Crystal Massey Email and Phone Number

Crystal is the National Pro Bono Coordinator for the Afghan Project. In this role she recruits and engages volunteers for an interorganizational project to coordinate pro bono services for Afghan newcomers. The focus of this project is to maximize access to counsel for Afghans in need. Before that, Crystal was the NM Immigration Specialist at Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains. She also worked as the volunteer coordinator for KIND at the Fort Bliss Emergency Intake Site for Unaccompanied Minors. She has also worked as a volunteer coordinator with the Immigration Justice Campaign, as well as with the CARA Project in Dilley, TX. She regularly volunteers at shelters for asylum seekers in the border region. She received her Master’s in Human Rights and Democracy from La Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales in Mexico City.

Developed and organized informational sessions for potential clients and managed the collection of documents for attorney review and prepared immigration forms under attorney supervision.Collaborated with community leaders to educate the public on immigration issues.Mobilized work around new Mexico to assist refugees, asylees, parolees, and Afghans who arrived through Operation Allies Welcome.

Secured and trained volunteers for on-site Know Your Rights presentations and legal screenings at the emergency intake site for unaccompanied minors at Fort Bliss.Curated the development of language screenings for languages other than Spanish and trained fellow staff for work with interpreted KYRs.

Responsible for the recruitment, engagement, retention and activation of volunteers with case work and advocacy opportunities.Conceptualized and implemented flexible engagement strategies, regularly assessing the needs and feedback of volunteers.Provided a space for volunteers to talk monthly about their experiences, reflect on what they learned,and share ideas on how to leverage that information to work for necessary systemic change.