PATH TO HOPE
Providing immigrants and refugees access to quality, low-cost legal services in the Annapolis community.
WHAT WE DO
Immigrant Connection at Path to Hope ("Path to Hope") is a justice ministry of Downtown Hope based in Annapolis, MD, focused on enabling access to quality, low-cost and pro bono legal services for immigrants and refugees in our community. We are also a member of Immigrant Connection's national legal network, made up of 30+ church-based legal services clinics across the United States.
Path to Hope became accredited by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on November 30, 2022. We are the first DOJ-accredited legal nonprofit in Annapolis and the only DOJ-accredited legal nonprofit in Anne Arundel County (see DOJ accreditation roster).
Path to Hope opened our doors in April 2023. Since then, we’ve conducted over 200 legal consultations and filed over 100 cases to assist immigrants from El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Burma, Haiti, and Ghana to gain work authorization, U.S. permanent residency, and U.S. Citizenship.
HOW TO SUPPORT
Path to Hope is currently accepting donations to cover fees for clients who are unable to pay for legal services.
OUR TEAM
KRISTIN STATHAM
Kristin Statham is the Site Director at Path to Hope and a long-time advocate for immigrants and refugees. Kristin worked as a U.S. diplomat for over 16 years, including six years serving our country in foreign postings in the Middle East and South Asia. Her domestic experience includes several years working in policy positions at U.S. Department of State, the National Security Council, and the White House. Previous to this, Kristin worked in the corporate immigration law practice of Paul Hastings LLP in Atlanta, Georgia, and in the refugee resettlement and legal services office of World Relief in Nashville, Tennessee.
ANTONIO MARTINEZ
Antonio Martinez is a long-time Annapolis resident who has worked in various ministries and social justice organizations serving the Latino community in our city. His service experience includes positions with pop-up food pantries in Annapolis and with Marshall Hope Corporation. Antonio is a second-generation immigrant of Mexican heritage whose family is also heavily involved in social advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees in our city.
MACKENZIE WATKINS
Mackenzie Watkins is the Legal Services and Outreach Coordinator at Path to Hope and has worked with various immigration law and advocacy organizations serving the immigrant community in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. Before joining Path to Hope, she interned with the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition supporting attorneys on asylum applications. In Annapolis, she has worked with the Center of Help, an organization supporting the local Latino immigrant community. Mackenzie is bilingual in Spanish and English.