CHIRLA "Educating, Organizing, Advocating"

Whelma Cabanawan is CHIRLA's Administrator and Intern/Volunteer Coordinator since 2007. While visiting family and friends in California in 2006, Whelma became a CHIRLA volunteer and in her last semester of college, decided to move from Florida to become the organization's Media and Communications Intern. As an intern, Whelma contributed in the production of the Know Your Rights dvd and did extensive research on immigration raids.

While living and learning in Los Angeles, Whelma continued to write her Honors thesis, and in May 2007, she graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science/Pre-Law and Legal Studies. Being an immigrant from the Philippines and witnessing first-hand the issues affecting immigrant communities compelled Whelma to continue the struggle for immigrant rights. After graduation, she decided to stay in Los Angeles California to work for CHIRLA, and in September 2006, she officially became the Administrator and Intern/Volunteer Coordinator. Aside from Administration and Finance, Whelma has also dedicated her efforts to CHIRLA?s Civic Engagement Program by registering over 25,000 newly-naturalized voters and helping with the Mobilize the Immigrant Vote Campaign.