Board of Directors

Penelope was born in England to West Indian parents. She immigrated to the United States from Barbados as a teenager. She is currently a corporate attorney and deal facilitator in Washington DC. Penelope has practiced law in the United States and in Europe for over twenty-five years, including serving for ten years as a senior director in a Fortune 100 tech company. Penelope is also a storyteller and essay writer, passionate about sharing the challenges faced and contributions made by immigrants. She is a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges and Harvard Law School.

Karen brings many years of experience in running immigration-related organizations, both in the nonprofit and private practice worlds. Karen currently sits on the City of Austin Commission on Immigrant Affairs and has served as chair. Previously, Karen served as the Legal Director and then Interim Executive Director for what is now knows as American Gateways, one of Austin’s most well known immigrant rights nonprofits. She has also taught at Immigration Law Clinic for the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Alejandra is a biliterate community advocate and social impact program manager committed to influencing cultures of inclusion and building trust and transparency within programs, communities, and people. Originally from Puerto Rico, she is committed to advocating for underserved, underrepresented, and immigrant communities in a variety of nonprofit settings, including K-12 education, mental health, and higher education. Alejandra is the Senior Community Relations Liaison for WGU Texas and is a VECINA volunteer. She holds a B.A. Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. Ed from Bank Street College of Education, and a DEI in the Workplace certificate from the University of Florida, MUMA College of Business. Alejandra lives in Austin, TX, with her husband, two sons, and her dog Bonita.

Kate is a zealous advocate for immigrant rights, and was a finalist for the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce Changemaker Award. She regularly speaks to the public about immigration law related issued, including being the keynote speaker in 2018 for the Equal Justice Works Conference, as well as appearing on Rachel Maddow to speak out regarding family separation.

Monica Cano Carroll is an immigration attorney who has worked at the Immigrant Rights Program of American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Newark, New Jersey and at American Gateways in Austin, Texas, nonprofits providing legal representation to asylum seekers and other immigrants.  While at American Gateways, she also served as Pro Bono Coordinator.  She currently lives in Spain and is a VECINA volunteer.  

Linda Garza graduated with Honors from the University of Texas Moody College of Communication with a Bachelor of Journalism in December of 1997. She then attended the University of Houston Law Center and was licensed to practice law in the State of Texas in 2002. The majority of her legal career has been dedicated to public service. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in Webb County for 13 years where she was the Chief Prosecutor for the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Unit, 49th District Court Felony Unit and the Special Victims Unit. While an Assistant District Attorney, she managed thousands of cases and was lead counsel in many jury trials. She has also served as an Assistant Public Defender in Webb County. She is currently General Counsel for Siete Family Foods. Linda now resides in Austin, Texas and has four children ranging in age from 22 to 11.

Horacio Gallegos was born in Brownsville, TX and lived in Matamoros, Mexico, growing up on both sides of the Texas/Mexico border. His advanced education track includes graduating from St. Edward’s University in Austin with BBA in Business Administration and an MA in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.  Horacio also received an advanced Portuguese language certificate from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.  During and after college, Horacio had the rare opportunity to travel, work, or study abroad in 20 countries. Now, Horacio combines his decade of real estate and B2B experience and his many years of practice and education in digital marketing, content creation, and teaching.

Horacio’s past and present volunteer work includes time as an assistant chaplain at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito, TX, as a driver for Meals on Wheels, and as an interpreter for VECINA.  He is also very involved with his kids’ schools, the Magellan International School, where he did pro-bono marketing consulting for three years and continues to help on an as-needed basis.  He lives in Austin, TX with his wife and three boys, ages 15, 12, and 8.  His hobbies include martial arts, riding dirtbikes, travel, and everything that gets him outside with his family. 

Dicky Grigg has been a VECINA volunteer since early 2020 and is a wonderful advocate for his VECINA clients. Dicky is a personal injury and has handled more than 1,000 cases. He’s tried over 200 cases in 40 counties throughout Texas. In 2019, Dicky was inducted as a Legal Legend by the Litigation Section of the Texas Bar. The Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Lawyers selected him as Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2006. The Capital Area Trial Lawyers has given Mr. Grigg its highest award for commitment to the law, his clients, and public service. The Austin Bar Association has recognized his accomplishments by honoring him with the Distinguished Lawyer Award. Dicky has served as president of the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Dennis Windscheffel represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial disputes. He has represented a diverse body of clients in a variety of industries, including:, insurance, securities, energy, real estate, construction, oil and gas, intellectual property, and telecommunications.

Dennis has handled numerous matters on a pro bono basis, including representing more than a hundred refugees over the last ten years.  He has repeatedly been recognized for his long-standing commitment to pro bono legal services. In October 2018, Dennis was selected as a “Pro Bono Champion” by the Texas Access to Justice Commission. In 2015, Dennis was part of a group of Akin Gump attorneys who received the State Bar of Texas Frank Newton Award. In 2014, Dennis was recognized as Akin Gump’s pro bono counsel of the year. 

Dennis is also part of a group of attorneys who organized and participated in the Karnes City Project, a collaborative project that provides pro bono representation to refugees from Central America.