AFSC's New Jersey Immigrant Rights Program Organizing and Advocacy Director Araceli Argueta (left) and Legal Services Director Alexandra Gonçalves Peña Alyssa Longchamp
On January 29, the American Friends Service Committee New Jersey Immigrant Rights Program (AFSC NJIRP) was honored to receive the 2026 Immigration & Justice Impact Award from Generation Fearless, a New Jersey–based nonprofit focused on leadership, wellness, and economic empowerment for first-generation women. Co-directors of NJIRP, Araceli Argueta and Alexandra Gonçalves Peña, were at the Legacy Reimagined Gala in Haledon, New Jersey, to accept the award.
Paulaska Ramirez, founder and Executive Director of Generation Fearless, said AFSC NJIRP was selected in recognition of its long-standing commitment to immigrant communities in New Jersey. She highlighted the organization’s ability to combine direct support with long-term systems change, stating:
“Your work across just and sustainable peace, just economies, and just responses to migration has offered both immediate relief and long-term advocacy for systemic transformation. AFSC’s unwavering belief in human dignity and collective liberation mirrors our own commitment to ensuring that first-generation women and families have access to pathways that honor their humanity, identity, and future.”
The recognition also included a commendation citation from the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, and a Certificate of Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition from Congress women Nellie Pau, honoring the commitment to empowering communities and inspiring future generations to lead with courage, purpose, and vision.
AFSC's New Jersey Immigrant Rights Program staff Araceli Argueta and Alexandra Gonçalves Peña (far left) with attendees of the Legacy Reimagined Gala Alyssa Longchamp
In New Jersey, AFSC’s Immigrant Rights Program has been a leading voice on immigration issues for more than 30 years. Based in Newark and Red Bank, NJIRP serves immigrant communities across the state through an integrated model that includes legal services, social work, community organizing, advocacy, and education.
Araceli Argueta, Organizing and Advocacy Director at NJIRP, said the award reflects the program's community-centered approach and the power of collective action in the face of systemic challenges:
"This recognition affirms that our communities hold power, and that power becomes transformative when we organize together. This moment calls us to center the voices of those most impacted, to challenge the systems that criminalize migration, and to reimagine what true liberation looks like. We're honored that Generation Fearless sees this work for what it is: a commitment to solidarity and to the belief that our communities will always be the ones leading us forward."
Alexandra Gonçalves Peña, Director of Legal Services at NJIRP and a first-generation Colombian American, noted that the recognition comes at a particularly challenging moment for immigrant communities. Amid intensified enforcement and an increasingly hostile immigration landscape over the past year, she emphasized the importance of honoring the work being done alongside directly impacted families.
"This past year has been incredibly challenging. The communities we serve have faced relentless fear and uncertainty. But what I keep coming back to is the resilience I've seen—people continuing to stand up for what’s right even when everything seems stacked against them. I'm proud of what our team has been able to do, how we've responded with urgency and care even when we've been stretched thin. Being recognized by Generation Fearless right now means a lot. It's a reminder that this work matters and that we're not doing it alone."