ABOUT US

We are committed to an inclusive and immigrant-friendly Sonoma County.

In 2017, when federal anti-immigration rhetoric and deportation activity created widespread fear in our community, the Board of Supervisors initiated a process that resulted in the creation of the Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative. The Collaborative has worked diligently to expand capacity in the County to represent individuals pro bono in immigration proceedings and developed a true system of legal service and support to meet the needs of our immigrant community. To date, the Collaborative has served over 2,100 individuals at no cost to them – but that is only a fraction of the demand.

We are committed to providing affirmative and defensive immigration legal work and complementary social services. Legal work performed includes (but not limited to): removal defense; immigrant family reunification; supportive paths to citizenship; U and T Visa applications; VAWA petitions; asylum applications; SIJs petitions; general attorney representation and legal counsel.

Social service navigation includes (but is not limited to): disaster recovery services; community education; nutrition assistance; housing help; mental health services; trauma-informed care; financial literacy; English Language classes; and benefit enrollment assistance.

Our Board of Directors

Gymmel Monserrat Trembly
Board President

Gymmel Monserrat Trembly is an associate at Hanson Bridgett LLP where she helps private and public employers find solutions to employment-related matters. Apart from Gymmel's legal practice, she is committed to social justice and community work. As a formerly undocumented person, Gymmel intimately understands some of the challenges faced by immigrant families in Sonoma County.
Gymmel received her B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law. Gymmel and her family currently live in Cotati.

Mitchell Greenberg
Board Member

Mitchell Greenberg is a shareholder in the law firm of Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery, where he practices primarily in the areas of business and real estate litigation, employment litigation and counseling, products liability defense, insurance coverage matters, and secured creditors remedies litigation in state, federal and bankruptcy courts.

Mitchell spends a considerable amount of time serving his community. He served as president of the Sonoma County Bar Association in 2018 and as president of the Richard M. Sangster Inns of Court in 2017/2018. Mitchell is also on the Sonoma Advisory Board for 10,000 Degrees, an organization that serves first-generation college students in Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Stephanie Ahmad
Board Treasurer

Stephanie Ahmad, formerly Stephanie Diaz, is an employee benefits attorney at Greenberg Traurig LLP. She is serving her second term on the Windsor School Board, elected in November 2018. Her approach to her work emphasizes transparent communication, proactive issue-solving, and fostering relationships.

She's deeply rooted in Windsor, having attended its schools from K-12, graduating as co-valedictorian in 2002. She earned her bachelor's from UC Berkeley in 2006 and her law degree from Stanford Law School in 2011. Stephanie's spouse is a high school science teacher, and they have two high school-aged children.

Lisa Carreño
Board Member

Lisa Carreño is an attorney, drawn to social justice work at a young age. She grew up in Tampa, Florida, descended from Cuban and Sicilian immigrants. She graduated with her law degree from Catholic University of America in 1988. She has been a non-profit and community leader on both the east and the west coasts for more than three decades.

She joined United Way of the Wine Country as its President and CEO in August 2018. She currently serves as the Chair for Los Cien Sonoma County and is on the Boards of Directors for Forget Me Not Farm Children's Services, Community Foundation Sonoma County, Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative, and the Pepperwood Preserve Foundation.

Lisa will celebrate her 33rd anniversary with her wife, Lorene Irizary, this summer.

Bruce Goldstein
Board Secretary

Bruce Goldstein is a retired attorney who served 23 years in the Sonoma County Counsel’s Office. In 2010 he was appointed the County Counsel by the Board of Supervisors to manage the 30-lawyer office. During his term of office he was recognized for his and the Office’s efforts in supporting the Public Health Officer's fight to control the pandemic, successfully
negotiating a $185 million settlement with PG&E for damages caused by the 2017
Complex Fires, and helping found the Secure Families Collaborative.

In 2016 the County Counsel’s Office received awards from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and National Association of Counties (NACo) for its
Unaccompanied Child Deportation Defense Project where County staff and County Counsel attorneys providing legal immigration assistance to “Unaccompanied Children.” Bruce also represented the County for eight years in child welfare cases where he successfully advocated for undocumented juvenile court dependents to receive independent immigration counsel. Prior to coming to County Counsel, Bruce was an attorney with the San Francisco law firm of Farella, Braun & Martel practicing complex business litigation and handled several pro bono asylum cases. He received his law degree from Stanford Law School and bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Alex Caceres
Board Member

Alex Caceres is a graduate of the University SEK in her home country of Ecuador, where she obtained her Doctor Degree at Law. A long time resident of Sonoma County, she is active in real estate and property management.