choose whether to continue to work for a private law firm or to accept the opportunity that FILJC was giving me to challenge myself and do something different: working with vulnerable children where some of them may come from challenging environments and bring emotional baggage because of the trauma they have suffered within their family or even escape from their home country in search of a better future.

Today, I would say that I am thrilled with my choice to be part of the FILJC team, where I can contribute not only my knowledge and experience in the immigration field but also help shape children’s future. I listen carefully and make sure they feel heard, supported, and ultimately encouraged so that they can achieve what they set out to do with courage and tenacity.”

After living in New York for over twenty years, Maria took the leap and moved South to Miami. As a lover of nature and the beach, Miami was the perfect location for her. On her time off, you can find Maria riding her bicycle along Miami Beach’s boardwalk, enjoying the breeze through her hair.