Dear NWIRP Community,
After deep and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to step down from my role as executive director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, effective in June of 2023.
Over the past few months, I have been reflecting as I will reach my 15th anniversary as executive director next April. Leading NWIRP during this time has been an unbelievable honor and I am grateful that the board of directors took a chance on me and allowed me to take on this role for the past decade and a half. But even as this has been a dream job for me, I know it is also the right time for new leadership.
I want you and the rest of the NWIRP community to know that this has been a difficult decision for me because I feel privileged to be part of the NWIRP team and to serve in this role. And I have been so lucky to work alongside such a committed and inspiring staff.
Since I know some of you may ask, I do not yet know what I will be doing next. To be honest, I did not feel like I could start thinking about it until I had made the decision to step down from this role. But I of course hope to continue working in some way to further human and immigrant rights.
We are fortunate to have a strong board and staff team in place and I know we will be able to manage this transition well. I look forward to supporting the NWIRP Board of Directors as they search for NWIRP's next executive director. Our Board President, Liz Dunbar, has some words to share about this transition below.
I want to close by thanking all of you for your commitment to our mission and our client communities. I hope many of you will plan on joining us at our next annual gala on Thursday, April 20, 2023 (details to come), to celebrate all that we have been able to accomplish over the past 15 years.
With enduring gratitude,
Jorge L. Barón
Executive Director
Dear NWIRP Community,
We want to first and foremost thank Jorge for his tremendous leadership and dedication to Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. Thanks in large part to his contributions as executive director, NWIRP has grown significantly over the past fifteen years and is now one of the largest and most respected immigration legal services organizations in the United States.
While we all will deeply miss having Jorge on staff, the board is committed to making this transitionary period as smooth as possible. We have already begun laying the groundwork for our search for the next executive director and will share more in the coming months. We look forward to selecting a new leader who is as committed to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants in Washington State - and across the United States - as Jorge has been during his tenure.
In solidarity,
Liz Dunbar
Board President
