What We Do
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MARIPOSA empowers Ventura County youth to become non-attorney Accredited Representatives, fostering their leadership in immigration advocacy. We provide accessible pathways for those unable to attend law school, nurturing their talents to protect and support local families.
MARIPOSA is a young organization, but it carries forward legal work its founder has done in this community for over 20 years, and it exists specifically so that trust and expertise doesn't stay locked inside one attorney's caseload, but grows into something the next generation of Central Coast legal advocates can carry forward.
Our Story
MARIPOSA Advocacy and Legal Services was founded in 2025 to provide low-cost immigration legal services to working families on California's Central Coast while training the next generation of community-rooted legal advocates. The organization builds on immigration and community-building work its Executive Director has provided in the region since 2005.
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MARIPOSA is dedicated to supporting City of Ventura residents through a four-year City-funded grant. The program includes workshops that educate families on their rights emergency preparedness, mobile legal clinics that provide direct access to legal assistance, and representation for various legal matters such as citizenship applications and renewals. Attendees of workshops and clinics can easily transition into MARIPOSA's intake system for low-cost legal representation.
Accredited Representative Training
There have never been enough immigration attorneys on the Central Coast to meet the need. MARIPOSA is building a local answer through the DOJ's Recognition and Accreditation Program, which authorizes trained non-attorneys to practice immigration law through recognized nonprofits. Real legal help, provided by people from this community, at a cost working families can manage.
Family Preparedness Planning
If immigration enforcement impacts your family, having a plan in place can make all the difference. MARIPOSA’s Family Preparedness Planning program helps Central Coast families prepare ahead of time so they can face unexpected situations with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Theory of Change
MARIPOSA works to reduce the need for expensive immigration attorneys by training people from the community to provide trusted, affordable legal help.
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By building legal knowledge within the community, we give immigrant families the support they need while creating the next generation of local legal advocates.
