This year, we bestow twelve Pro Bono Publico awards to exceptional attorneys who embody the spirit of Casa Cornelia by representing our clients with compassion, dedication and perseverance. In 2020, the effects of the pandemic and immigration policy restrictions impacted Casa Cornelia’s programs and the clients we serve. However, these challenges did not impede the active participation of volunteer attorneys, or [...]
Hashem* was born in the 70’s in Iran to an extremely conservative Muslim family. Although it was all he knew growing up, there were many aspects of his family’s religious practices and beliefs that made Hashem uncomfortable. Some of the rituals included self-harm, polygamy, and public executions by stoning. As an Islamic state, Iran’s citizens live under this Islamic law, [...]
Victoria’s* closest family growing up was her mother and her cousin, Gloria*, who was more like a sister to her. In the Democratic Republic of Congo – a country in central Africa – Victoria’s mother supported their small family by working as a shopkeeper. In addition to her day job, her mother was the president of a local women’s rights [...]
Emmanuel* never expected to have to flee his home country of Cameroon to save his and his family’s lives. He grew up in an Anglophone (English-speaking) region with his mother and sisters. His father died when Emmanuel was very young, so he eventually had to drop out of school to support his family. “I engaged in agricultural work with my [...]
Gloria Bader (left) with VIT Project Assistant Alice Bendinelli at the 12th Annual La Mancha Awards I am honored to begin my role as chair of the remarkable Board of Directors of Casa Cornelia Law Center. The Board's commitment centers on guiding and supporting the Executive Director, Carmen Chavez and the entire staff, the enthusiastic donors, our zealous [...]
As the third of four siblings growing up in Cuba, Leonardo* had a hard time gaining the support and education he needed. His family struggled financially and he eventually had to drop out of school at age 14. He says he did it, “In order to help my parents and siblings because we did not have enough money to eat.” [...]
I hope that you and your loved ones had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. My name is Tom Laube. As a longtime supporter of Casa Cornelia, a Board Member, and a Volunteer Attorney, I have gotten to know the organization from many angles. My time dedicated to ensuring access to justice for my Casa Cornelia clients have been among the [...]
We are here for you! Casa Cornelia Law Center stands by our community and will continue to be there for those who need immigration legal services. If you or someone you know have questions about your eligibility for our services, call 619-231-7788 or click here. ¡Aquí estamos! Casa Cornelia Law Center continúa ayudando a la comunidad, especialmente a aquellos que [...]
