Maria Paula Rodriguez

Maria Paula Rodríguez currently lives in Irving Park, Cook County and is originallyfrom Bogotá, Colombia, where she grew up in Yopal, Casanare. She earned her lawdegree from Universidad Santo Tomás in Bogotá, Colombia and spent three yearsengaged with the Human Rights and International Law Research Group. Maria Paula iscurrently completing her English as a Second Language (ESL) course at TrumanCollege.Maria Paula’s passion for social justice began during her work as a legal assistant inColombia, where she supported vulnerable populations, including single mothers, seniorcitizens, and low-wage workers. After moving to Chicago in 2022, she experiencedfirsthand the challenges of navigating the workforce as an immigrant, taking jobs inrestaurants, factories, and snow removal. Facing discrimination and a lack of accessiblelegal information, she became determined to learn more about immigrant rights andshare that knowledge with others.In 2024, Maria Paula volunteered with organizations as an immigrant recruiter,educating marginalized workers about their labor rights and helping them access betterwages. Now, as FLAP’s Bilingual Outreach and Legal Support Coordinator, she plays a vitalrole in supporting the organization’s operations and outreach efforts, ensuring that low-wage workers receive the resources and advocacy they need to defend their rights.