AFCC-MN Annual Conference 2025

Justice and Belonging: Advocating for and Supporting Marginalized and Immigrant Families in the Legal System

This year’s AFCC-MN Annual Conference invites you to explore ideas on how to engage with families who are often overlooked or underserved in our community. Justice and Belonging challenges us to reflect on how the systems with which most of us are familiar shape the experiences of marginalized and immigrant families who are not familiar with the same systems.

We are honored to welcome Professor Mariela Olivares, Associate Dean and Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law, as our keynote speaker. A nationally recognized expert on the intersection of immigration, family law, and domestic violence, Professor Olivares will offer deep insights into the systemic challenges faced by marginalized and immigrant families—and the urgent need for reform rooted in justice and dignity.

The conference will also feature a multidisciplinary panel discussion exploring how professionals across law, mental health, domestic violence advocacy, and community-based services can collaborate to dismantle barriers and improve outcomes for families. An interactive session will offer practical tools and resources for inclusive communication and culturally grounded strategies for building trust with clients from diverse backgrounds.

Throughout the day, we will also consider how domestic abuse may impact marginalized and immigrant families in distinct ways, including how immigration status, fear, and mistrust of systems can create additional barriers to safety and support; and how service providers can respond effectively. Please note that a special pricing tier for Domestic Abuse Advocates is available when registering.

AFCC-MN encourages its members to invite colleagues and professionals who either may be new to AFCC-MN or unfamiliar with our work. This conference is an ideal opportunity to introduce new voices to the organization and expand our collective understanding and collaboration. Please note that a special pricing tier for first time AFCC-MN Annual Conference attendees is available when registering.

This conference arrives at a critical time, as unprecedented and rapidly evolving federal policies continue to shape the local landscape of immigration, family law, and access to justice. These shifts can have profound and destabilizing effects on marginalized and immigrant families, especially those already navigating fear, uncertainty, and systemic mistrust.

Join us as we work toward a more inclusive and equitable future. A future where all families are treated with fairness, dignity, and belonging in the systems meant to serve all.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key challenges families in marginalized communities and immigrant families face when interacting with service providers, including fear of deportation, mistrust of perceived authorities, and communication barriers.

2. Explain the impact of status and fear of legal consequences on family dynamics, access to resources, and willingness to seek support.

3. Recognize the role of perceived authority in professional-client relationships and how it may influence the behavior and trust of immigrant clients.

4. Consider and incorporate culturally inclusive approaches to build trust, rapport, and effective communication with affected families in professional settings.

5. Formulate a plan for continued learning and engagement on these topics.

Mariela Olivares is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law. She teaches Torts, Immigration Law, Family Law, and a seminar on Domestic Violence Law. She also directs Howard’s Family Law Certificate Program. Professor Olivares has taught at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and was a clinical teaching fellow at Georgetown Law School. Her professional and scholarly interests include the intersection of immigration law and policy and critical legal studies and immigration aspects of family law and domestic violence law, with a focus on family and child separation and detention. An expert in these fields, her work has been published in the Harvard Law Review Forum, the Georgia State Law Review, American University Law Review, the Harvard Latino Law Review, the Missouri Law Review, and the Nebraska Law Review, among others. She served as the Chair of AALS Minority Groups Section and has served on planning committees for other national organizations’ events. She was elected to the American Law Institute in 2024 and was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow in 2019. Appointed by Governor Wes Moore in 2023, she is a Commissioner on the Maryland Public Ethics Commission. Prior to law teaching, Professor Olivares litigated on behalf of domestic violence survivors in D.C. family court. The student body of Howard Law selected Professor Olivares as faculty member of the year in 2020.

Professor Olivares clerked on the Supreme Court of Texas. She received her LLM in Advocacy with Distinction from Georgetown University Law Center and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School where she was a Clarence Darrow Scholar and an Executive Editor of the Michigan Law Review. Professor Olivares graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas-Austin with highest honors and special honors with degrees in Plan II Honors and Spanish Literature.

Watch for Agenda, Coming Soon!

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