Myrna Orozco, President

Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Myrna migrated to the U.S. with her family at the age of 4. She currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is a full-time student at Rockhurst University majoring in Nonprofit Leadership Studies and Political Science. Myrna is an organizer for the United We Dream Network. UWD is the nation's oldest, and largest immigrant youth led organization fighting for equal access to higher education regardless of citizenship status. Faith plays an important role in her life and she is committed to spreading the message of "Love thy neighbor, as thy self." regardless of immigration status.

Patricia Orduna, Vice President

Patricia is a founding member of IJAM and currently serves as Vice President for the Board of Directors. Mrs. Orduna became a legal permanent resident in January of 2011 after winning her immigration court case. She is seeking citizenship to the United States. Patricia is the mother of two Mexican national boys and three U.S. citizen children. Every decision she has made has been to make a better life for her children and family. Mrs. Orduna is very active in her community and the children's schools; she is also a member of Via de Esperanza Church. She has been a dedicated employee since coming to the United States and in fact started her own successful house cleaning business several years ago. 

Rabbi Alan Cohen

Rabbi Cohen served as Beth Shalom's senior rabbi from 1989-2008. Since leaving Beth Shalom, he has served as the Director of Interreligious Affairs at the Jewish Community Relations Bureau (JCRB)/American Jewish Committee (AJC), working with clergy of all faiths to strengthen relationships and expand interfaith learning opportunities in Kansas City. The Rabbi serves as an Assistant Chaplain in the Spiritual Wellness Department at St. Luke's Health System. Prior to moving to Kansas City, Rabbi Cohen served as Rabbi of Temple Beth El, West Palm Beach, Florida, Rabbi of Synagogue Emanu-El, Charleston South Carolina, and Rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel, Gainesville, York, Florida. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, New York City. He earned his Bachelor of Hebrew Letters, Master of Hebrew Letters and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York City. In 1998 he was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the same institution. He became Rabbi in order to share his love of Judaism with people and continues in his current work to the same love as well as his desire to enable people to better understand differences and similarities among faiths.

Elder Laurie Anderson, Executive Director

Laurie is the Director and Founder of the Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement (IJAM), she was the National Coordinator of the New Sanctuary Movement (and now serves on the voluntary national steering committee), and serves as Youth Director for the Southridge Presbyterian churches in urban Kansas City. She was Elder Commissioner to the 219th General Assembly and was appointed Vice Moderator of the Middle East Peacemaking Committee. As a nationally recognized immigration advocate, Laurie frequently presents immigration reform dialogues. In 2009, Laurie was named Heartland Presbytery's Peacemaker of the year. 

Reverend Daniel Bocanegra, President Emiritus

Rev. Bocanegra was born in Guatemala. He became Pastor of Iglesia Emanuel in Guatemala City where he remained until 1996. He emigrated to the United States later that year becoming Pastor of Iglesia Evangelica Rios de Agua Viva in West Pal Beach, Florida until 2002 when he moved to Olathe, Kansas, where he is now the current pastor of Via de Esperanza Church. After becoming a citizen in 2004, Rev. Bocanegra became Board President and founding Board member of IJAM. He was once again elected to serve and continues in the position of Board President for IJAM.