Cecelia is a Program Associate with Acacia Center for Justice’s Unaccompanied Children Program. Before joining Acacia, she spent over three years at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) in Chicago. At NIJC, she worked as a paralegal supporting non-detained adults and families pursuing asylum. She also served as a pro bono coordinator for NIJC’s Afghan response initiative, connecting Afghan evacuees with know-your-rights presentations, pro bono clinics, and support on their asylum cases. Cecelia began her career in immigrant legal and social services while working at an emergency shelter for formerly detained immigrants and asylum seekers in Austin, Texas. She holds a BA in Geography and International Studies from DePaul University, and currently lives in Chicago.