Yoana Rodriguez
Pro Bono Net Volunteer Spotlight - Yoana Rodriguez
National Line Volunteer at The Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis, MN
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Yoana Rodriguez is a lawyer from Guatemala whose main interest lies with human rights, specifically with indigenous communities and women’s rights. Rodriguez volunteers regularly at The Advocates for Human Rights on their National Asylum Help Line, or Linea de Ayuda Nacional de Asilo. Since The Advocates is limited to working with only those in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, the National Line serves to connect callers in other states to the appropriate legal services. As the slogan says, “We help you find legal services where you live.” Rodriguez first heard about the volunteer opportunity through a conversation with a friend, who directed her to one of The Advocates’ informational sessions on asylum. Rodriguez knew that legal advice is often economically inaccessible, and wanted to join The Advocates to help provide the vital service.
Rodriguez says she can empathize with callers, as she understands the violence and practices in Latin America. As she explains, “I understand the efforts of those who are calling the National Line because I am also Hispanic, and I am also trying to integrate into this culture and this society. Nothing has surprised me; I have lived some of the reasons that these people leave for the US.” Rodriguez believes that a big challenge for callers is that they don’t understand English and that everything in the US is new for them, so volunteers should visualize themselves in a similar situation: of not knowing anyone, not speaking the language, and not having anyone to ask for help. “Even if I cannot solve everything for them,” Rodriguez says, “I can help with this small thing that could make a big difference in their lives.”
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