Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo will join Montgomery County as the first-ever Director of Immigrant Affairs. (Credit: ACLAMO)
On Thursday, the Montgomery County Commissioners announced that Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo will join Montgomery County as the first-ever Director of Immigrant Affairs.
For nearly a decade, Nelly has served as the Executive Director and CEO of ACLAMO, a Montgomery County based nonprofit that connects Latino and other community members with educational programs and social services.
“I am thrilled to have Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo join Montgomery County as our Director of Immigrant Affairs. She has been a community leader in this space for more than 20 years and will be a great asset for the County and its residents,” said Neil K. Makhija, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “This role will work to serve Montgomery County's population of over 100,000 immigrants and help ensure our County remains an attractive and welcoming destination for all people.”
“Montgomery County recognizes the challenges many immigrant families face, from navigating complex legal systems to confronting discrimination and economic barriers,” said Jamila Winder, vice chair of the Board of Commissioners. “With decades of experience working closely with our diverse populations and nonprofit partners, Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo is a skilled and dedicated advocate for expanding access to essential resources. As Director of Immigrant Affairs, she will build upon that work, leading initiatives to connect our immigrant communities with the same resources available to all of our residents, including housing solutions, healthcare, legal assistance, workforce development, and other services
The mission of the County’s new Office of Immigrant Affairs is to serve all immigrants, refugees, and newcomers in Montgomery County to ensure equitable access to available resources and services. The Office will collaborate with diverse community groups to work on how to support residents effectively.
The role of the office is not to shape or influence federal immigration policies, but to ensure that all residents of Montgomery County, regardless of background, have access to resources they need to contribute successfully to civic life and the local economy.
“I’m so honored to join the County as Director of Immigrant Affairs and to continue working to empower our diverse communities,” said Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo, Montgomery County’s new Director of Immigrant Affairs. “My journey from Caracas to Norristown began 27 years ago. Since then, I have dedicated my life to making sure that everyone who makes Montgomery County home feels welcome and supported to thrive and achieve great things. I take great pride in the work I do to connect communities and make them stronger.”
