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.

Molly is a Project Citizenship veteran who previously worked as the Community Programs Manager from 2018 to 2020 and rejoined as the Deputy Director in June 2023. In April 2023, she graduated from the University of Michigan with her MBA and M.S. in Environment & Sustainability. Previously, Molly conducted migration-related research in Morocco on a Fulbright scholarship and has also taught ESOL in Morocco and the U.S. She received an M.A. in Migration & Diaspora Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London in 2016. Molly is excited to be back at Project Citizenship working to help increase the naturalization rate in the Greater Boston area.

Gareth joined Project Citizenship in May of 2024 as a Legal Services Intern. He recently finished his first year of law school at Northeastern University. During his first year, he worked closely with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute on a project focused on justice and advocacy for survivors of violent crimes. Before law school, he worked in business immigration where he helped migrants obtain work visas. His interest in immigration formed while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in anthropology from Connecticut College. During his undergraduate years, he worked on a project that focused on the St. Martinois migrant community in Connecticut, and their ties to St. Martin in the wake of devastating hurricanes. 

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.

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.

Nora joined Project Citizenship in May of 2024 as a Program Intern. As the daughter of a Nicaraguan immigrant, her passion for immigrant rights has only grown, and she spent last summer tutoring citizenship applicants for the citizenship exam. Nora is a rising junior at Washington University in St. Louis and is majoring in Global Studies and Spanish with a minor in Applied Linguistics. Nora continues to be inspired by Project Citizenship’s impact and mission and is thrilled to grow her intercultural and Spanish skills this summer as a member of the team.

Madeline joined Project Citizenship in September 2021 as a Communications Coordinator focused in effective communication skills, marketing strategies, and promotional campaigns. She took on the role of Communications Manager in September 2022. Outside of this work, she is pursuing her M.F.A in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. She’s currently a Teaching Fellow for undergraduate courses. Her experience lies in social media marketing with digital and data- driven content creation experience. She is passionate about her work and supporting immigrant communities throughout Massachusetts and beyond

Sneha joined Project Citizenship in June 2023 as a staff member. She has more than 9 years of experience working with large financial institutions like Barclays, HSBC, and Morgan Stanley. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She has recently migrated from India to the United States. She eagerly seeks to contribute her skills to further the mission of Project Citizenship.

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.

Isabel joined Project Citizenship in February 2024 as a program assistant. She was born and raised in Guatemala and graduated from the Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala with a degree in medicine. Isabel is a first-generation immigrant and moved to Boston recently. She is excited to use her skills to help English- and Spanish-speakers navigate the naturalization process.

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.

Meredith joined Project Citizenship in May of 2024 as a Program Intern. A rising sophomore at Georgetown University, Meredith is majoring in American Studies and minoring in Spanish and Film & Media Studies. After spending her junior year of high school in Zaragoza, Spain, Meredith hopes to use her Spanish skills to connect with clients and support the mission of Project Citizenship. She is excited to expand her knowledge and contributions to the non-profit sector with Project Citizenship, an organization that inspires her with its incredible work!

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.