Maria del Pilar Quintana Family Center (continued) After many years of preparation and trainings, an application filed for BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals) was finally approved by EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Reviews) on July 10, 2013. Full Recognition to LFDEF, Inc. (Lawrence Family Development & Education Fund) and partial Accreditation was granted to Sandra Cepeda, Manager of Family Center Programs. For the next three years, the Quintana Center Program Manager is considered a qualified non-lawyer who is able to represent aliens on behalf of LFDEF, Inc. which is a recognized organization. “Recognition” gives a non-profit organization in the United States permission to practice immigration law before either the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and/or the Executive Office for Review (EOIR), which includes the immigration courts and the BIA. Throughout the years, the Quintana Center has maintained a strong and positive relationship with the Phillips Academy “Project Voice” program. This group of young students meets once a week for one hour with the ESL and Citizenship students. During that hour, the students are able to engage in simple conversations and review and practice English grammar and civics vocabulary. This year the City of Lawrence awarded the Quintana Center $10,000 from the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) program. This award entitled eleven students from the City of Lawrence to participate in classes free of charge. Other sources of funding in FY’2013-14 include the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Title 1 Program, The Stevens Foundations, Merrimack Valley General Fund and the Clipper Ship Foundation. 21
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