White Plains Staff
Virginia Foulkrod, Esq.
Executive Director
Virginia Foulkrod, Esq.
Virginia Foulkrod, Esq. has been the Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Justice Center since August 2018. Virginia has extensive experience litigating cases throughout the lower Hudson Valley at the both the trial and appellate level. Since her admission to the NYS Bar in 2009, she has devoted her legal career to public interest work. As the 2009-2011 recipient of the Westchester County Bar Foundation Fellowship, Virginia began her career assisting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking at My Sister’s Place. She joined Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) in July 2012, as a staff attorney in the Veterans and Military Families Unit, then as a senior attorney in the Domestic Violence Unit and finally as Supervising Attorney of the Peekskill office. As Executive Director of HVJC, Virginia is dedicated to increasing access to justice for all residents of the Hudson Valley, regardless of their immigration status.
Cynthia M. Tejeda-Joseph, Esq.
Senior Attorney
Cynthia M. Tejeda-Joseph, Esq.
Cynthia M. Tejeda-Joseph is a Senior Attorney with the Hudson Valley Justice Center (HVJC), where she provides direct representation and advice to low income residents of the Hudson Valley, in matters of eviction defense, immigration, and family law. As a Senior Staff Attorney, she provides assistance with case strategy and litigation support for attorneys across HVJC’s two offices. Prior to joining HVJC, Ms. Tejeda-Joseph worked serving immigrants in private practice and as a Spanish court interpreter in the New York City location of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Ms. Tejeda-Joseph has more than 9 years of experience in assisting non-citizens and citizens in the areas of immigrant rights and immigration law.
Jason Mays, Esq.
Deputy Director
Jason Mays, Esq.
Jason Mays, Deputy Director of Hudson Valley Justice Center, has extensive experience in a wide variety of practice areas, including foreclosure, landlord-tenant, family law, social security disability. Jason has experience at the trial and appellate level, and in both state and federal courts, and in various administrative venues. Jason is the Co-Chair of Westchester County’s Right to Counsel Coalition and is also involved in the statewide right to counsel campaign, advocating that all tenants facing eviction be provided with an attorney if they cannot afford to hire one on their own. Jason believes access to safe and affordable housing should be a basic human right and no one should face eviction without the benefit of counsel.
Brenda Cardenas
Paralegal
Brenda Cardenas
Brenda is a paralegal in the Housing Unit at HVJC. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Manhattanville College, and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Brenda has spent the entirety of her career serving her community. In addition to her role at HVJC, Brenda actively serves as a District Leader for the city of New Rochelle, and has previously worked for Representative Eliot Engel in the 19th Congressional District of New York.
Evelyn Rodriguez
Victims Advocate
Evelyn Rodriguez
Evelyn Rodriguez is a bilingual Victims Advocate with the Hudson Valley Justice Center, where she advocates for crime victims. In her current role as a Victim’s Advocate, Evelyn helps individuals from underserved and oppressed communities fight for and receive the support and services in which they desperately need. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Manhattanville College in International Studies and Latin American Studies. Prior to HVJC, she has helped serve her community by teaching English classes, advocating for the undocumented community and volunteering in several other organizations.
Gabrielle Grimmett, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Gabrielle Grimmett, Esq.
Gabrielle Grimmett is a Staff Attorney with HVJC and specializes in housing matters. She joined HVJC in March 2022. She received her Juris Doctorate from Charleston School of Law in Charleston, SC and her Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. Prior to HVJC, Gabrielle has helped serve her community by teaching middle and high school students, advocating for equal justice, and volunteering with different organizations.
Liliana Villa
Paralegal
Liliana Villa
Liliana is a paralegal in the housing unit at the Hudson Valley Justice Center. She has an associate’s degree in Modern Languages from the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Bilingual Early Childhood Education at the City College of New York. Since joining the organization over a year and a half ago, Liliana was instrumental in building HVJC’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of HVJC, Liliana still has a passion for giving back to the community, and spends her free time tutoring grade school students in after-school programs.
Vilma Gamarra, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Vilma Gamarra, Esq.
Vilma Gamarra is a Housing Staff Attorney with HVJC. She is bilingual and a native New Yorker. She graduated from Goucher College with a Bachelor of Arts in Peace Studies and received her Juris Doctorate from Pace Law School in 2020. Vilma has six years of experience in the legal field and previously specialized in Immigration. She has served her community over the years by advocating for Immigrant and Tenants Rights.
Karla Kruger
Paralegal
Karla Kruger
Karla Kruger is a highly skilled Bilingual Paralegal at the esteemed Hudson Valley Justice Center (HVJC), specializing in Housing Services. With an extensive background spanning over a decade, she has honed her expertise in translation work, specifically English to Spanish, catering to the medical field and serving a wide range of diverse demographics and communities in Latin America. Her commitment to facilitating effective communication and providing invaluable support has garnered her a reputation as a trusted professional in her field.
Maya Phillips
Finance Reporting Manager
Maya Phillips
With her degree in finance, Maya is passionate about the financial industry and is eager to make her mark in the field. Beyond her professional pursuits, Maya enjoys spending her free time with family and friends. Maya is excited to make a positive impact in her role at Hudson Valley Justice Center.
Dorisa Reyes
Paralegal
Dorisa Reyes
Dorisa Reyes is a Paralegal in the Housing Unit at Hudson Valley Justice Center. She holds a Master’s in Migration Studies from the University of San Francisco, where she researched the many different governmental policies that impact immigrant communities across the world. Dorisa also has experience in business immigration matters as a paralegal professional. She is a dedicated individual that has volunteered for many organizations that serve immigrant communities.
Yonkers Staff
Tia Fabi
Office Manager
Tia Fabi
Tia is HVJC’s Office Manager who has worked to help secure new locations for our growing firm; she has also become the communications liaison to numerous HVJC vendors and assists with invoices/billing. Tia has a B.A. in Communications and has a background in admin work for recruitment agencies and other law firms. She looks forward to assisting HVJC as they continue helping others.
Christine Moccia, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Christine Moccia, Esq.
Christine Moccia has worked in litigation for more than 20 years. She has appeared in Supreme, Family, and City and Town Courts in Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, Ulster and Sullivan counties. Christine left private practice in April of 2022 to join Hudson Valley Justice Center as a staff attorney.
Samantha Hernandez
Paralegal
Samantha Hernandez
Samantha Hernandez has her Master’s Degree in International Relations. Prior to coming to HVJC, Samantha worked for a non-profit organization helping Bronx tenants not get evicted from their homes. She hopes to have a positive impact on her team and clients here at HVJC.
Viridiana Valencia
Paralegal
Viridiana Valencia
Viridiana Valencia is a Paralegal at Hudson Valley Justice Center. At her previous job, she was a Leasing Specialist at a Property Management Company. When she isn’t working, she is taking care of her two daughters at home. She is very passionate about being part of something that helps the community.
Newburgh Staff
George Haddad, Esq.
Supervising Attorney
George Haddad, Esq.
George B. Haddad is a Supervising Attorney with the Hudson Valley Justice Center (HVJC), where he provides direct representation and advice to low income residents of the Hudson Valley, in matters of eviction defense. As Supervising Attorney, he provides assistance with case strategy and litigation support for attorneys across HVJC’s offices. Prior to joining HVJC, George worked at the Legal Aid Society in the Bronx, where he worked on the Right to Counsel Tenant Defense Project. George has more than six years of experience assisting non-citizens and citizens in the areas of housing law and eviction defense.
Mindy German
Intake Supervisor
Mindy German
Mindy is an Intake Supervisor in the Housing Unit at HVJC. She was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mercy College. With a fluency in English and Spanish, Mindy has dedicated her time to helping individuals with language barriers. Mindy may spend her days at HVJC’s Newburgh location, but it’s the collective passion for advocacy embodied by the agency that gets her up in the morning.
Brian Camacho
Paralegal
Brian Camacho
Brian is a bilingual paralegal in the Housing Unit at HVJC. He has a Bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY New Paltz and a minor in Anthropology. Born in Newburgh, Brian began working at HVJC in 2022 with hopes of making a difference in his community.
Ben Surface, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Ben Surface, Esq.
Ben is a Staff Attorney in HVJC’s Newburgh Office. He received his JD from Vermont Law School in 2018 and has since dedicated his legal career to advocating for tenants and serving the public interest. Prior to joining the Hudson Valley Justice Center team he worked with Pisgah Legal Services in Asheville, NC and then Legal Services of New York City in Manhattan. Ben believes housing is a human right and that everyone deserves a stable, safe, and affordable place to live. When Ben is not working on behalf of Hudson Valley tenants, you can find him outside working in the garden or with his sheep, chickens, dogs, and goats on his little Dutchess County homestead.
Melba Villa
Paralegal
Melba Villa
Melba is a Paralegal in the Housing Unit at HVJC. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from The University of Delaware and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Prior Joining HVJC, Melba worked at an Immigration law firm in Manhattan for five years, where she worked on Family-Based and Employment-based matters.
Samantha Damon, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Samantha Damon, Esq.
Samantha Damon is a Housing Staff Attorney with the Hudson Valley Justice Center. Samantha was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at SUNY New Paltz, and was awarded her Juris Doctorate at New England Law | Boston. Prior to working at HVJC, Samantha was a Housing Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society in the Bronx. She is very passionate about making sure everyone has an opportunity to be heard and properly represented despite their socioeconomic status or Immigration status. Everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard.
Poughkeepsie Staff
Angelia Espinoza
Paralegal
Angelia Espinoza
Angelia is a bilingual paralegal in the Housing unit at HVJC. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Society and a minor in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. She has an extensive background working in the criminal justice field with over 10 yrs. of experience. Prior to joining the HVJC team, Angelia work at Bronx District Attorney’s Office and Legal Aid society of Orange county fostered her diverse perspective on the many ways to serve Spanish speaking, low income and immigrant communities of New York. Angelia’s passion for civil service has been the driving force behind her work at BXDA and Legal Aid Society and it has led her to join HVJC to help vulnerable groups.
Board Members
Eric Gordon, Esq.
President
Member
Keane and Beane, P.C
Lucille Oppenheim, Esq.
Treasurer
Sidney Rosdeitcher, Esq.
Member
Of Counsel
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Christopher Cabanillas, Esq.
Member
Founder & Principal
Cabanillas and Associates, PC
Elyse Diamond, J.D.
Member
Director, Public Service Careers, PILC/CCPD
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University