Writing Samples
Protection Networks for Human Rights Defenders
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
The Role of Development in Elevating Human Rights
Around the world, civic space is shrinking, contributing to risks and persecution faced by Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). This includes new types of security threats as well as concerns about the wellbeing of Defenders. For many HRDs, working in a crisis is a chronic situation. Defenders may experience multiple forms of stress, including
Around the world, civic space is shrinking, contributing to risks and persecution faced by Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). This includes new types of security threats as well as concerns about the wellbeing of Defenders. For many HRDs, working in a crisis is a chronic situation. Defenders may experience multiple forms of stress, including pressing workloads, threats, and attacks to their physical security, economic instability, invasion of privacy, and social stigma.
The Role of Development in Elevating Human Rights
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
The Role of Development in Elevating Human Rights
The Master of Human Rights Degree Program strongly believes in the importance of integrating professional experience with academic knowledge in the field of human rights, making internships one of the central aspects of the program. Many students, despite challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19 and challenges related to working in the
The Master of Human Rights Degree Program strongly believes in the importance of integrating professional experience with academic knowledge in the field of human rights, making internships one of the central aspects of the program. Many students, despite challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19 and challenges related to working in the field defending human rights, succeeded in doing amazing work with their host organizations. In this Q&A series, we interview our students to learn more about their experiences. In the fourth Q&A of the series, we are joined by Brenda Urueta, a second-year Master of Human Rights (MHR) student.
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
Since the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) in 1996, 270,000 spouses of United States (U.S.) citizens have been deported and an additional 340,000 legal immigration applications for spouses of U.S. citizens have been refused (National Immigration Forum, 2021). Nearly 1.7 million U.S. ci
Since the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) in 1996, 270,000 spouses of United States (U.S.) citizens have been deported and an additional 340,000 legal immigration applications for spouses of U.S. citizens have been refused (National Immigration Forum, 2021). Nearly 1.7 million U.S. citizens have a spouse who is undocumented (Connor, 2021). American Families United began their work in 2013 to pass the American Families United Act and provide much-needed relief to families, specifically for noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens.
Learning by Leading
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
Keeping Families Together: A Policy Report on the American Families United Act
In 2021, our team at Lever for Change engaged in an information refresh process with members of our growing network of problem solvers, the Bold Solutions Network, which showcases the highest-ranked proposals that have emerged from each of our challenges.
Previous Roles
Business Development Manager
- Manage proposal development process from beginning to end, including client relationship management, writing of proposals ranging from $15k-$200k, and file documentation
- Deliver project services to foundation clients including workshop tools design, administrative system structuring, workstream development, and coalition building coaching
- Executive Office project management support
Policy Associate
- Review grant proposals and reports
- Research policy in multiple areas, including education, violence prevention, workforce, and economic opportunity
- Support policy and ecosystem portfolio with research, relationship-building, and strategy development
Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant
- Managed course website in Canvas and communication between 40 students and the professor
- Graded papers and assignments including discussion posts, several professional memorandums, and a final case-study project
- Facilitated class activities as need and organized final group projects
- Facilitated coding process with Atlas.ti qualitative coding software
- Managed data with documentation
- Conducted literature searches and annotations
Special Projects Manager & Executive Assistant
- Facilitated grants proposals resulting in nearly $500k in funding for COVID-19 relief and racial equity programming
- Served as Board Liaison for Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Partnered with CEO to streamline and align board functions
- Supported onboarding, calendar management, and leadership team facilitation for CEO
Community Organizer
- Organized five public actions on immigration
- Trained and organized 100+ volunteers for the Humboldt Rapid Response Network and coached public leaders in activism around immigration and housing
- Supported three coordinators to develop curriculum and training for the Humboldt Rapid Response Network
Partners
