Dante Matero is a Columbia Grad student at Harriman Institute for Russian Literature and has been a huge asset to Sanctuary’s Legal Center through his work with the Immigration Intervention Project (IIP).
With his caring demeanor and language skills, he has served as a skilled interpreter and translator for countless survivors of gender-based violence. Dante is extremely trauma-informed in part due to being a prestigious member of the RUSA LGBTQ+ network. The mission of RUSA LGBTQ+ states that it is a network for Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ individuals, their friends, supporters, and loved ones. They have welcomed asylum seekers from many different countries and provided support, as well as fought for equality, acceptance, and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within the Russian-speaking public.
“Dante’s voluntary work has allowed traumatized asylum seekers to build trust, and therefore, process their applications efficiently and faster”. Dante is extremely passionate about his work and it shows by the care and dedication he provides to whomever he is supporting. His valued skills, compassion, and professionalism is greatly appreciated. Thank you Dante for all of your hard work and commitment to IIP and survivors of gender violence.” — Fernanda Bertolaccini, IIP Staff Attorney
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To learn more about Dante Matero and his work, please join us on April 27th from 12:30 – 1 PM at our virtual Pillars of Change.