Post Show Discussions
Connect and learn more about what it is like being an Immigrant in the US with these Professionals.

 Monarch: A Mexican American Musical is the inspiring story of Dreamers and undocumented immigrants. Join us for some post-show discussions about immigration, culture, and what it is like being undocumented today.

Connect:
Phone: 703-993-2700
Email: ​firstgen@gmu.edu with the text “Attn: Rommel” in the subject line.

Rommel Aguilar
Assistant Director of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Support
George Mason University First Gen Center
Thursday October 5, 7:30pm Post-Show

The First-Gen+ Center serves as an accessible starting point for students (and their families) to understand and connect with relevant university resources. The team prioritizes data to better understand the student experience and proactively works toward improving the campus to be “first-gen ready” and “undocufriendly” throughout each university area. We work to enhance the collegiate experience through services, programs, policy awareness, and educating the campus community. Staff on the team collaborate across campus and beyond, in order to streamline resources and supports for students, including participating at local and national levels to share practical and scholarly content as a catalyst for institutions to broaden their work. The First-Gen+ Centers mission is to support students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and their allies while specifically centering college students who identify as first-generation, who identify as undocumented, have refugee status, and those who have families with limited income.

Jasmin Tohidi
Immigration Lawyer
Friday October 6, 7:30pm Post-Show

Jasmin Tohidi is a solo practitioner at Tohidi Law Office in Falls Church, VA.  She practices removal defense and family-based immigration.  She is the head of the AILA liaison committee for WAS ICE ERO/OPLA.  She was born in Germany and is a naturalized American citizen. She enjoys helping families remain together.  

Contact:
Phone:  202-656-6571
​www.tohidilaw.com

Alonso Abugattas
Thursday October 12, 7:30pm Post-Show

Alonso Abugattas is a well-known local naturalist, environmental educator, and storyteller. He is known as the Capital Naturalist on his "Thomas Say" media award winning social media outlets: Capital Naturalist Facebook Group (with over 24,000 followers), Capital Naturalist Blog, Capital Naturalist YouTube Channel, and Twitter. He has held several offices for the Patowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, including president. Alonso is a Virginia Master Naturalist and Master Gardener, and serves as an instructor in both for several chapters, in a variety of natural history topics, having helped to start 2 of the chapters (the Arlington Regional and Fairfax Master Naturalist chapters). He is the long-time Co-chair for the Beltway Chapter of the National Association for Interpretation, the professional organization for naturalists, zookeepers, and museum docents, and is a Certified Heritage Interpreter through them, having won several awards, including the Regional Interpretive Manager Award and the National Master Interpretive Manager Award. He is also a co-founder of the Washington Area Butterfly Club, on the advisory board of Capital Nature, and is currently the Natural Resources Manager for Arlington County Parks, VA. The Audubon Naturalist Society (now called Nature Forward) recognized him as a Regional Environmental Champion during the Naturally Latinos Conference in 2020. He was inducted in the Washington Biologists’ Field Club in 2022, one oldest and most exclusive biology clubs in the nation with only 65 active local members and founded in 1900. With 32+ years as a professional naturalist, Alonso has had numerous mentions and appearances on television, radio, podcasts and the press including appearances on Animal Planet, and continues to make presentations throughout the region. ​

Staff of Congressman Don Beyer,  Andres Jimenez, Democratic Candidate for Mason District Supervisor and Saddam Salim, Democratic Candidate for Virginia State Senate 37th District.
Friday October 13, 7:30pm Post-Show

Don Beyer: Congressman Don Beyer is serving his fifth term as the U.S. Representative from Virginia’s 8th District, representing Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County. He serves on Congress' Joint Economic Committee, and also serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means. 

Adres Jimenez: An active Mason resident for more than a decade, Andres has deep roots in our community AND the experience we need from our County Supervisor. With 20 years of policy experience at the state, local and federal level, Andres knows what it takes to create change. Currently the Executive Director of the environmental non-profit Green 2.0, Andres is a strategic thinker, a relationship-builder, and carries a deep connection to the communities for which he advocates.

Saddam Salim: Saddam Azlan Salim is a first-generation immigrant born in Bangladesh. During his career Saddam has worked at PenFed Credit Union, Kearney and Company and the United States Institute of Peace as a financial consultant. Today, Saddam works for 11th Hour Service as a Senior Consultant advising federal clients. Saddam has also been active in his community as a leader of political and business associations. He has served as Co-Chair to the Providence District Democratic Committee and Finance Vice Chair of Fairfax County Democratic Committee. He was the founding member of both API and FCDC Black Caucus. He currently serves as second Vice Chair of the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee, Vice President of Fairfax Young Democrats, Co-State Director for South Asians for America and is a Board Member of DemBiz Council. 

Congregation Action Network
Elias Johnson, Pastor Julio Hernández, and Rosa Gutiérrez Lopez
Sunday October 22, 2:00pm Post-Show

Elias Johnson: Elias Johnson is the Executive Director of the Congregation Action Network (pronouns: he/they) A lifelong activist and organizer, Elias has held various positions leading federal advocacy on immigration, trade, and US policy toward Latin America and was also a founding member of Sanctuary DMV. 
Pastor Julio Hernández: Julio Hernández is a local pastor at Christ Crossman United Methodist in Falls Church and the president of the Board of Directors of CAN. He is passionate about building a more just and loving space. He is studying towards his Doctorate of Divinity on the theory of Jon Sobrino, a liberation theologian in El Salvador. He is a father and loves movies, books and biking.
Rosa Gutiérrez Lopez: ​Rosa is a mother with faith in God, a fighter who overcomes insurmountable obstacles, and a proud Salvadoran. She loves to cook, sing, and most of all, she loves her family. Rosa and her children spent almost 2 years in sanctuary at a church in Bethesda before the work of CAN enabled her to live freely, with dignity, in the community.
Connect:
Website: https://www.congregationactionnetwork.org

Ann Friedmann
Planet Word Museum
Friday October 20, 7:30pm Post-Show

Ann Friedman is the Founder and CEO of Planet Word and the developer behind the restoration of the Franklin School, the museum’s home. Her interest in literacy began with a lifelong love of reading, early work as a copy editor and translator, and a later career as a beginning reading and writing teacher in the Montgomery County Public Schools. From 2010-2016, she served as the Chair of the Board of the SEED Foundation, the parent body of the nation’s only public, inner-city, college-prep boarding schools, where she currently serves as Vice Chair. She was recently elected a trustee of the American Alliance of Museums. Ms. Friedman serves on the Advisory Board of Ascend, the Aspen Institute’s program that takes a two-generation approach to ending family financial insecurity and is co-vice chair of the Aspen Music Festival and School. She has served on the board of the National Symphony Orchestra for more than a decade in various roles. She is a founding board member of the Downtown DC Foundation. She and her husband, Thomas L. Friedman, the New York Times foreign affairs columnist, live in Bethesda, MD, and have two adult daughters.