In celebration of National Volunteer Month 2024, ILAP hosted our annual Appreciation Night at SPACE in Portland.

Together, we recognized our dedicated community of volunteers, partner organizations, business partners, and advocates and presented awards to stand-out partners from the last year. We were honored to have been joined by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and her team, along with over 100 people from across our community.

“Our volunteers and partners are the foundation of ILAP and steadfast champions for immigrant rights,” said Executive Director Sue Roche.

Photo credit: Ned Warner Photography

Attendees enjoyed bites from Maíz and desserts by ILAP staff member Paula Esteves. ILAP’s Board of Directors Vice President Tom Douglas presented ILAP’s awards, designed by Ebenezer Akakpo of Akakpo & Co.

The evening concluded with a screening of Abrazos, a film by Luis Argueta following the transformational journey of a group of U.S. citizen children from mixed-status families who travel to Guatemala to meet their grandparents and siblings for the first time. “The film was a powerful illustration of what so many Central Americans here are going through,” reflected Sister Patricia.

ILAP honored Congresswoman Chellie Pingree with our Policy Leader Award for her leadership on legislation aimed at removing barriers to work permits for asylum seekers and her exemplary dedication to immigrant rights. “I’m incredibly honored to be given this award, and I thank ILAP for supporting my Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act,” said Congresswoman Pingree upon accepting the award, taking a moment to thank her incredible constituent services team. “We couldn’t possibly be the wonderful, welcoming state that we are without ILAP,” she said.

The final award of the evening, the Community Impact Award, was presented to the full team of people supporting ILAP’s Asylum Assistance and Legal Orientation Project (AALOP). The stage overflowed with the volunteers and partners who have been vital in developing ILAP’s innovative workshop series to help pro se defensive asylum applicants file well-prepared asylum applications.

“I’m incredibly honored to be given this award, and I thank ILAP for supporting my Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act. We couldn’t possibly be the wonderful, welcoming state that we are without ILAP.”

— Congresswoman Pingree

“People from all walks of life, from many different countries, and multiple generations honored the fruits of common purpose and collaboration, and the joy of each other’s accomplishments,” ILAP’s Development Legacy Awardee Ron Stegall said of the evening.

“It was inspiring to see all the other members of our community who care about what ILAP does and who have invested themselves in its work,” reflected another attendee. “This can be difficult and frustrating work, so it was energizing to be in a group of people all striving to make a positive change.”

Volunteer & Community Partner Awardees

Business Partner Award: Unum

Community Impact Award: University of Maine School of Law Refugee & Human Rights Clinic, Catholic Charities Maine Immigration Legal Services, and a dedicated team of volunteer attorneys and accredited representatives, law students, and volunteer interpreters
Community Partners of the Year: Presente! Maine and Lewiston Adult Education
Client Champion Award: Charles Mitchell
Development Volunteer of the Year: Marty Hamre
Development Legacy Award: Ron Stegall
Grassroots Fundraiser Award: Dan McDonald, Esq. and the Portland Food Co-op
ILAP Hero: Kent Denslow
Policy Leader Award: Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Arnie MacDonald, Esq.
Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year: Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Supporting Immigrant Youth Award: Pine Tree Legal Assistance Family Law and Victim Rights Unit