I have considerable experience working with grassroots organizations, local administrators, and stakeholders in Italy and Canada. In 2013 and 2014, in Italy, I was involved with civil society organizations that work in favour of immigrants’ and refugees’ rights. I helped organize social mobilization events with grassroots movements, gave consultations, and organized training activities with community organizers as well as trade unions and church-based organizations on how to promote innovative approaches to grassroots advocacy in a multi-ethnic setting. During these trainings, I developed a dynamic approach to engaged learning by encouraging the audience to take part in discussions, simulate debates, and address critical sociological and political issues. These experiences, combined with my academic training, have taught me to be versatile, and to adapt my language to the needs of my audience, particularly when there are important linguistic and cultural divides. In Toronto, between 2014 and 2015, I took part in events related to refugees’ resettlement and I developed relationships with organizations that promote improved conditions for immigrants and refugees in Canada. Thanks to my work in these highly diverse settings, I have learnt to adapt myself to different cultural contexts, achieve multiple tasks in collaborative environments, take responsibility, and work effectively with government officials, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, and immigrants in vulnerable conditions. I have also developed strong coordination skills and the ability to build collegial team environments in multicultural organizations. I am presently an active member of the Canadian Council for Refugees (https://ccrweb.ca).
Advisory positions as expert of migration
My main tasks: Offering expert advice to institutional actors and grassroots organizations in Italy and Georgia on protecting undocumented immigrants’ rights (see ‘Publications’)
Main tasks: Developing the project and writing a policy report on counteracting negative responses of public opinion and political actors towards immigration in Europe (see ‘Publications’)
Official link
Other non-academic experience
Invited as an Expert of European Immigration
Official document: Eunomia-2016
Subject: The European Refugees’ Crisis
Participation as a member of FCJ Refugee Center