NAAHP Blog

The NAAHP highlights our members who are making a difference in our organization and in their communities. Sofia Rinvil is an Immigration and New Citizen Services Coordinator for the City of New Jersey where she assists in decision-making and policy development that provide educational and economic opportunity to low-income immigrant populations and prioritizes the needs of these communities. She’s also a Global Ambassador for Mogul, a global platform for women.

She is most interested in working with those who are vulnerable and marginalized bylaws, policies, and inadequate services such as the immigrants and refugees populations. She has a keen interest in Human Rights, in particular, advocating for the rights of immigrants and refugees populations. Her zeal interests in working with immigrant and refugee communities come from analyzing cross-cultural conflicts, global migration, and helping immigrants navigate our complex immigration system. She is determined to help immigrants in dire circumstances by addressing the U.S. immigration laws, regulations, and policies in an era of increasing complexity at the local, state, and federal levels.

Connect with Sofia on LinkedIn, Mogul, and Pinterest.

10 Questions for Sofia Rinvil

Dominique Elkind, NAAHP: Tell us a bit about your personal background.

Sofia Rinvil: I am Haitian-American. I was born and raised in South Florida. I have a keen interest in Human Rights, in particular, advocating for the rights of immigrants and refugees.

My interests in working with immigrant and refugee communities come from analyzing cross-cultural conflicts, global migration, and helping immigrants navigate our complex immigration system. Prior to working, at the City of Jersey City, Mayor’s Office of Welcoming Communities, in the State of New Jersey, as the Immigration and New Citizen Services Coordinator.

I completed a legal internship, as the Legal Fellow and Legal Assistant at one of the immigration law firm in New York City. I also worked as the Job Development Refugee Services Fellow at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) in Albany, New York and a summer intern at the State Attorney General Office of New Jersey.

Following this, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University with a minor in Sociology and obtained a Master of Arts degree in Global Affairs and Human Security. I decided to further my graduate studies at Columbia University to gain skills that would well equip in helping to address the immigration laws, regulations, and policies in an era of increasing complexity at the local, state and federal levels.

NAAHP: What’s your current job?

SR: Immigration and New Citizen Services Coordinator

NAAHP: How did your background prepare you for your current role?

SR: Formal education and cultural awareness

NAAHP: What is the biggest challenge of your work?

SR: Not enough time in a day

NAAHP: What would you say has been your greatest career or personal accomplishments so far?

SR: Helping immigrants and refugees

NAAHP: What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

SR: Patience

NAAHP: How long have you been a member of the NAAHP? What’s your best experience thus far?

SR: I have been a member for a while

NAAHP: What kind of advice would you give to fellow NAAHP members looking to grow professionally?

SR: Always put in the work

NAAHP: Who or what inspires you?

SR: My Father, Sister, and dislike of human abuse

NAAHP: When you’re not working, where can we find you?

SR: Spending time with family members, at the spa or binge-watching legal shows.