OLAS is very fortunate to benefit from the extensive personal and professional experience of the following members of our Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee meets periodically throughout the year to discuss the progress of OLAS and offer suggestions for future growth and improvement.
Abigail Rich: Abigail is an attorney interested in the intersection of immigration legal services and mental healthcare for survivors of trauma. She is currently a Liman Fellow at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, where she primarily represents asylum seekers escaping gender-based violence and anti-LGBTQ persecution. She previously worked with immigrants and refugees at Greater Boston Legal Services, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), and the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, where she earned a JD. Abigail received her undergraduate degree in art history, anthropology, and studio art.
Scott MacPherson: Scott is an Environmental Manager for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, where he works in the design and permitting of environmentally-friendly utility projects. He has over 25 years experience in the environmental field, including in political organizing for environmental justice issues. He holds a MS in Natural Resources with a concentration in environmental advocacy, and a BS in Psychology, both from the University of Michigan.
Sylvia Soriano: Sylvia is from Bogotá, Colombia. She came to the U.S. at age 16, and has been living in the Bay Area for 37 years. She is an artist and a gardener, and is interested in the interrelation between art, health and nature and the regenerative effect it has at all levels. As a member of the LGBTQ community, she is honored and pleased to collaborate with OLAS and its participants.
Amanda Bhuket: Amanda is a Staff Attorney at EBSC where she represents individuals who are seeking asylum and other humanitarian forms of relief. She brings almost twenty years of experience advocating for immigrants and refugees. Amanda earned her J.D. and a Certificate in International and Comparative Law from the University of San Francisco School of Law. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and getting outdoors with her dog Sasha.
=
