Paralegal
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Stephanie Chavez is a paralegal at Colectiva Legal who joined the team in July of 2021. She is a Chicana born and raised in Arizona by Mexican Immigrants. She double majored in Law and Gender studies and minored in Human Rights at the University of Washington. Stephanie hopes to continue her education to become an Immigration attorney someday. For now, she is very passionate about Immigrant rights and human rights and loves the work/community that Colectiva is dedicated to. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, traveling and spending time with family, friends, and her dog Zeus!
Staff Attorney/Abogado
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Frederick graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2017. During law school, Frederick participated in the International Human Rights Clinic, Immigrant Refugee Assistance Project, Immigrant Family Assistance Project,and One America Citizenship days. In the International Human Rights Clinic he worked on writing a brief to the United Nations Special Rapport on Indigenous Rights about violations against indigenous populations in Nicaragua resulting from the construction of the Nicaraguan canal. Before coming to Colectiva, Frederick worked with a private immigration law firm where he practiced removal defense, bond, parole, asylum, VAWA, U-Visa,DACA, work authorizations, and family based petitions.
While in law school, he worked with unaccompanied and refugee youth, ages 17-21, as a bilingual youth counselor and assisted at a youth shelter for children ages 11-17. In addition, he worked in social services in a skilled nursing facility where he assisted with connecting clients to community resources and ensuring they had safe care plans for when they left.
In undergrad, he majored in criminal justice and minored in legal studies. He spent a semester studying in Argentina, which furthered his desire to assist others by becoming an immigration attorney. He is excited to bring his experience in social work and immigration law to Colectiva and is committed to helping undocumented immigrants through legal advocacy and community empowerment.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his partner and their dog, getting outdoors and going to concerts. He is the first in his family to graduate college and obtain a professional degree.
Staff Attorney/Abogada
Alan Ayala es inmigrante y beneficiario de DACA que creció en Walla Walla, Washington, donde afirma que “creemos en hacer algo de nada más que uvas y cebollas descansando bajo el sol brumoso y el aire es dulce”.
Antes de obtener un doctorado en jurisprudencia de la Universidad de Gonzaga y su licenciatura en filosofía del Colegio Whitman, Alan tuvo su comienzo en el Colegio Comunitario de Walla Walla — el hogar de académicos florecientes.
Alan entiende lo que significa ser indocumentado, y por esa razón se compromete a representar a cada uno de sus clientes con ambición, dignidad y respeto, si se le da la oportunidad.
Paralegal
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Katie Heldt is a paralegal at Colectiva Legal who joined the team in August 2021. She studied at the University of Oregon and the Universidad de Sevilla for her undergraduate education and moved to Cusco, Peru to serve as an academic advisor and teach dance. She moved back to the Pacific Northwest in 2019 and began working in immigration law. She hopes to become an immigration attorney through the Washington State Law Clerk Program while working with Colectiva. Katie spends her spare time running in the forest with her two beloved pups, Naya and Daysi, dancing with Coalescence Dance Company, and riding bikes with her friends.
Staff Attorney/Abogada
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Sylvia grew up in Colorado and lived for years in Portland, Oregon, where she attended Lewis & Clark College and received degrees in International Affairs, Hispanic Studies, and a minor in Latin American Studies. She was inspired to become an immigration attorney while working with immigrant families in Portland as an AmeriCorps member, where she ran after-school programs and a community garden. Before coming to Colectiva, Sylvia worked as an immigration attorney for New York Legal Assistance Group, where she ran free legal clinics for immigrant patients of public hospitals. Most of her clients had experienced domestic violence and other crimes, torture, or severe medical issues. She represented individuals in U visas, family-based immigration, asylum, DACA, VAWA, and other relief, and engaged in extensive advocacy surrounding immigrant access to health care, housing, and other benefits. Prior to that work she clerked at the New York Immigration Court through the Department of Justice Honors Program. She attended George Washington Law School in Washington, DC, and attended a summer program in International Human Rights and Refugee Law at the University of Oxford. As a law student she represented asylum seekers and victims of forced labor and human trafficking, and conducted policy advocacy on behalf of migrant farm workers. She is thrilled to bring her passion for immigrant justice back to the Pacific Northwest. For fun she enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, and making art.
Paralegal
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Paralegal
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Quinn McTighe began working as a legal assistant when he was studying Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Washington. After graduating in 2020, he moved to Beacon Hill, where he first heard of Colectiva Legal del Pueblo. When he saw that Colectiva was looking to hire paralegals, Quinn jumped at the opportunity. When he’s not at the office, you can often find Quinn playing guitar, cooking, or watching the Mariners. Quinn is originally from Burien, and he is grateful to return to his roots and be a part of the Colectiva team. Quinn McTighe empezó a trabajar como asistente legal mientras estaba estudiando la historia de Latinoamérica en la Universidad de Washington. Después de formarse en 2020, el se mudó a Beacon Hill, donde encontró por primera vez el nombre Colectiva Legal del Pueblo. Cuando vio que Colectiva estaba buscando paralegales, aprovechó la oportunidad. Cuando no está en la oficina, a Quinn le gusta tocar la guitarra, cocinar, y animar a los Seattle Mariners. Quinn originalmente es de Burien, y está agradecido de regresar a sus raíces y ser parte del equipo de Colectiva.
Staff Attorney/Abogada
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Miki is a staff attorney at Colectiva Legal. Earlier in her career, she served as the asylum paralegal and pro bono project coordinator at the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, and as a paralegal on the Public Benefits and Veterans Legal Services Project at Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. As a law student, she volunteered for the Adelante Pro Bono Project assisting asylum-seeking families returned to Mexico pursuant to the Migrant Protection Protocols and participated in the UW Law Immigration Clinic. She also served her law school community as a board member for the Latinx Law Student Association. Miki holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Science degree from Hunter College School of Education and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and Hebrew. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her partner, children (ages 6 and 8) and dog, as well as her friends and community. She is an avid climber and runner and loves to take on new challenges.
Staff Attorney/Abogada
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Sandy is an immigration attorney and co-founder of Colectiva Legal del Pueblo. She represents individuals in various stages of the immigration process including family-based petitions, deportation defense, naturalization and non-immigrant visas. Sandy is committed to working with immigrant populations individually and collectively, in a capacity that empowers and informs them of their rights.
Before becoming an attorney, Sandy focused on grassroots campaigns and organizing with migrant communities for education, immigration and worker’s rights.
Sandy grew up in Santa Ana, California and is the proud daughter of immigrant parents. She obtained a B.A. in Latin American Studies and a minor in History from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Sandy graduated from Seattle University School of Law. She is the first in her family to graduate college and obtain a professional degree.
Operations Coordinator/ Coordinadora de Operaciones
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Bilingual law graduate and consultant specialized in human rights, social justice, and responsible business conduct with 5+ years of academic and professional experience in policy advocacy, legal analysis, nonprofit operations, and stakeholder management. Experience working with community leaders, governments, international organizations, and C-Suite executives. I am originally from Chile. I love to read, write, take pictures, and spend time with my four-year-old daughter and her dad.
Development Coordinator
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Community Organizer/ Organizador Comunitario
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Miguel joined Colectiva Legal del Pueblo as the Community Organizer in May 2021. His role as a Community Organizer allows him to support and work alongside different communities and assess needs being faced by people to find ways to tap into new and established resources. Miguel graduated from the University of Washington-Tacoma with a Bachelor’s degree in Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies and a Minor in Sociology. Before joining Colectiva, Miguel worked with the YMCA with their after-school youth mentoring programs. Miguel has also worked with a labor union representing workers at UW Seattle and the Medical Center. Miguel is a proud union member and continues working with unions in the area and is very passionate about immigrant and worker’s rights. Miguel was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and emigrated with his family to California when he was seven; shortly after arriving in California his family decided to settle in Tacoma, WA, where he has now lived for the majority of his life. In his free time, Miguel enjoys reading, playing the drums, playing soccer and walks with his apple head Chihuahua, Popeye. Miguel is excited about the work that can be accomplished through his work at Colectiva.”
Community Advocate/ Defensora Comunitaria
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Karen has been part of Colectiva since its beginning in 2012. She began as a volunteer and in January of 2018 she formally joined the staff. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Karen migrated to the US in 1997 in search of a better life. She has worked in the food industry for the last 20 years. Karen has always been committed to helping her community in a variety of ways. Aside from enjoying interacting with clients, Karen enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.
