Eric Espinoza '10

Majors: Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies and Geography
Organization: Florida Immigrants Advocacy Center (Miami & Homestead, FL)
Position: Immigrant Child Counselor and Legal Assistant

For his Olga Gruss Lewin Fellowship project, Eric is partnering with the Florida Immigrants Advocacy Center on two urgent and compelling projects. The first involves work with immigrant children in federal detention. As a young bilingual adult, who has done work in many settings with children and adolescents, Eric is a significant asset in FIAC's struggle to continue this urgent work. His other project involves helping on a major case brought by FIAC's Workplace Justice Project. FIAC has sued a cleaning company in the Miami area which has been forcing their workers to labor overtime without compensation, and subjecting them to systematic mistreatment involving physical and verbal abuse. These individuals are fearful and hesitant to come forward. Eric is providing careful explanations of their rights and reassurances in their own language. His own experiences in the immigrant community, coupled with his studies, have led him to focus on the particular problems affecting immigrants in the United States. Eric believes this fellowship will help him to determine whether he will pursue a law degree or apply for a staff position in a community service organization.