What We Do
Pathway for Immigrant Workers (PIW) is a Cambridge-based nonprofit serving the Greater Boston area and beyond. We assist low-wage workers already here in the U.S. with work authorization in employment-sponsored lawful permanent residence applications.
We represent employers who would not otherwise have the means to sponsor a minimum wage worker for a green card. After an initial assessment, if appropriate we represent the employer in the immigration process.
The legal work will be provided pro bono – there will be no charge for legal services. The employer will be asked to pay the advertising costs associated with the PERM labor certification process, as well as the USCIS filing fee for the immigrant visa petition.
At the completion of the process, the foreign national will receive an approved immigrant petition. If eligible, they will then complete the green card process through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status in the U.S.
We’re Just Getting Started! What We’ve Accomplished - By the Numbers
We have filed
46
PWRs
We have filed
17
9089s
We have trained
123
Attorneys
We have completed
999
Assessments
We have
88
Open Cases
We have presented
60
Seminars/Trainings
Who We Work With
We work with various offices and organizations to further our mission of assisting local employers with employment-based sponsorship of their immigrant low-wage workers.
Public Immigration Offices
SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs
Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenships
Photo by Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel
Law Schools
Northeastern University School of Law
Suffolk Law School
Community Organizations
Cambridge Community Foundation
RIAN Immigration Center
De Novo
American Immigration Lawyers Association, New England Chapter
Our Team
Leslie Tuttle Ditrani
Attorney
A first-generation American, Leslie has dedicated her career to advancing the rights and opportunities of immigrant communities. With over 30 years in immigration law, she founded Pathway for Immigrant Workers in 2022 to establish equitable pathways to residency for lower-wage workers who are often overlooked in the immigration process. Leslie began her career at Ditrani Law, LLC, where she built a strong reputation for her expertise in business and family immigration, known for creative and effective approaches to complex cases. She also served as Co-Managing Partner of Chin & Curtis, LLP (2018–2021), and as Managing Partner of WR Immigration’s Boston office (2021–2022). Her commitment extends through pro bono work, volunteer service, and leadership roles within professional organizations. Outside her professional life, Leslie finds joy in spending time with her four children and traveling.
Gia Ottenbreit
Legal Intern
A second-generation American and spouse of an immigrant, Gia is deeply committed to advancing the rights of immigrant workers. Originally from Amherst, MA, she graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Psychology and was a leader on the women’s soccer team, serving as captain her senior year. After graduation, Gia worked as a legal assistant in Boston, building experience before starting law school. Now a third-year student at Northeastern University School of Law, she is focused on securing fair opportunities for lower-wage immigrant workers. Gia resides in Quincy, MA, with her wife and their two chocolate labs, enjoying hiking and the outdoors.
Veronica Kissoon
Americorps member
A first-generation American, Veronica is passionate about serving her community and creating opportunities for those on similar journeys. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Veronica graduated from Cleveland State University and currently serves with Pathway for Immigrant Workers and the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition through AmeriCorps. Driven by a commitment to equity and inclusion, she advocates for lower-wage immigrant workers, empowering them through impactful service. In her free time, Veronica enjoys reading, solving puzzles, and knitting.
Caly Rajput
Legal Clerk
An immigrant from India, Caly holds a Master of Laws from Northeastern University School of Law and currently serves as a Law Clerk with Pathway for Immigrant Workers, supporting lower-wage immigrant workers with residency applications. She has prior experience as a Co-op at Rubin and Rudman LLP and nearly five years of legal practice in India with S.G. Rajput and Associates. In her free time, Caly enjoys exploring Boston and its surroundings with her husband.
Our Board
Annelise Araujo
An immigrant from Brazil, Annelise’s journey shapes her work as an advocate for immigrant rights. With over 16 years in immigration law, she is the founder of Araujo & Fisher, LLC, in Boston. Her expertise spans family-based, employment-based, and humanitarian immigration, earning her recognition as a Boston Magazine Top Lawyer for several years. As a board member for Pathway for Immigrant Workers, she advocates passionately for immigrant families. Annelise enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her 14.5-year-old Havanese.
Alida Bogran-Acosta
An immigrant from Honduras, Alida brings a unique perspective and unwavering commitment to immigrant rights. Fluent in Spanish with a background in employment law, she serves as an Investigator with the Office of Equal Opportunity at Tufts University and has worked with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Alida holds degrees from Northeastern University and Boston University and enjoys knitting in her personal time.
Alejandro Epstein-Santoyo
An immigrant from Mexico, Alejandro is dedicated to advancing immigrant rights. As an immigration attorney specializing in family and humanitarian immigration law and criminal post-conviction relief, Alejandro combines professional expertise with empathy. Inspired by his journey as an undocumented immigrant for 22 years, he advocates tirelessly for immigrant stability and opportunity. A classic car enthusiast, he often works on his 1978 GMC truck and coaches softball for his two daughters. Alejandro is also a fan of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
Morris Luswata
An immigrant from Uganda, Morris’s life journey drives his dedication as a board member of Pathway for Immigrant Workers. With a background in criminal justice and law enforcement, he has served as an office manager at an immigration law firm for nearly six years. Inspired by his own experience, Morris advocates for citizenship pathways through employment. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, soccer, and exploring new places.
Maria Teresa Nagel
An immigrant from Costa Rica, Maria Teresa’s experiences fuel her advocacy for immigrant communities. As the Director of SomerViva: Office of Immigrant Affairs, she specializes in migration policy and trauma-informed care, ensuring immigrant access to resources and community integration. She is passionate about building sustainable and inclusive avenues for more humane immigrant integration and overall improved wellbeing. Her work is inspired by the stories of grit and determination of those she has been fortunate to serve.
Maria Teresa was the lead singer in an alternative rock band at the start of the femalel rock scene in Nicaragua. Today she lives in Massachusetts with her two children, husband, and rescue beagle-mix.
Nick López Cortés
An immigrant from México, and a gay man, Nick is dedicated to opening doors for those who are ahead of him, alongside him, or those following behind. Having been undocumented for 15 years, and in the closet for several more, Nick knows all too well what it is like to live in fear and uncertainty. He was blessed to encounter people in his life who not only rooted for him, but identified and helped open doors that allowed him to pursue an undergraduate education at Harvard, where he graduated with a degree in Human Evolutionary Biology and a secondary field in Health Policy. His work has spanned education non-profits, the Boston Mayor’s Office, One Fund Boston, The Boston Globe – STAT News, and now a federally qualified community health center. In his spare time, he plants seeds of curiosity with his nieces and nephews, and seeds of delicious tomatoes in the garden. You may also find Nick huffing and puffing on a hill or mountain trying to keep up with his outdoorsy partner.
Wendy Wayne
The immigrant experience of Wendy's parents had a significant impact on her upbringing and on her passion for fairness and justice. Wendy entered the immigration field after working for a number of years as a criminal defense attorney at the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency. She then founded the Immigration Impact Unit at CPCS, where she specialized in the intersection of immigration and criminal law and engaged in systemic litigation on issues regarding immigration enforcement. Wendy is now an immigration policy consultant and the founder of South End Strategies LLC, focusing on providing strategic guidance to nonprofit organizations within the immigration and criminal justice systems and designing and developing programs that increase access to counsel for immigrants. She is the former Chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration and serves on several national committees of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Wendy enjoys skiing, playing tennis and occasional singing in her spare time.
Fendy Alexis
An immigrant from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fendy, a distinguished health practitioner and real estate investor, developed an early commitment to service by studying immigration law to assist his family and close friends with visa extensions, work authorizations, green card applications, and naturalization processes.
Presently the Chief Executive Officer of The F. Alexis Group LLC, Fendy oversees RFP Fitness and Alexis Homes Holdings. With over 18 years of experience as a Corrective Exercise Specialist, he has guided more than 1,000 clients—particularly post-rehabilitation patients—toward optimal physical performance. Recognizing the profound impact of the built environment on overall well-being, he founded Alexis Homes Holdings, a real estate development firm dedicated to rehabilitating distressed properties and revitalizing communities.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Fendy is passionate about mentorship, basketball coaching, and literature. He resides in Milton, Massachusetts, with his wife, Nyjah, and their four sons—Myles, Isaiah, Emmanuel, and Ethan.