Our Team

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated producer. He is a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants and the Founder of Define American. His best-selling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by HarperCollins in 2018. Most recently, he co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, which was nominated for two 2019 Tony awards, including “Best Play.”

Rebecca Neuwirth is committed to deep immigrant inclusion as part of building strong communities across lines of difference and expanding democratic agency. With a career spanning leadership roles at Upwardly Global, the Center for Popular Democracy, JDC, and AJC, she has a track record of creating innovative campaigns and programs and deep partnerships that support equitable growth. Currently serving on the Board of Thanks To Scandinavia and the Advisory Board of the Jewish Studies program at Baruch College, Rebecca also volunteers in New York to ensure the arts are available to all students and to foster connection in her neighborhood through community dinners, intergenerational chess programs, and a new garden. She has been trained through Rockwood, Resetting the Table, 2164, and through a DAAD-Fulbright scholarship. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family in New York and Berlin, hiking, biking, and reading with friends.

Amina Barnes comes to Define American as a seasoned business operations professional with over nine years of non-profit management experience. Amina has successfully streamlined processes, led diverse cross-functional teams, and strengthened organizational cultures. She continues to leverage her for-profit and non-profit expertise to provide strategic financial oversight, build business infrastructure, and foster innovative growth in organizations of all sizes. As a mission-minded individual, Amina aims to use her passion, skills, and cultural competence to protect and empower marginalized communities. Amina holds a B.A. in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Baker University.

Jenn partners with Define American's Founder, Board of Directors, and Staff to provide oversight, structure, and support that maximizes mission advancement. Throughout her career, Jenn has worked with mission-driven organizations and leaders to operationalize their goals so they can more effectively pursue their intended impact and more meaningfully engage their stakeholders. Her practice as a consultant and a leader prioritizes partnership, inquiry, and practical solutions. Jenn has served as COO for the Institute for Nonprofit Practice in affiliation with Tufts University, Managing Director and then CEO for New Sector Alliance, Executive Director for The Bridge Center, and Program Director for Aspire MGH. She received an MBA from Babson College, a Master in Education degree from Harvard University, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Mathematics from Cornell University.

Clement is the Manager of Digital Storytelling at Define American, ensuring that all video productions under the digital storytelling pillar run smoothly. Clement has over ten years of experience in video production and broadcast television; he started his career as an Assistant Production Manager producing a lifestyle show for Sony and assisted in post-production for the Dr. Phil show. His career highlights include producing and editing a Christmas special starring Andrea Bocelli and producing/editing talk shows with guests such as Mike Rowe and Bear Grylls. After crossing paths with Define American, the message of humanizing the immigrant experience resonated with him, and Define American became a natural progression in the next phase of his career.

Ethan is responsible for supporting Define American’s capital growth strategy by developing relationships with foundation and corporate partners. Previously, Ethan served as the Grant Writer & Development Coordinator for the San Diego History Center and has served as a volunteer and consultant for numerous nonprofits focused on human trafficking, international development, and humanitarian aid and relief. Ethan earned an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of San Diego.

Michael is responsible for overseeing fundraising and revenue growth for Define American. He brings 20 years of varied experience in nonprofit fundraising, strategic partnerships, philanthropy, and communications to the role. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions at the Ms. Foundation for Women, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, CEW Foundation, and the City University of New York, as well as consulted for organizations like the Collective Future Fund and the Labor Innovations for the 21st Century (LIFT) Fund. He holds a BFA in communications from Long Island University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College.

Jessica (Jess) Detrio holds a BSW from the University of Utah and an MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Jess previously worked for the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development, was a victim advocate for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department, a refugee foster care case manager for Catholic Community Services, and also served as a community organizer for the United States Peace Corps. Prior to joining Define American, Jess was the Grants and Program Evaluation Coordinator for a youth development organization. Jess is a true Michigander at heart. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, kayaking, camping, rock hunting, skiing, and hiking with her rat terrier Mei-Mei.

Leezia Dhalla is a communications strategist, public speaker and recovering journalist who brings over ten years of media relations experience to Define American. She is passionate about humanizing the immigrant experience through storytelling and cultivating a human-centered approach to political problem-solving.

Prior to joining Define American, Leezia was Press Director at FWD.us, a bipartisan advocacy organization championing comprehensive immigration reform. She was also a staff writer for the San Antonio Express-News, her hometown newspaper, and has published bylines in The Washington Post, TIME Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Allure, and SELF Magazine, among other national outlets.

Leezia has appeared on major cable news networks to give commentary on federal and state immigration policy, from MSNBC Live to ABC News. She is also regularly quoted in major international and national media outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, POLITICO, The Guardian (UK), National Post (Canada) and more.

Leezia has won a Grammy Award and given several TED talks on her experiences as a (formerly) undocumented immigrant. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Journalism and Political Science.

Charlene Joy Jimenez is passionate about the power of pop culture and equitable representation within it. She leads Define American’s Entertainment Partnerships & Advocacy team, which consults with filmmakers, writers, and industry executives to help develop more realistic immigrant characters and navigate complex immigration-related storylines. Charlene is also the Co-Chair of the Impact Guild’s Nonprofit Executive Peer Group and holds advisory council positions at CAA’s Full Story Initiative, FilAm ARTS, and The Yes And Laughter Lab. With over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry, Charlene joined Define American from Lionsgate where she managed marketing and talent relations for a variety of film and television projects as Director of Publicity & Digital Engagement. She also served as Board Co-Chair of Lionsgate’s Multicultural Employee Resource Group, advocating for more diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the camera. Previously, she worked at charitable fundraising startup Omaze and Legendary Entertainment’s pop culture media outlet Nerdist.

Nish is a first-generation South Asian immigrant who grew up in the Midwest. She has spent the last five years working at national reproductive justice, immigrant rights, and child justice-centered nonprofits. She brings varied experience in operations, finance, development, and program management. She studied International Relations and Human Rights at the University of Iowa and has organized around refugee and immigrant rights on campus. She is passionate about racial justice and building power in communities of color. In her free time, she loves to read, explore new countries, play Animal Crossing, and create new recipes.

Yusra is a project manager, community organizer, storyteller, and passionate social justice advocate. Yusra obtained her bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of California Irvine. Although she graduated cum laude, she spent most of her college years organizing (and winning) political campaigns on campus. For over five years, Yusra worked at the nation's largest Muslim civil rights organization. She began as a community organizer, empowering hundreds of high-profile Muslim leaders to advocate for civil rights policies when speaking to political representatives. Yusra executed over 50 educational projects informing Muslim youth about systemic oppression, advocacy, and community organizing. Most importantly, she taught youth to take pride in their identity and the American Muslim historical legacy. Later, Yusra became certified to represent immigrants under the Department of Justice legally. In this role, Yusra prepared various affirmative cases such as DACA, asylum, and adjustment of status. Throughout her work, Yusra used the most effective advocacy tool: stories. Yusra achieved goals using storytelling to change minds and move hearts. Because of her first-hand experience, Yusra is committed to strategically shifting the dominant narrative about immigrants using her strategic planning and organizational powers. Yusra spends her time concocting magic potions that energize her during her daily runs. A true Taurus, Yusra loves reading books at home and watching her favorite movies on Netflix. 

Responsible for research and audience development strategies for Define American. Sarah has over twenty years of experience crafting cross-platform media campaigns for The Walt Disney Company, Nintendo, Cigna, PBS and Discovery Channel. She has also been at the forefront of launching large-scale netroots movements in conjunction with arts-based nonprofits including American Promise, Question Bridge: Black Males and Land of Opportunity. Sarah holds a B.A. in English from Wittenberg University, a master’s in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Health Promotion and Policy at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst with a focus on Global Migration and Community Building in the Digital Age.

Responsible for supporting the design, commissioning, and management of Define American's original research projects, Juno Maldonado is a UCL graduate with a background in digital strategy and research. Originally from Puerto Rico, she moved to the United States in 2014, where she started her own consulting firm and worked at Planned Parenthood building power in diverse communities through digital tools and organizing. Her eight years of expertise in data analysis and audience engagement across social media platforms informs her approach to research, from design to developing tangible recommendations to change the narrative around immigrant representation. Juno holds a master’s in Human Rights, where she conducted a media discourse analysis around Puerto Rico’s status referendums. An avid reader and a lover of pop culture, she wholeheartedly believes in the power of storytelling.

Onyx Montes is an arts educator and cultural worker who moved by herself to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 17. She studied art history and women, gender & sexuality studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college. She has a Master's from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s MA in Museum and Exhibition Studies program, and is part of the inaugural Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fellowship by Americans for the Arts. Onyx has taught art history workshops for incarcerated women in Mexico and received the 2021 Social Justice Advocate Award from the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network. She is an avid reader and a solo traveler who has been to 19 countries.

Ana is a creative strategist and storyteller working at the intersection of identity and culture to shift narratives about power and belonging. Their work centers historically underrepresented voices as critical components to the American story and future. Ana comes to Define American with over 5 years of experience executing digital strategies for leading social and political institutions across the U.S. such as PolicyLink, African American Policy Forum, Covenant House International, Ultraviolet, Southern Poverty Law Center, and more. Originally from Cali, Colombia, Ana is actively inspired by their experiences as a queer, immigrant, Afro-Latina and is a fierce advocate for voting rights, housing justice, and survivor leadership. Ana is a former Coro Fellow and holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from the City College of New York.

DJ works within our Entertainment department, working with writers, directors and networks to ensure they are telling authentic immigrant stories. Previously, he worked as the manager of development at 11th Street Productions. He was also a production coordinator at MTV. He has worked in the television & film industry for several years, working in both scripted, reality TV, docs, and even film distribution. He received his B.S. in broadcast journalism from the HBCU Morgan State University and earned his M.A. in media arts from The New School. He has a passion for film and storytelling, especially stories concerning identity, adversity, and the black and brown experience.

Shauna is a documentarian and researcher with over ten years of experience in creative arts management, working at the intersection of media and advocacy work. In her current role, Shauna leads an innovative strategy at Define American which explores the role of narrative in digital advocacy work. The focus of her work is to develop original research-based content strategies to combat xenophobia online. In her past television and digital production work, her projects have been featured on MTV, MSNBC, Nickelodeon, and PBS, including Emmy and Shorty award nominated projects. She has also produced dozens of short films that have been published on prominent digital platforms such as the Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, Upworthy and NowThis.

Erla is responsible for building and implementing fundraising and strategic initiatives for Define American. She leads efforts to establish, cultivate and steward strong relationships with donors and supporters and coordinates corporate and individual sponsorships for events. She brings varied experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor stewardship, program development, event organization, and corporate partnerships. She holds a BS in Business Management with a concentration in Non-Profit organizations from Point Loma Nazarene University. Erla has always been passionate about serving communities in need, with immigration activism especially close to her heart. Erla and her family immigrated from Tirana, Albania to Chicago when she was three years old. She is extremely grateful for her family’s sacrifices, which have made all of her dreams and accomplishments possible. She hopes to spend her career advocating for immigration reform through cultural change.

Dulce Valencia is an immigrant storyteller originally from Guerrero, Mexico. She has spent the last 7 years working with various non-profits as an advocate for immigrant rights. She has a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and spent years working with theatre companies in Las Vegas. In 2020, she was named as one of Desert Companion’s “Ones to Watch.” She is passionate about creating meaningful stories that show a complete and nuanced portrait of immigrants and is excited to be joining the Define American team. Based in Los Angeles, CA, in her free time she can be found on a beach, driving through Los Feliz, or making content for her telenovelas TikTok account.

Responsible for directing the Storyteller Support and Advocacy program, Bethany has over ten years of experience in artist support and public programming. Bethany is passionate about building support structures for artists and engaging the power of art and storytelling to foster empathy and connect people from different backgrounds. She has worked building collaborations with various organizations including Sundance Institute and the USC Pacific Asia Museum to support artists and storytellers in their creative endeavors while also cultivating engaging conversations and interactions between artists and audiences. Bethany grew up in five different countries and has made Los Angeles home for the last 15+ years.

Responsible for assisting Jose Antonio Vargas and the Define American team. Jon graduated from UCLA, line produced Define American's film  Documented, and previously managed operations for HyperShop. He probably should've majored in computer science.

Nicco Mele is a managing director at the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. From 2016 to 2019, Nicco was the Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Nicco’s prior experience includes founding technology companies, working on political campaigns, and a stint as a media executive at the Los Angeles Times. He has published widely, including the international bestseller “The End of Big: How The Digital Revolution Makes David The New Goliath” published in 2013 by St. Martin’s Press. He also wrote and illustrated a children’s book titled “Dogs I Have Loved” available on Amazon.

Peter Perl retired as Assistant Managing Editor of The Washington Post after a 33-year career as a reporter and editor.  He supervised personnel matters, career development, skills and management training, and served as leadership coach to the editors who managed the 600-person Post newsroom. He previously was an award-winning writer of The Washington Post Magazine. He also served as chair of The Post newsroom’s labor union and was elected to the governing Executive Council of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild. Prior to The Post, he was a reporter at the Providence Journal-Bulletin and at Connecticut Magazine. He recently has served as a volunteer tutor in the Washington, D.C. and Oakland, CA public school systems, and works part-time as a freelance writer and editor. He lives in Oakland with his wife, Nina Shapiro-Perl.

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated producer. He is a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants and the Founder of Define American. His best-selling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by HarperCollins in 2018. Most recently, he co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, which was nominated for two 2019 Tony awards, including “Best Play.”

Kristina Villarini has spent over 15 years building and leading teams across digital marketing and communications. She has created award-winning, strategic digital programming, including building the first influencer program at GLSEN, as well as being the first Digital Director at Lambda Legal and then, the Alliance for Safety & Justice and Californians for Safety & Justice. During her time at Lambda Legal, she opposed two SCOTUS nominees—winning two Shorty awards in the process—and helped execute the rapid response to former President Trump’s Transgender military service ban. She is the former Vice President of Digital at Precision Strategies, and has served as advisor to some of the world's biggest companies, including Facebook. Her knowledge across digital communications and marketing makes her a sought-after expert on building dynamic user experiences and journeys for marginalized constituencies, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, formerly incarcerated people and everyone living with HIV. Kristina is currently the digital content and marketing strategy lead for J.P. Morgan Payments and serves on the board of directors for Hello Future. Kristina is a long-suffering NY Knicks, NY Mets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Miami Dolphins fan. She lives in New York City with her wife, Arielle.

Uma Viswanathan is Executive Director of New Pluralists Collaborative, a collaborative of researchers, storytellers, practitioners, and funders, pooling and deploying $100M funds over a decade to meet a crisis of social division with cultural solutions that advance pluralistic norms and behaviors in the US. She was previously a Senior Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a Program Officer at the Kellogg Foundation, investing in collective leadership that builds greater equity and belonging in formal systems and in social movements. Uma was Director of Leadership Development at Urban Habitat, preparing community leaders to join strategic local commissions. She founded Nouvelle Vie Haiti, a network of 300+ young Haitian leaders who empower their communities to manage trauma and develop food security and healthier sexual relationships. Uma is a certified meditation and breathwork instructor with the Art of Living Foundation, and received a BA in psychology and an MA in the history of science from Harvard University.