Evelyn has worked ten years in various roles serving immigrants. Before joining Acacia, she was an Immigration Specialist for U.S. Congressman Jim Himes in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional district. For three years, she supported asylum seekers as an accredited representative in removal proceedings in New York immigration courts and community members seeking other types of immigration relief. During the Trump administration, she assisted families in detention seeking asylum at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. Evelyn also advocated for immigrant youth in custody and post-release with the Office of Refugee Resettlement in New York and Connecticut. As a first-generation Colombian American, she is deeply committed to immigrant justice and racial equity in the United States. She graduated with a B.A. in international political economy and diplomacy from the University of Bridgeport. She enjoys learning about non-traditional trauma healing modalities, going on adventures, and being surrounded by nature. Evelyn currently lives with her partner in Southwestern Connecticut.