Our Team

Meet the Team

  • Susana Coreas (She/Her)

    Founder and Executive Director

    Susana Coreas (She/Her) is a trans femme migrant refugee activist, originally from El Salvador, who founded the Casa de Colores grassroots and advocacy organization (along with a shelter), when she migrated to Cuidad Juarez, Mexico in 2019.

    She was responsible for the shelter operations, maintenance and services provided for over 50 trans migrant refugees seeking asylum under Article 42 and the Remain in Mexico Program. It is because of Susana that Casas de Colores thrived and was able to expand into El Paso And New York City.

  • Alexa Ponce (She/Her)

    Co-Founder

    Alexa Ponce is a trans femme migrant refugee activist from El Salvador, who co-created Casa de Colores. Alexa is the Director of Field Operations, and emotional support of the organization. She was an integral part of the creation of Casa de Colores out of survival initially; however, it soon became a community of support once she recognized that all are deserving of human rights advocacy as they traverse their journeys of life and liberty. Alexa is the calming voice of Casa de Colores, and buttresses the emotional wellness of all. In her spare time, she enjoys napping, reading, and exploring the world at large.

  • Nico Alonso

    Grant writer

    Nico is a creative project administrator and grant writer, working in New York, NY.

    She is a passionate advocate for independently operating artists, curators, and organizers across disciplines and joined Casa de Colores as a Grant Writer in August 2022.

    Nico currently holds the role of Events and Projects Administrator for the Graduate School of Arts and Science's in the office of Dean Lynne Kiorps at NYU, where she works as an advocate for student funding and support.

  • Sammuel Farias

    IT Systems Manager

    Sammuel is a chicano techie from El Monte, CA. He has been involved & interested in organizing, poetry, and, more recently, computer stuff. He now enjoys applying his new computer skills to revisiting his interests. He also likes playing video games with his friends and dancing in his free time.

  • Ece Soner

    Creative Consultant

    New York City based Creative Director Ece Soner has a unique combination of skills in Creative Direction, Branding and Digital Design for technology, fashion, beauty and lifestyle industries. She helped many brands build their unique style and communicate their visions. She has strong belief for social justice and loves to support non-profit organizations.

Board Members

  • Sen-Pei Hsia (She/Her)

    President and Chair/Consultant

    Sen-Pei Hsia is a Chinese American queer disabled New York native, currently finishing her MSW (Dec 2023) at the Graduate School of Social Services at Fordham University with a population focus on S/A and D/V survivors, trafficked individuals, BIPOC communities, and LGBTQIA+ communities, while using trauma informed practices. She was a trauma informed therapist intern for Creative Care Group, a mental health clinic. She spearheaded the launching of Casa de Colores as a non profit (501c3) from its grassroots foundation. She also led the fundraising team and held various other roles. She is currently collaborating with various venues on producing the event/ film series, “New York-Centric.”

    In a previous life, she was a visual artist, shoe designer, manufacturer, event producer/planner, freelance lobbyist and an arts non-profit facilitator. Sen-Pei enjoys retail therapy, live jazz, chess and getting new tattoos.

  • Hector Ruiz (Them/They)

    Vice President

    Héctor is an attorney specializing in immigration law, with a particular passion for representing LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers. They are currently a solo practitioner and a program associate managing legal access initiatives at immigration courts across the U.S. Héctor was previously Legal Program Director for the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) Texas offices. Prior to IRC, they were a staff attorney and legal director for the Santa Fe Dreamers Project (SFDP), where they represented trans and queer asylum-seekers in ICE detention and in removal proceedings before the immigration courts. Hector previously worked as an attorney with Immigration Equality and represented LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive immigrants and asylum-seekers in New York and New Jersey. Héctor is licensed to practice law in New York and the 10th Circuit.

    Employer affiliate: Law Office of Hector Ruiz, PLLC

  • Theodora Lenihan (She/ Her)

    Consultant / Ex-Treasurer

    Theodora Hsia Lenihan is dedicated to empowering immigrant and refugee communities. As Legal Services Director at the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), she's part of a team providing immigration and disability legal services to underserved families in Oregon and Southern Washington. Theo hopes to bring a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach to this work.