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.

Jamie joined Project Citizenship in August 2023 as the Community Engagement Manager. Though she is from the greater Boston area, Jamie attended Scripps College near Los Angeles, California, and she graduated with a degree in Political Studies, as well as Foreign Languages. At Scripps College, she developed her passion for immigration justice and advocacy and published a thesis on immigration, xenophobia, and democracy. Most recently, in 2021, Jamie received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Grant for Spain’s Fulbright Program, and she spent two years working in Galicia, Spain.

Maria joined Project Citizenship in September 2022, as a Communications & Operations intern. She recently graduated from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, with a Bachelor’s in Political Science. She also received a double minor in Human Rights and Immigration Studies. Maria is second generation, from her father who is an Italian Immigrant. This background has inspired her passion for social justice, and immigration services. She looks forward to her work with Project Citizenship and making a meaningful impact in her community by supporting naturalizing immigrants.

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.

Michaelle Saint Cyr is a Program Assistant and is fluent in Haitian Creole, French, and Spanish. Michaelle is a dedicated professional with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in Restorative and Transformative Justice. With fluency in French, Haitian Creole, and Spanish, she brings a strong multilingual capability to her work. Michaelle has diverse experience in the legal and administrative fields, having interned at the Brockton Trial Court in the Court Services Department and Charlestown District Court in the Probation Department. Her roles involved assisting self-represented litigants, updating probationer case summaries, and providing crucial administrative support. Additionally, Michaelle’s background as a Transfer Ambassador at Bridgewater State University, where she developed leadership and communication skills, along with her passion for helping others, drives her goal of becoming an attorney.

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.

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.

Madeline (Maddie) joined Project Citizenship in September 2021 as the Communications Coordinator, focusing on improving the organization’s communication skills, social media strategy, and promotional campaigns. Promoted to Communications Manager in September 2022, she now leads all communication efforts, including building and managing media lists, content creation, and event support. Madeline ensures Project Citizenship’s mission is effectively communicated through newsletters, recruitment materials, and online channels. Madeline is passionate about supporting immigrant communities in Massachusetts by amplifying immigrant voices and sharing their stories. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

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 will partner 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.

Having been an undergraduate program intern in the summer of 2019, Francelia rejoined Project Citizenship in May 2024 as a legal intern. Since the summer of 2019, Francelia graduated from Pitzer College with a degree in Political Science & Chicanx/Latinx studies, worked in housing-related matters, and gained experience in various immigration fields, including removal defense and employment-based immigration. Currently, Francelia is in her 3rd year at New England Law | Boston, where she is concentrating on immigration law. Being an immigrant herself, Francelia is passionate about Project Citizenship’s mission and helping others navigate the complexities of the immigration system.

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.

James Richardson joined Project Citizenship in the Summer of 2021 as an AmeriCorps Legal Advocate of Massachusetts.  James recently graduated from 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.

Khadeja Usmani joined Project Citizenship in September 2024 as a Program Assistant, blending her academic focus on political science, international relations, and pre-law studies at Boston University with her personal connection to the immigrant experience. As the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Khadeja is deeply invested in helping others navigate the path to citizenship. Fluent in Spanish, Urdu, and Hindi, she offers both linguistic and cultural understanding to her clients. Khadeja’s commitment to social justice and her pre-law aspirations drives her passion for advocating for immigrant rights and supporting underrepresented communities in their journey towards 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.