Tuesday, Mar 2, 2021

The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council is pleased to welcome three new employees, who will play a key role in the agency’s immigration services, consumer protection and lead poisoning prevention programs. 

Dayanna Moreno, an immigration attorney, is the agency’s new director of legal services. In this position, Moreno will bring her legal expertise to oversee the immigration services and consumer protection programs. 

Wanda Ortiz, an attorney, will serve as coordinator of the consumer protection program; and Samantha Bartol, has been hired as the manager of the Merrimack Valley Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and GLCAC’s Healthy Homes Program. 

“We are fortunate to have found such qualified candidates to fill these three positions, which are critical to GLCAC’s mission of helping low-income families find the tools they need to be successful,’’ said Evelyn Friedman, GLCAC’s executive director.  “We are thrilled to have Dayanna, Wanda and Samantha joining our dedicated team.’’ 

Moreno, previously worked as director of legal services for the Immigration Legal Assistance Program at Ascentria Care Alliance in Worcester. In her new role, Moreno will oversee two programs at GLCAC. The immigration services program provides assistance to members of the community in gaining legal residency, naturalizing, or reuniting with family.  With Moreno’s legal expertise, the program will now expand to provide consultation and full legal representation in humanitarian, removal, and family reunifications cases. 

GLCAC’s consumer protection program helps clients manage the red tape and challenges associated with issues such as car sales and financing, debt collection, mortgage servicing, home improvement, defective products, and utility bill disputes. In addition, the program helps with issues specific to immigrants, veterans, homeless and elder residents. Ortiz, who worked as an immigration specialist for former U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas and then opened her own law firm, is the new consumer protection coordinator. 

Bartol previously worked as a housing specialist for the Greater Nashua Mental Health Center. She is now working on the state’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, as well as an extension program focusing on Healthy Homes.  In both those roles, Bartol will educate at-risk populations on prevention of home health hazards, including childhood lead poisoning.  

GLCAC is a multi-faceted social services agency that assists more than 32,000 individuals through a range of programs including early childhood education, fuel assistance, WIC nutrition assistance, immigration services, lead poisoning prevention, child abuse prevention, English-language lessons, and consumer protection.