The Resurrection Project's Colibrí Fellowship Expands to Massachusetts and Wisconsin to Meet Critical Immigration Legal Needs
May 16, 2025
CHICAGO — The Resurrection Project (TRP) is proud to announce that the Colibrí Fellowship will launch in two additional states this fall—Massachusetts and Wisconsin—bringing the program’s national footprint to a total of four states. This exciting milestone is made possible through partnerships with two exceptional Local Lead Agencies: the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) and Centro Hispano of Madison, WI. Each organization will receive a $185,000 grant from TRP to implement the Fellowship in their regions, with the goal of training a new generation of Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited immigration legal representatives.
The Colibrí Fellowship, first established in Illinois in 2022, responds to a critical shortage in immigration legal services: across the United States, each charitable immigration legal provider must serve approximately 1,413 undocumented immigrants. To address this gap, TRP developed the Fellowship program to train nonprofit professionals to become Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives—qualified non-attorneys who can legally represent immigrants in immigration proceedings. In just three years, the Fellowship has successfully trained 40 professionals, expanding Illinois's pool of accredited representatives by more than 10%.
“By expanding the Colibrí Fellowship to Massachusetts and Wisconsin with trusted partners like MIRA and Centro Hispano, we’re building the foundation for a national network of community-based legal advocates. These organizations bring deep roots in immigrant justice and strong leadership to our shared mission of closing the devastating legal services gap facing immigrant communities across the country. This expansion represents a crucial step toward ensuring that more families can access the legal representation they need and deserve.”
“The demand for immigration legal services in New England only continues to grow and has stretched beyond the current capacity of our dedicated non-profit providers, especially when it comes to bilingual and bicultural support. We are looking forward to collaborating with our future Colibrí Fellows to create future accredited representatives and ultimately, ensure that all immigrant communities have access to the legal assistance they deserve.”
“Centro is an organization that strives for a thriving Latinx community. During this time of chaos, worries, and confusion, we focus on strengthening Latinx families from the inside out, leveraging our assets and fostering capacity from within the community. Our partnership with TRP and the Colibrí Fellowship is a dream come true—one more tool for securing the well-being of families in Wisconsin. We could not be prouder and more excited to get to work.”
In addition to launching the Fellowship, LLAs may choose to implement Learning Labs, an initiative that builds the capacity of nonprofit leadership through peer learning, expert-led training, and community-centered strategy development.
This expansion, funded by the Abundant Futures Fund and a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, comes on the heels of a national Request for Proposals (RFP) process led by TRP in early 2025, with selected LLAs receiving training materials, curriculum, and ongoing support. The program is designed to be scalable and replicable, in partnership with organizations like Innovation Law Lab, which launched the Fellowship in Oregon in 2024.
For more information about the Colibrí Fellowship and how TRP is building pathways to immigration justice, visit: www.trpij.org/colibri
About The Resurrection Project
The Resurrection Project (TRP) builds trusting relationships to educate and propel individuals, immigrants, and families to achieve their social and economic aspirations, stable homes, and equitable participation in their community. TRP is a leading provider of immigration services, affordable housing, and financial education on Chicago's Southwest side.
CONTACT: Rocío Pulido | Director of Capacity Building | rpulido@resurrectionproject.org
About Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
MIRA is the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. With offices in Massachusetts, MIRA advances the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees through policy analysis and advocacy, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, and strategic communications.
CONTACT: Jessica Chicco | Director of Training | jchicco@miracoalition.org
About Centro Hispano of Dane County
Centro Hispano creates opportunities for Latino families to pursue their dreams and aspirations. Centro operates with a vision for a thriving Latino community integrated socially, economically, and politically into the broader community.
CONTACT: Jacqueline Suárez Sacramento | Immigration Program Manager & DOJ Accredited Representative | Jacqueline@micentro.org
