Jackelyn Mariano, Esq.
Executive Director
Jackelyn Mariano, Esq., is a Filipina American community organizer, lawyer, and educator born, raised, and based in Queens, New York. Her lived experience as the daughter of Filipino migrant workers informs her political and professional life. She began her service as Executive Director of MEMS in December 2023, although her service to MEMS has been ongoing since the organization’s inception in 2016. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Jackelyn served as MEMS’ legal resource through her law firm Mariano Ashton PLLC, developing the organization’s legal referral network and programs that have trained survivors and migrant workers to use law to support organizing campaigns for justice against labor traffickers and exploitative employers. Jackelyn developed her expertise in the legal frameworks that govern labor trafficking by serving as a staff immigration attorney at legal services organizations, including at AALDEF’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative, Unlocal, Inc., and Safe Horizon’s Anti-Trafficking Program. It has been her goal to make legal education accessible to grassroots organizers and she deeply enjoys doing Know Your Rights trainings and training others to understand, articulate, and strategize around the law. Jackelyn was a member of GABRIELA New York, a grassroots Filipino women’s organization involved in MEMS’ nascent stages, with whom she organized side-by-side with mostly women trafficking survivors in the domestic work, nursing, education, oil rig staffing, hotel/hospitality, and construction industries. Jackelyn has instructed classes on immigration law and Asian American Studies as an adjunct professor at CUNY Hunter College and the CUNY School of Law, both schools of which she is an alumna.
Rev. Canon Dr. Winfred (Fred) Vergara
Chair OF THE BOARD
Having lived, studied and served in various churches in three countries (Iglesia Filipina Independiente in the Philippines, Anglican Church in Singapore, Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches in the United States), Fr. Fred has a broad spectrum of experience in leading organizations. As the current Missioner for Asiamerica Ministries in the Episcopal Church based in New York City, he specializes in evangelism, church planting, revival and racial reconciliation among and beyond Asian communities. He is known as a “healing and trouble-shooting priest” and one of the founders of Mission to End Modern Slavery.
Jessica Tulloch
Treasurer OF THE BOARD
Jessica is a human rights advocate with more than two decades of experience working with grassroots organizations on community empowerment and peacebuilding. She spent several years in the Philippines as a researcher and educator with the labor movement and in indigenous communities where she witnessed firsthand the social, political, and economic conditions that make human trafficking possible. She also has assisted non-profits with establishment of financial and administrative systems.
Aida Venturanza Evora
Secretary of the Board
Aida Venturanza Evora is a committed advocate for migrants and migrant workers. As a human trafficking survivor, she continues her advocacy in supporting Filipino migrant workers through Migrante New York, a grassroots organization that fights for the rights and well-being of migrant Filipinos in New York City. She served as their Executive Officer from 2016-2018. Aida earned a certificate in basic immigration law so she could serve as a paralegal and further support and advocate for survivors of human trafficking. Aida supports MEMS work with trafficking survivors and migrant workers to empower them through leadership development, manifest self-determination, and build migrant power. She has volunteered her time to MEMS vision to center survivor-led movements by working within the community towards social, racial, and economic justice. Aida’s experiences and involvement in the community give her inspiration and passion to help the people. In 2021, the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights in Washington DC recognized Aida as a Certified Anti-Trafficking Consultant. As a caretaker for the past 13 years in Manhattan, Aida believes in solidarity with all migrant workers and understand the challenges of being an overseas migrant worker separated from her own family. She is a proud mother of two beautiful, smart, and independent women.