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Atlanta Staff

Eileen Espinal

Senior Social Services Program Manager

Eileen joined the Tahirih Justice Center in 2018. As Senior Social Services Program Manager, Eileen provides holistic, culturally-competent, and trauma-informed services to immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. Our client-centered Social Services program connects our clients to appropriate and accessible resources to support their goals. Eileen engages in outreach and advocacy to spread awareness about the challenges facing survivors of gender-based violence in Georgia’s immigrant community. Eileen also manages Tahirih Atlanta’s Volunteer Program, connecting our supporters to our programs to empower the families that we serve.

Prior to joining Tahirih, Eileen served as Community Youth Advocate with the Southern Poverty Law Center, where she conducted outreach and support to students, incarcerated persons, and immigrants across Florida. Prior to that, Eileen served with Camillus House, an organization assisting the poor and the homeless in the South Florida community. Eileen served as their Community Manager as well as a Case Manager for the women’s employment and housing opportunity program.

I am constantly inspired by Tahirih’s mission to uplift the voices of immigrant women and girls that have experienced hardships and trauma, and its mission to help these survivors reclaim their agency. Women support and empower our community in a real and beautiful way. It is a privilege to work alongside an organization that believes in the power of gender equality.

Education: Florida International University, MPA & MS Criminal Justice; University of South Florida, BA Criminology

Languages: Spanish

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Dulce Jacobo

Senior Social Services Advocate

Portrait of Dulce Jacobo smilingDulce joined Tahirih in 2021. As the Senior Social Services Advocate in the Atlanta office, Dulce conducts biopsychosocial needs assessments for Tahirih clients. She collaborates with the legal and social service teams to provide trauma-informed and client-centered services. Dulce provides crisis intervention, safety planning and education on victim’s rights to Tahirih clients. She collaborates with various community agents to connect service seekers to the necessary resources that can empower them and support them through their journey. Prior to joining Tahirih, Dulce worked as a Medical Social Worker in interdisciplinary medical teams at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in Georgia. Throughout her work experience she conducted biopsychosocial assessments, crisis intervention and comprehensive care coordination services by advocating and connecting patients to various resources. Dulce was part of a study abroad summer program in Costa Rica during her undergraduate years at Georgia State University. She analyzed the difference in policies and implementation of social services between Costa Rica and the USA.

“I am inspired by Tahirih’s mission to create a more gender equitable world and their commitment to empower immigrant women and girls. As an immigrant myself and a daughter of immigrants, I’m passionate about immigrant rights and through my work I seek to be of service to my community. I’m grateful to be part of Tahirih’s mission to advocate, empower and raise awareness about the complex challenges faced by immigrant women and girls.”

Education: Columbia University, MSW

Languages: Spanish, English

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Collin Mickle

Managing Attorney

Collin joined Tahirih’s Atlanta office in 2022. As the Managing Attorney, Collin leads our Atlanta Legal team, working alongside our Social Services advocates to provide our clients with the very best legal representation and counsel.

Prior to joining Tahirih, Collin worked in private practice in Massachusetts and served as the Coordinator of the Immigration Resource Center on Cape Cod, providing free immigration legal services to individuals in need in Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

I am inspired every day by our clients. The strength they display in the most challenging and stressful circumstances is incredible. Being part of the Tahirih team that helps our clients get the best possible outcomes for themselves is an honor and a privilege.

Education: University of Alabama, J.D.; Florida State University, B.A.

Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Vanessa Wilkins

Executive Director

Vanessa joined Tahirih’s Atlanta office in 2021. As Executive Director, Vanessa is responsible for the management, growth and financial sustainability of the Atlanta office. She leads the Atlanta team in delivering client-centered legal and social services to immigrant women and girls fleeing violence; conducting community outreach and partnerships; oversees the local office’s financial and operational integrity; and engaging diverse stakeholders. Vanessa also works collaboratively to develop and execute a regional advocacy strategy for policies supporting the community.

Prior to joining Tahirih, Vanessa worked within the non-profit field for over eighteen years. In 2003, she joined Promise Place to expand domestic violence services in Fayette county to several new counties within the judicial circuit. With the opening of that area’s first state certified domestic violence shelter in 2007, Vanessa took on the position of Shelter Director, assisting in developing the framework for services provided to clients. She then served as Executive Director for the next ten years. As Promise Place Executive Director, Vanessa developed numerous domestic violence initiatives for the community. One of these initiatives was featured in the 11th annual Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review report. In February 2015, Vanessa was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the Georgia Commission of Family Violence where she served for 3 years. She received a Pinnacle Leadership award in 2017 for outstanding community leadership and was recognized with a Phenomenal Woman award in 2021 for her 17 years of service to the community.

I am inspired by both Tahirih’s mission and inter-disciplinary approach to providing services. Having worked in the domestic violence field for many years, I have seen firsthand the complex barriers immigrant women and girls face in achieving safety – a basic right that we all too often take for granted. Legal services are a critical factor in removing these barriers and I am honored to work alongside a team that focuses on prioritizing client needs while maintaining excellence in our service delivery.

Hometown: Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Ruth Santamaria Mansaray

Client Services and Operations Coordinator

Ruth joined Tahirih in 2023. As a Client Services and Operations Coordinator, Ruth is responsible for prescreens, supporting office compliance with organizational safety & security policies and procedures, onboarding coordination with local management team and National Operations, reconciliation of all invoices, receipts, and credit cards, and providing administrative support with training, specific projects, tasks, and outreach events.

Prior to joining Tahirih, Ruth provided mental health services in a personalized recovery oriented program in Hudson, NY as a Trauma Informed Care PROS Practitioner.

Ruth has spent considerable time in Sierra Leone, West Africa, collaborating with “Plant A Seed SL”. Ruth tutors and mentors college students in Sierra Leone and Dominican Republic.

“As an immigrant woman, Tahirih’s vision aligns with who I am and what I would like the future to be like for my daughters and granddaughters.”

Education: City College of New York

Languages: Spanish

Hometown: Atlanta, GA