Meet our Team

Project Libertad is made up of a team of passionate and dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters who make our important work possible. Meet our team below!

Rachel Rutter, Esq.
Founder and Executive Director
rachel@projectlibertad.org

Rachel, a passionate advocate for immigrant children's rights, founded Project Libertad in 2015 and serves as the Executive Director. She is a graduate of the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Gettysburg College. Rachel served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica and an Equal Justice Works JusticeAmeriCorps Fellow. She has lived and worked in Spain and Puerto Rico. Prior to transitioning full-time to Project Libertad, Rachel spent several years as a Staff Attorney representing immigrant children in removal proceedings at HIAS Pennsylvania.

Olga Hernandez
​Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@projectlibertad.org

Olga is an undergraduate student majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in Justice and Human Rights and minor in French at Drexel University. Their interests rest heavily upon community organizing and a belief in the power of the people. They have been a volunteer themselves at several other organizations working in social media, graphic designing, and outreach coordinating. Previous to this position, they were a grants researcher and writer at American Friends Service Committee. Olga is most passionate about learning and indulging in new cultures and is excited to be a part of Project Libertad as a bilingual Mexican American!

Guilianna McGinniss
After-School Program Coordinator
guilianna@projectlibertad.org

Guilianna leads one of Project Libertad's middle school after school programs. Guilianna recently graduated from Cabrini University, where she studied psychology and Spanish. Guilianna is a graduate student at Saint Leo University in Florida, where she is pursuing her M.S. in Psychology. Guilianna is studying the impact of immigration on subjective well-being. In addition to her graduate studies, Guilianna works as a preschool teacher. When she is not studying or working, Guilianna runs a lifestyle blog. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family​​

Lauren Dunoff
After-School Program Coordinator
​lauren@projectlibertad.org

Lauren is a graphic designer who loves doing crafts and working with kids. With two grown daughters off to college, Lauren was excited to find the opportunity to volunteer with the children in the after-school programs of Project Libertad. She has enjoyed getting to know the students, and she is learning to speak Spanish. The children of Project Libertad have inspired Lauren to develop craft projects for both virtual and in-person programming, which she calls Creátiva Crafts. Lauren strives to help the students to have fun, and to feel welcome and comfortable in their school and community. 

Jiwon Moon
​​After-School Program Coordinator

Jiwon is a student at Cornell University, where she studies Biology and Society. Jiwon plans to pursue a career in medicine and is passionate about serving in the community to minimize the barriers faced by the immigrant children with their access to social resources, such as healthcare and education. In her free time, she loves to jog, paint, and bake for her friends and family.

 Sofia Cavicchia
After-School Program Coordinator

Sofia leads one of Project Libertad's middle school after-school programs.  Her biggest passion is the world and community service. Sofia loves to learn about new cultures, people, and languages. She has traveled to Central and South America to participate in volunteer work. After graduating from Central High School, Sofia will continue her passionate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she will major in International Relations and minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies. Above all, she believes that barriers between people never exist and that the only barrier is our way of thinking.

S, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is S, I am 20 years, and I currently work for a state representative. In the future, I want to become an immigration lawyer or get more involved in politics and be able to help minorities in my community. I hope to help and learn from others through Project Libertad. Above all I enjoy physical activities and dancing.”

Maria, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is Maria I was born in Mexico. I am a Junior in High school. My goal is to become a lawyer or a teacher, because I love to help people, and want all of them to have opportunities to study or learn to have a better future.”

M, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is M. I’m 17 years old, I’m also a junior in high school, and my dream is to became a police officer one day, because I love to help people.”

C, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is C, I am 14 years old, and I am in the last year of Middle School. My goal in my life is always to help people who may need me, so I want to be a lawyer or social worker. One day, I want to help people and put into practice everything that Project Libertad has taught me.”