By: Hanna Guerrero

March 4, 2026 – Sitting in her office at the Wisconsin International Institute in Milwaukee, Cecilia Ramirez, Colibrí Fellowship Class of 2025, reflects on a journey she describes as full of “curves and turns.” Today, she is the only fully accredited Department of Justice representative in Wisconsin. During a period of heightened immigration enforcement, her full DOJ accreditation is vital to immigrant families seeking legal representation in Wisconsin courts.  

“My family kind of always jokes with me because throughout my life, I’ve done a lot of different things,” Cecilia said. “It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there.”   

For 14 years, Cecilia worked as a hairdresser in downtown Milwaukee. After becoming a mother of three children, she stepped away from the workforce to become a full-time mother. As her children grew older, she began to feel the pull to return to work and contribute in a new way.  

In 2022, she joined the Wisconsin International Institute part-time as an interpreter. The nonprofit provides safe and legal pathways for immigration and naturalization, as well as cultural enrichment programs. Cecilia quickly realized she wanted to do more. She moved into a full-time role as a legal assistant in the immigration department, where colleagues encouraged her to take law clinic classes.  

That encouragement led her to discover the Colibrí Fellowship, a free leadership and accreditation program launched in 2022 by The Resurrection Project to expand access to immigration legal services. When the opportunity arose, the Wisconsin International Institute stood firmly behind her. 

“They value education so much,” Cecilia said. “When Colibrí came around, we were all like, what does this do? And what are we going to do? They said, ‘We’ll give you time off to go.’ They were very flexible and very supportive of this whole process, which ended up being quite a lot of homework, studying, and reading.” 

The fellowship required monthly meetings, in-person trainings, and court hearings in Chicago. Cecilia often drove back and forth between Milwaukee and Chicago, sometimes multiple times a week. 

The long drives and late nights were worth it. In December 2025, she earned full DOJ accreditation. The credential allows her to represent clients in immigration court, a critical distinction in a system where legal representation can determine whether families stay together or are separated. The Vera Institute estimates that 70% of people in immigration courts have no legal representation.  

“I knew that the immigration process was complicated,” she said. “Being in it, it’s still complicated. But with the right tools and knowledge, you know how to navigate it. It became a calling because you see all the struggles that everybody went through. I would put myself in their shoes and think, this could easily be my family and me. I don’t think anybody should be living in fear.” 

That belief shapes her work every day. Many of her clients are seeking defensive asylum or have been paroled into the United States and now face court proceedings. Too often, they arrive after unsuccessfully searching for affordable legal help. 

For Cecilia, the most meaningful moments come at the end of a long process. She describes the joy of seeing families receive green cards or sending photos from their citizenship ceremonies. 

“That’s what really motivated me,” she said. “Wanting to be the help and support people throughout this whole process. It’s amazing to see the families when they get their green cards, or when we get pictures of them at their citizenship ceremony.” 

Cecilia is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her grandfather entered the United States in the 1960s through the Bracero program. Now, his granddaughter can stand in court to help other families pursue stability and safety through legal channels. 

The Colibrí Fellowship also created a network of peers who continue to support one another beyond the classroom. Cecilia remains close to other fellows. They maintain a group chat, share updates, and give advice. 

“You don’t feel like you’re alone,” she said. “The people you meet and the network of support you have, it’s been amazing.” 

Now a Legal Services Manager, Cecilia sees her accreditation not as a personal milestone but as a call to expand opportunity for others. She hopes more nonprofit staff across Wisconsin will pursue full accreditation through the Colibrí Fellowship. 

“I know that I might be the only one at the moment,” she said, “but I’m hoping more people sign up and get the proper training to become fully accredited, because it’s very necessary.” 

For Cecilia, the impact reaches far beyond her own career. 

The Colibrí Fellowship started in Illinois, but has since expanded to Massachusetts,  Wisconsin, and Oregon. 

Applications for the 2027 class open in June. 

To learn more about the Colibrí Fellowship, go to www.trpimmigrantjustice.org.

To support the Colibrí Fellowship, please donate to The Resurrection Project.

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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 affordable housing, financial education, and immigration services on Chicago’s Southwest side.

During the past three decades, TRP has worked to improve the lives of individuals and families by creating wealth, building assets, and engaging residents to be catalysts for change. Rooted in the Pilsen community, TRP’s impact now extends across the City of Chicago and through the State of Illinois; we are making steady progress towards leveraging and preserving more than $1 billion in community wealth.