An Open Letter from RAICES’ outgoing CEO

To the RAICES Community:

I write with heartfelt gratitude for the critical work we’ve accomplished together, and to share that my time as RAICES’ CEO is coming to a close. 

When the Board of Directors entrusted me with this position, I embraced the opportunity to help lead this institution and protect its legacy through a period of transition. I have been humbled by this experience, during which we ratified our organization’s first Collective Bargaining Agreement, closed our budget gap, and empowered a new Leadership Team to meet the programming needs of this moment. 

The past few years have not been without challenges, especially in the face of the current administration’s assaults on the human and legal rights of immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking people and families. Because of the chaos unleashed in the weeks and months after the inauguration this year, I remained in service to RAICES following the end of my three-year contract to prioritize its security and sustainability under unprecedented conditions. I know that I now leave the organization with a solid foundation and in the most capable hands. 

I will continue to celebrate the accomplishments of this organization in our shared pursuit of justice, and I will continue to advocate for a country where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their American dream with dignity and respect.

Sincerely,

Dolores K. Schroeder, MSW, JD