Ariella Rosenthal: 2023 Pillars of Change Honoree

Acknowledging her phenomenal work providing individual trauma-informed counseling, advocacy, and case management to clients between the ages of five and twenty-one years old.

Ariella joined the Manhattan Family Justice Center in the Children and Family Services Program (CFSP) in the fall of 2022 as a first year Master of Social Work student at Colombia University. Her work with Sanctuary for Families has provided individual trauma informed counseling, advocacy, and case management to clients between the ages of five and twenty one years old. She also conducts intake assessments for children and teens referred for counseling services.

Ariella’s work goes far beyond providing clinical support. She co-facilitated a Bingo Blowout event with our Children’s Activity Leader, and has assisted with children’s room activities as well as decorating and planning themes for the room. She is also co-facilitating a group for young girls with a focus on healthy relationships and self-empowerment.

Katherine Roman, Clinical Supervisor, and Erick DuShane, Counselor, said “Ariella has been an asset to our clinical team. She does a fantastic job completing thorough intakes while establishing and maintaining rapport with clients. Ariella has demonstrated trauma-informed care through her patience and effort to meeting clients where they are at. Children and families who have worked with Ariella have developed a positive relationship with Ariella, and the children enjoy coming to counseling.”

In addition to making a huge difference in the lives of the clients she works with, Ariella has also positively impacted her team of staff.

“She brings humor, dedication, empathy, and compassion to each setting, and she works hard to advocate for those around her. She is truly one of a kind. We are going to truly miss her [when her placement ends], but we are also proud of what is to come in her future.”

-Katherine Roman, Clinical Supervisor

Ariella has grown through her internship with Sanctuary in many ways. She said, “I have learned so much from my supervisor, Katherine Roman and the rest of the clinical team. I feel lucky to have so much support from them. They have taught me valuable lessons about trusting my instinct, following my clients lead in the direction they are ready to go, enjoying the process, and the value of self-care”.

Erick recalls a memorable moment with Ariella when she shared her genuine and warm demeanor with her “This was evident during the very first session when each of the clients shared that they were initially nervous joining the group but were completely comfortable by the end of the session.” Katherine fondly cherishes her one on one supervisions with Ariella, seeing her grow in her clinical skills and confidence, as well as watching her engaged in various activities within the program.

A huge thank you to Ariella for all her hard work and dedication to survivors of gender violence!

To learn more about Ariella and her work, please join us on April 20th from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Pillars of Change.

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Valentina Ramia: 2023 Pillars of Change Honoree

In recognition of her sensitive, skilled, and steadfast support to survivors within Sanctuary’s Immigration Intervention Project.

For the past three years, Valentina has provided sensitive, skilled, and steadfast support to survivors within Sanctuary’s Immigration Intervention Project (IIP). She was first introduced to the Project’s Co-Deputy Director, Deirdre Stradone, by a mutual connection as she needed to interview someone involved in asylum work as part of her PhD research.

Valentina shared, “My work with Sanctuary is part of my anthropological research about how fear is interpreted in asylum law. I have been a volunteer for a long time, but my experience at Sanctuary (SFF) has a special place in my heart. At SFF, I have been able to get a deep understanding of the impact of legal representation on the lives of people who are fleeing gender violence and what the law expects from them in their court appearances. The amount of work, dedication, and passion that the teams put into the lives of their clients is invaluable and never ceases to inspire me”.

After the initial interview with Deirdre, Valentina expressed interest in volunteering to support the team and further understand the experiences asylum seekers face. Since 2019, Valentina has been integral to three asylum cases for women facing removal proceedings in immigration court. Valentina has assisted the IIP team by providing necessary document translation and trauma-informed interpreting in Spanish, her native language. In addition to hours of translations, Valentina has also provided beneficial insight into the cases, having also had experience with asylum law.

Deirdre says it is difficult to fully express the impact Valentina has had working with IIP. She says, “Due to Valentina’s work, I have been able to provide both strong legal representation and emotionally supportive cases to my clients. Instead of using different translators throughout our preparation or using faceless/nameless telephonic interpreters, my clients have been able to see Valentina’s face over Zoom or in person throughout the course of our prep. They have come to know Valentina as another woman who supports and cares about them and wants to help them obtain safety, freedom, and happiness in the U.S. Valentina has shown our clients that they have a whole team of people to support them and who believe in them“.

“Valentina is far more than a ‘volunteer’ or ‘translator.’ She has become a friend to both me and all of our clients that she has supported.”

– Deirdre Stradone, Co-Deputy Director (IIP)

Deirdre goes on to say, “I cannot express all of my gratitude for Valentina. She has donated hundreds of hours of her time over the past three years and has helped Sanctuary to change the lives of these women”.

On behalf of everyone at Sanctuary and the survivors we support, thank you for your amazing volunteer contributions, Valentina! We are so grateful.

To learn more about Valentina and her work, please join us on April 20th from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Pillars of Change.

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Sanctuary Spotlight: Lisa Dane Corcoran

A current member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council, Lisa has supported Sanctuary’s work to end gender violence for more than two decades.

Lisa Dane Corcoran, a current member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council, has supported our work to end gender violence for more than two decades. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with her and learn more about her commitment to our mission.


How did you first learn about Sanctuary for Families?

I first became involved with Sanctuary over 20 years ago. I was asked by the firm I was working for at the time to be the liaison to provide various consulting services for Robin Hood grantees. Sanctuary was a Robin Hood grantee at that time, and I was instantly impressed with how well Sanctuary was run, and its holistic approach to helping families.

How are you involved now?

When my daughters were young, we participated in the Mother’s Day gifts for Sanctuary clients, and my girls enjoyed choosing gifts for the moms and the children. We’ve also participated in the drive to provide back-to-school backpacks for kids, as well as fulfill some holiday wish lists.

This summer, one of my daughters, who is now a senior in high school and an artist, was able to spend time at Sarah Burke House – Sanctuary’s transitional shelter — doing art projects with the younger children. She loved it! It was meaningful to both of us since it allowed my daughter to see the environment these children are thriving in and interact with them on a personal level. And for me, it was a way to solidify for my daughter the importance of giving back without me having ever to say a word–the kids’ delight and enthusiasm said it all.

“It’s energizing for my team and me to be able to collaborate with such talented attorneys to help provide Sanctuary clients with assistance and hopefully a better prospect for their future.”

I have more recently become a member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council (LAC), which I find meaningful since it provides a window into another realm of Sanctuary that allows me to use some of my work-related skills to help. Even though I am not a lawyer, I work very closely with lawyers, and being on the LAC enables me to hear about the fascinating cases that Sanctuary’s lawyers work on.

Your firm provides investigative pro bono services to help Sanctuary’s clients. Is there one particular case that you worked on that you found most rewarding?

I have been fortunate in recent years to help Sanctuary and its clients from a professional perspective. I have spent my entire career in the field of white-collar investigations and have leveraged my skills and that of my team in the Risk, Investigations & Analytics practice at Charles River to provide pro bono investigative services to several of the many law firms working on behalf of Sanctuary clients.

One of our most recent matters has been assisting the law firm of Cravath Swaine & Moore with a Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act (“DVSJA”) matter that has involved identifying and locating witnesses so they could be contacted and interviewed by counsel in the preparation of the application to the District Attorney’s office. The DVSJA gives judges the flexibility to reduce the sentence of domestic violence survivors convicted of offenses related to their abuse.

Another interesting case was a Hague convention matter for Orrick, another law firm. Our team’s investigation into the background of the father and his dubious finances resulted in a favorable outcome for the mother and, most importantly, their young daughter.

It’s energizing for my team and me to be able to collaborate with such talented attorneys to help provide Sanctuary clients with assistance and hopefully a better prospect for their future.

What would you like people to know about the work that Sanctuary does?

To me, one of the most impressive aspects of Sanctuary is how it tackles equally all the related issues that can arise for a Sanctuary client and their family—from safe housing to clothing, baby supplies, school supplies, legal representation, job assistance, and making holidays and special occasions memorable. If Sanctuary were ever to consider changing its logo, I think it should be a safety net! The integrated way Sanctuary helps its families is unique and well thought out. Once you become aware of all the services Sanctuary provides, you realize how obvious and necessary each one is.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Not to sound cliché, but in the chaos of balancing a career and a family, Sanctuary has become my own personal “sanctuary”—where I can occasionally focus my attention and energy on providing even the smallest bit of help to others, even though I will likely never know them. I find it calming, and a solid reminder of how kindness –whether given or received—is a buoy for all of us.

To those of you at Sanctuary and the other organizations that provide assistance–I think you all hang the stars. I am honored to be in your company, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a meaningful mission.


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Hogan Lovells: Sanctuary Pro Bono Partner Spotlight

A spotlight on Sanctuary Pro Bono Partner Hogan Lovells and their team’s fantastic work in securing asylum for a Honduran survivor escaping extreme domestic abuse and gang violence.

Sanctuary for Families’ Pro Bono Project has the honor of working with hundreds of extremely dedicated and expert pro bono attorneys per year. As part of our new Pro Bono Spotlight, we’ll be highlighting some of the great work done by Sanctuary pro bono attorneys!

*Please note that this blog contains descriptions of physical and sexual abuse that could be triggering*


Assisting an Asylum Seeker Fleeing Domestic and Gang Violence

Representing survivors of severe abuse or trafficking seeking to secure asylum can be a legally and emotionally challenging process. It is also an exhilarating process that provides a unique opportunity for pro bono teams to engage in creative lawyering, build meaningful client relationships, and secure an outcome that is life-changing for a survivor. Asylum is often the only way survivors of severe violence and exploitation can find safety and stability for themselves and their children. Sanctuary for Families is incredibly grateful to the pro bono attorneys who volunteer to help the courageous survivors seeking refuge in the United States.

Sanctuary recently had the pleasure of working with a team of talented pro bono attorneys from Hogan Lovells LLP: Jonathan Wieder, Juan Moreno, Ian Lewis-Slammon, and supervising partner Dennis Tracey. This stellar team worked hand in hand with a Honduran survivor of extreme domestic abuse and gang violence, “Serena,” who ultimately successfully secured asylum in the United States.

Serena was born and raised in Honduras, where she began dating “B,” a prominent gang member in the area. As the relationship progressed, B started to subject Serena to violent physical and sexual abuse and repeatedly threatened her life. Due to B’s gang affiliations, he enlisted several other men to stalk and harass Serena, even during a stint of imprisonment. Serena, who had grown up in an area controlled by gang violence and had witnessed multiple murders in broad daylight, and whose brother had also been murdered by a gang member, was terrified of her abuser and the very credible threats he made upon her life. Her attempts to flee to neighboring countries resulted in periods of homelessness and multiple deportations back to Honduras, where her situation grew increasingly life-threatening. Ultimately, Serena was able to enter the United States and apply for asylum with the help of Sanctuary for Families.

The Hogan Lovells team took on Serena’s case in 2020 during the Trump administration and was immediately faced with a staggering challenge: then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recently stated that domestic violence survivors and gang violence survivors would not, as a general matter, be eligible for asylum protection. Serena’s case had been potentially stalled right out of the gate.

Undeterred, the attorneys got to work and began strategizing. Instead of building Serena’s asylum claim based on her experiences of domestic violence, they framed her claim upon the discrimination and antipathy she had experienced due to her gender in Honduras, the country with the highest femicide rates in Latin America. Building this claim involved careful planning around how to acquire police records and witness testimonies from Honduras without endangering any of Serena’s family members. With the administration’s change in 2021 and the onset of Covid in 2020, the team pivoted again. By the time Serena’s final claim was presented, after countless hours of research, pulling together supporting evidence and affidavits, and direct- and cross-examination practice with Serena, the ICE attorney from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor stipulated asylum, agreeing that Serena’s claim was so strong that it did not need to be taken to a hearing.

When reflecting on their experience, Jonathan and Ian both expressed that it was a privilege to work with Serena on her case, highlighting her enormous role in its success. In a phone call, both attorneys also emphasized how critical Juan’s Spanish-speaking skills were in communicating with and building trust with the client, a monolingual Spanish speaker. Jonathan, a first-year associate when he was first staffed on the case, also credits Director of Sanctuary’s Immigration Intervention Project Pooja Asnani with her extensive expertise and for allowing the team to build a solid foundational understanding of asylum cases with which to move forward.

“At every stage in preparation for this case, I was impressed by the team’s trauma-informed approach to working with ‘Serena,’ their close attention to the fact evidence and legal arguments, and their dedication to this case and the client. I loved working with this team and would welcome any opportunity to work with them again.” -Pooja Asnani.

Hogan Lovells Partner Pieter Van Toll, who helps coordinate Hogan’s pro bono program, was thrilled with the outcome. “Peter [Bautz, who also helps coordinate Hogan’s pro bono work] and I congratulate the entire Hogan Lovells team for their excellent work winning asylum for a deserving immigrant. We are proud of the work Hogan Lovells has been doing with Sanctuary for Families on these types of asylum cases and other important issues and look forward to helping them on future matters.”

Sanctuary for Families is immeasurably grateful to our pro bono partners for their work supporting survivors. It has been a pleasure to work with this team, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with these attorneys and with Hogan Lovells in the future.


Join the team from Hogan Lovells in standing with our clients. Your gift supports Sanctuary’s life-saving work with survivors of gender violence.

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