Staff

Gail joins Project Citizenship after 25+ years as Executive Director of The Clubhouse Network, a global network of community-based centers where young people from low-income neighborhoods explore their own interests, build skills, and develop confidence in themselves through the use of technology. Under her leadership the organization grew from a single location in Boston to more than 100 Clubhouses in 21 countries around the world. Earlier in her career Gail spent 12 years as a management consultant with Gemini Consulting and 3 years as a Senior Research Associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.A. from Oberlin College. As a granddaughter of immigrants, Gail is honored to be working in support of Project Citizenship’s mission and services on behalf of immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship.

Christine joined Project Citizenship as Communications Manager in January 2025, bringing over five years of experience in nonprofit communications and marketing. She has dedicated her career to mission-driven organizations that foster belonging, inclusivity, and connection. Growing up in Provincetown alongside immigrants whose hard work formed the backbone of the region’s seasonal tourist economy, Christine developed a deep appreciation for collaboration, community building, and storytelling. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Spanish from Wellesley College, she is thrilled to use her education and background to support Project Citizenship’s meaningful work of empowering immigrants on their journey to U.S. citizenship.

As the Operations and Programs Manager at Project Citizenship, Maria supports the organization’s mission to help immigrants, including a few of her own family members, become U.S. citizens. She is second-generation from her father who is an Italian immigrant. She draws inspiration from her family’s immigrant experience, which fuels her passion for social justice and immigration services.

Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, with a double minor in Human Rights and Immigration Studies. She joined Project Citizenship in September 2022 as a Communications & Operations Intern, transitioned into the role of Operations & Programs Coordinator the following month, and was promoted to her current position in January 2024.

Maria became a Department of Justice accredited representative in October 2023.

Adriana Céspedes is a Colombian attorney with extensive experience in human rights and immigration matters. Throughout her career, she has worked with vulnerable communities, including victims of armed conflict, supporting them in processes of comprehensive reparation and advocating for their fundamental rights.

As an immigrant herself, Adriana deeply understands the legal, social, and emotional challenges faced by individuals on their path to citizenship. Her professional experience includes advising families and communities on complex legal processes, ensuring compliance with transparency standards, and leading projects that promote inclusion and access to justice.

Committed to the mission of facilitating the integration and success of immigrants in the United States, Adriana combines her legal expertise and personal perspective to provide empathetic and effective support.

Stephanie Charles is a growing and vibrant leader in the international development and immigration services space with a focus on non-profit management. As a Boston native, she holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies and a minor in Theology from Boston College. She completed her graduate studies at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies with a Master of Arts in Global Development Policy and a certificate in African Studies.

During her tenure at Boston College, Stephanie was recognized as a Ronald E. McNair scholar, where she conducted formal research on Iraqi and Somali refugee assimilation in the United States. Moreover, Stephanie’s career in the field stems from being a first-generation Haitian-American and from volunteering as a teacher’s assistant with a non-profit organization that supported recently immigrated children as they resettled in Boston. Stephanie continues to remain passionate about serving immigrant and international communities in the Greater Boston area.

Mossamed has joined Project Citizenship to fulfill her 10-month service year with the Commonwealth Corps. She graduated with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in international relations. Throughout graduate school, she developed a particular interest in human rights issues, one aspect of which was understanding the challenges immigrants/refugees face. This led to her joining Project Citizenship where she hopes to give back to the community while helping immigrants with their naturalization process.

Lissa Damus joined Project Citizenship in September 2020. She graduated at the University of Massachusetts Boston with a degree in International Relations. She is currently pursuing her master’s International Relations as well. Lissa speaks Haitian Creole, French and English. Her interest in immigration comes from the fact that she and her parents are immigrants from Haiti. She understands the importance of getting citizenship and is passionate about helping others accomplish that goal.

Dani Del Portillo joined Project Citizenship in 2025 as a Project Assistant. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in Fine Arts with a minor in Education at the University of Rhode Island. Born in Mexico and fluent in Spanish, Dani’s experience as an immigrant, alongside her mother’s, has deeply influenced her passion for social justice. These personal experiences have shaped her professional goal of serving the immigrant community. 

Gloria joined Project Citizenship in September 2020 as an AmeriCorps Legal Advocate of Massachusetts. Holding American and Italian citizenships, while also being of Ethiopian descent and having lived in several countries abroad, Gloria understands the importance of supporting immigrant communities in achieving their goals. Gloria earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Italian and French laws from the University of Bologna and the University of Nanterre, as well as a Master’s degree in law from the University of Bologna. She recently graduated with an LLM degree from Boston University School of Law.
New York Bar License. 

Ricardo Fernandes Garcia joined Project Citizenship as a 2025 summer intern. Currently, he is a rising junior at Harvard, studying Art, Film, and Visual Studies with History and Literature. Having immigrated to Florida from Venezuela at age 12, Ricardo has developed a passion for nurturing democracy and making pathways to American citizenship more accessible. He is beyond grateful to serve as a steppingstone in people’s stairway to naturalization.

Michael retired in 2018 after serving as a litigator, regulatory lawyer, and transactional lawyer for Met Life, Inc. for almost 20 years. Upon graduation from Columbia University School of Law, where he was the Executive Editor of the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, Mike began his legal career as an Associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York. Upon moving to Boston, he joined the Litigation Department at Palmer & Dodge as an Associate and then Partner, where he worked on a wide variety of litigation and transactional matters. In retirement, Mike now volunteers at Newton Wellesley Hospital and the Wellesley Council on Aging. As an Access to Justice Fellow, Mike partners with Project Citizenship to educate immigrants about the benefits of citizenship and to assist eligible, legal permanent residents to overcome barriers to naturalization.

Elsa Laskorski joined Project Citizenship in November 2023 as a Staff Attorney. Elsa earned her law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, where she spent her final semester working as a student attorney in the school’s Immigration Clinic. Prior to law school, she spent several years working in immigration legal services in Providence, Rhode Island. A dual citizen of the United States and Finland, Elsa’s own family inspired her commitment to helping immigrants, and she looks forward to continuing that work at Project Citizenship.

Joe McMurtrey joined Project Citizenship in May 2025 as a Legal Intern. He recently completed his first year of law school at the Northeastern University School of Law. Previously, he studied history at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While in Minnesota, he taught civics and English classes to naturalization applicants. He was inspired to pursue immigration law by the brilliance, courage, and patriotism of his students, and is excited to have the opportunity to do so with Project Citizenship.

Heather joined Project Citizenship in 2023 as the Development Director. She has a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising and communications, working to actively build thoughtful relationships, foster collaborative thinking, and communicate need and impact through strength-based storytelling. She graduated from Bates College with degrees in Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies, and she strives to leverage her educational, personal, and professional experiences to encourage inclusive and equitable community engagement and opportunity.

Alex Orellana joined Project Citizenship in December 2023 as a program assistant. He is currently a student at the University of Massachusetts Boston pursuing a degree in Business Management, with a concentration in leadership and organizational change. Fluent in Spanish and second generation, Alex draws inspiration from his parents’ naturalization to help others on their journey to citizenship. Alex looks forward to making a difference in his community and hopes to help others navigate the naturalization process.

Nic Page joined Project Citizenship in June 2025 as the Community Engagement Manager. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida and the University of Exeter with a Bachelor’s in International Studies and a Master’s in International Relations. With experience in community outreach, engagement, and empowerment, Nic is passionate about Project Citizenship’s mission and is excited to use his skills to support those going through the naturalization process and strengthen our community as a whole.

Hannah Podol joined Project Citizenship in June 2025 as a Summer Intern. She graduated this spring from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies. Having lived in the Boston area for her entire life, Hannah is excited to engage in work that supports immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship and meaningfully connect with her local community. She combines her educational experience pertaining to social justice and human rights, with her personal passion to serve the immigrant community, to carry out Project Citizenship’s mission.

James Richardson joined Project Citizenship in the Summer of 2021 as an AmeriCorps Legal Advocate of Massachusetts. James is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School where he was certified as a student attorney and worked in Suffolk’s Housing Clinic. It was there that he became interested in public interest law. Prior to law school, James studied political science and history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Marissa Rodriguez is the Associate Director at Project Citizenship. In this role, she oversees internal operations, supports the fantastic staff team, and aids in setting the strategic direction of the organization. Marissa comes to Project Citizenship with a wealth of experience in the social sector, including roles focused on staff learning and development, curriculum and program design, operations and project management, educational technology, and experiential learning. Marissa received a B.A. in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from Penn State University and an M.Ed. with a concentration on eLearning & Instructional Design from Northeastern University. She is excited to bring her robust skillset to the Associate Director role with the aim of empowering staff and supporting clients to further the mission of Project Citizenship.

Madeleine is a recent graduate of the University of Exeter with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and has joined the programs team at Project Citizenship as one of the two 2024-2025 Commonwealth Corps service members. As a dual citizen of the United States and the UK, she understands the importance of Project Citizenship’s mission and strives to help immigrants living in her new local community.