Read more about the members of the Colin Powell School community that have been named to the CUNY 50 Under 50 list, which celebrates rising
Angela Antonia Torregoza,Esq., Founder of LegalEase.us and a summa cum laude City College graduate, Angela was recognized for her commitment to empowering immigrant communities.
An immigrant from the Philippines with more than a decade of experience in immigration law, Torregoza has guided families toward permanent residency, artists through visa processes, and entrepreneurs establishing businesses in the U.S.
Honored by Super Lawyers and active in major legal associations, she continues to champion accessible immigration services. Torregoza was a dual sociology and education major at City College, and earned her law degree from CUNY School of Law where she was a Larry Levine Human Rights Fellow.
Angela Antonia Torregoza ’12 makes CUNY’s 50 Under 50 list, spotlighting her contributions to immigration law and community service.
“To be recognized by the University is to see the seeds CUNY Law planted in my first year of law school truly bloom. My journey, starting as an immigrant and eventually a law student through the halls of CUNY Law, instilled the profound belief that law must serve the people—a principle I live out daily in my own practice, helping the individuals, families, artists, and entrepreneurs I serve navigate the complex field of immigration. This honor reinforces my commitment to continue empowering the immigrant community so they can positively contribute to our society because I believe that immigrants and immigration make America great.”
When Angela Antonia Torregoza ’12 talks about being named to the CUNY 50 Under 50 list, she immediately situates the honor in context: family, community, and the immigrant story that shaped her. “My family is so proud,” she said. “And I want people who look like me to know they can become lawyers. When I was young, the only lawyers I knew were older men. I didn’t see myself reflected. CUNY changed that.”
The City University of New York today announced its second annual 50 Under 50 alumni awards celebrating the University's outstanding graduat
The City University of New York today announced its second annual 50 Under 50 alumni awards celebrating the University’s outstanding graduates and their social, cultural and economic contributions to New York and beyond. This year’s cohort highlights the depth of talent within the CUNY community, representing public servants, journalists, entrepreneurs, artists and more.
The 2025 50 Under 50 honorees are:
Aliou Sidibe, Technology Consultant Manager, EY, Baruch College
Amanda DellaVecchia, Senior Designer, Marvel, The Walt Disney Company, Kingsborough Community College
Amaurys Grullon, Co-Founder and CEO, Bronx Native & Tag Up Music, Bronx Community College
Amir Khafagy, Senior Labor Reporter, Documented, LaGuardia Community College & Queens College
Anastasia Shmeleva, Founder, Space Diplomacy, Brooklyn College
Anet Abnous, Creative Director and CEO, Anet’s Collection & Co-Founder, Lusanet Collective, Queensborough Community College & Queens College
Angela Torregoza, Founder & Immigration Lawyer, LegalEase.us, City College of New York & CUNY School of Law
Ariel Viera, Founder, Content Creator and Video Producer, Urbanist, City College of New York
Chad Hannibal,Pediatric Dentist, One Brooklyn Health, Medgar Evers College
Charlie Ferguson, LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Attorney, Lambda Legal, CUNY Graduate Center
Chris Aviles, Senior Project Manager, TheDream.US, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Clarence Kong, Associate Director of Interventional Spine and Pain Management, Long Island Brain & Spine, City College of New York & CUNY School of Medicine
Dan Pugach, Grammy Award-Winning Drummer & Composer, City College of New York
Darnell Wold,Social Impact Entrepreneur, Powder Room D & Crisis Counselor, Crisis Text Line, Borough of Manhattan Community College & CUNY School of Professional Studies
Davi Santos, Actor & Activist, Macaulay Honors College at Lehman College
Deandra Simon, Engineering Program Manager, Apple, John Jay College of Criminal Justice & Brooklyn College
Diana Arias, Director of Communications, New York Jobs CEO Council, Baruch College
Eric Dinowitz, New York City Council Member, Hunter College
Ethan Frisch, Co-Founder and CEO, Burlap & Barrel, Macaulay Honors College at The City College of New York
Felipe Botero, Executive Chef, Le Jardinier, New York City College of Technology
Hasani Arnold, Social Content Manager, TikTok & Bilingual Influencer, Hunter College
Héctor Carvajal, Founder & CEO, Don Carvajal Café, Guttman Community College
Helen Arteaga, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
Ilir Sela, Founder and CEO, Slice, College of Staten Island
Jayshawn Lee, Account Manager & Writer, Ars Poetica, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Jeffrey Ampratwum, Celebrity Stylist & Fashion Director, York College
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, New York State Senator, College of Staten Island
Jordan Dykstra, Film Composer, Brooklyn College
José R. Ramírez-Garofalo, President, Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, College of Staten Island
Joshua Goodman, Deputy Commissioner, Public Affairs & Customer Experience, New York City Department of Sanitation, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
Kalani Leifer, Founder and CEO, COOP Careers, Lehman College
Khaleel Anderson, New York State Assembly Member, Queens College
Leonard Blades, Disability Accommodation Specialist, Queensborough Community College, Brooklyn College & CUNY School of Professional Studies
Lucy McIntyre, Deputy Director and Compliance Officer for Student Financial Assistance, The City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Megan McNamee, UX Designer, Epic Games, College of Staten Island
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools, City College of New York
Monique A. Francis, Interim Executive Director, CUNY Citizenship Now!, Bronx Community College, Lehman College, CUNY School of Professional Studies & Baruch College
Munazza Alam, Assistant Astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College
Nolvia Delgado, Executive Director, Kaplan Educational Foundation, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Paige Oamek, Breaking News Reporter, Gothamist, Craig Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY
Paule Valery Joseph, Senior Investigator, National Institutes of Health, Hostos Community College
Rachelle Antoine, Manager of External Affairs & Community Outreach, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, York College
Reynaldo Piniella, Actor & Teaching Artist, Brooklyn College
Ricardo Montero, Journalist and Field Producer, ABC News, Hunter College
Shaina Steward, Founder, The Model Knowledge Group and SRSL Consulting, New York City College of Technology & Borough of Manhattan Community College
Stephanie Nuesi, Finance, Data & Strategy Analyst, Core Engineering, Google, Baruch College
Thinh Toan Vu, City Research Scientist, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
Troy Blackwell Jr., Distinguished Fellow, Columbia University School of Professional Studies, City College of New York
Walter Smith Randolph, Executive Director of Investigations, CBS News New York, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
Zach Reyes, Lead Designer, Only NY, Queens College
The City University of New York is the nation’s largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation’s first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges and eight honors, graduate and professional institutions spread across New York City’s five boroughs, serving nearly 240,000 undergraduate and graduate students and awarding 50,000 degrees each year. CUNY’s mix of quality and affordability propels almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges combined. More than 80 percent of the University’s graduates stay in New York, contributing to all aspects of the city’s economic, civic and cultural life and diversifying the city’s workforce in every sector. CUNY’s graduates and faculty have received many prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur “genius” grants. The University’s historic mission continues to this day: provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background. To learn more about CUNY, visit https://www.cuny.edu.
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Torregoza a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Angela, tha
Now, in my work as an immigration attorney, I feel privileged to be able to do the same and help U.S. citizens and permanent residents obtain permanent residence for their relatives, as well as help individuals in the same situation as my mother get work visas allowing them to live and work in the United States. I founded LegalEase.us with the goal of making law accessible and easy to understand, doing away with legal jargon which serves as a barrier to some clients, especially if English is their second language. With my work, I want to empower my clients and ensure that they are informed and educated as they reach for their American Dream.
Earlier this month, alumni from across the decades came together, networked, and learned the ins-and-outs of financial planning for attorneys. Attendees gathered for refreshments and then attended a presentation on retirement planning strategies, planning for aging parents & families, tax reduction strategies, student loan repayment strategies, estate planning strategies, and budgeting.
A special thanks to Angela Torregoza ’12, who helped bring the event run by SideBar Advisors to our alumni community.
Show Been There Got Out Podcast, Ep Finding Sanctuary: Navigating Immigration Law & Abuse - May 24, 2024
Join the conversation as Angela Torregoza, a New York City-based immigration attorney with a personal immigration story, shares her expertise on the lifeline that is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the intricacies of family petitions. Angela's own journey fuels her passion for guiding clients through the complexities of immigration law, and in this episode, she offers a beacon of hope for those feeling entrapped in abusive relationships. Discover how VAWA can be the key to a new beginning, enabling abused foreign nationals to seek permanent residency and escape the shadows of manipulation and control.
The challenges facing immigrant individuals in abusive situations are daunting, but there are steps one can take and resources available that can make all the difference. Angela walks us through the process of safeguarding important documents and crafting a safety plan, while highlighting the sanctuary that embassies can provide. We also delve into the evidence required for successful immigration applications, from psychological evaluations to personal affidavits, and discuss how to navigate the system without re-traumatization. It's an eye-opening look at the victim-centered approach of the immigration system and the community support that can pave the way to independence.
Empowerment and recovery are core themes as Angela underscores the importance of community resources like Safe Horizon and Legal Aid Society for those without financial means. Learn about the emotional support offered by support groups and therapy, and how documenting experiences of abuse can be approached with sensitivity and care. We wrap up with a call to action for raising awareness of VAWA's provisions, not only to aid victims but also to foster understanding and support within the community. This episode is not just an informative session, but a heartfelt guide through the path to recovery and autonomy for those most vulnerable.
Join two immigration pros for this run-down on the basics for non-immigration attorneys. Our presenters will introduce you to immigration law terminology (immigration status, visas, unlawful presence) and will provide an overview of the immigration process (relevant government agencies, temporary visas, paths to permanent residency and U.S. citizenship). They will also discuss key points where matrimonial, criminal defense and personal injury attorneys may be able to better assist and protect their clients (prenups and divorces, crime victims, etc).
[New Tang Dynasty News, April 7, 2024, Beijing time]
On the evening of April 6, the American Shen Yun Global Performing Arts Troupe’s fifth performance at Lincoln Center in New York City continued to be sold out. The atmosphere was extremely warm, with constant applause and cheers. The audience admired Shen Yun for inheriting culture, showing the truth, and marveled at the unstoppable power of kindness and beauty.
Law firm owner Angela Torregoza: "I love Shen Yun. This is really great. It is amazing to be able to understand traditional Chinese culture, which we have never been exposed to before. Thank you Shen Yun." On the evening of April 6, 2024, law firm owner Angela Torregoza watched the fifth performance of Shen Yun Universal Performing Arts at the David Kirk Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. (New Tang Dynasty Television)
Angela Torregoza is featured in The Toolbox for Solo & Small Firm Practice by alumni, for alumni launching or operating a law office in service of human needs. Business & Professional Guidance Breakdown and work through the basic decisions and best practices at the heart of owning your practice Professional Choices Experienced alumni share opinions and suggestions from a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise
Shortly after taking office, President Biden asked Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to set up a task force to reform the U.S. asylum system. One hundred days into President Biden’s first term, most attention is on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. This focus overlooks the nuances of the asylum system—notably, the differences between affirmative and defensive asylum.
Immigration attorney Angela Torregoza and RIF members celebrate asylum seeker Mamadou’s asylum victory!
Reiki Master is the teaching level for individuals considering Reiki as a way of being. This program is designed for those serious in committing time and energy to the services of others, our planet, and are willing to teach Reiki on a regular basis.
I want to thank everyone for having me here tonight, and especially my families both bio and chosen, my amazing partners and polycule, my mentors, colleagues and clients. Also my therapist and my dog. We don’t do anything worthwhile by ourselves, and my being recognized here tonight is no exception. My father once said of me “Moira was socially engineered by a village,” and I hope everyone in this room recognizes themself to be part of that village.
For anyone unfamiliar with my work, I don’t work in a single practice area as much as I do a little bit of paid work, mostly writing wills, to support the mostly pro bono work I do for queer and trans and two spirit communities, especially incarcerated queer and trans folks. I currently represent Chelsea Manning, in prison for her refusal to give testimony before a grand jury investigating the publication of her damning disclosures of U.S. military misconduct. I also represent green-scare prisoner Marius Mason in his efforts to access a name change and gender-affirming health care, and as a result of that work will shortly be issuing a constitutional challenge to a Texas statute forbidding prisoners from changing their names, which should be fun. I spend a lot of time doing agency documents and criminal defense and name changes and parole work for people in our queer communities. I am delighted that my work has meaning and value to you and I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak directly to you about our work and our values as lawyers.
Street Art Photography Showcase Curated by @OmarVictorious Opening - August 24, 2019 - 4-9pm @ Mikey Likes It Ice Cream - 199 Avenue A.
Shooters, a celebration of the unique symbiotic relationships within the street art community, will bring artists and photographers together to celebrate the shared experiences their art creates.
At our recent meeting, we had a presentation by attorney Angela Torregoza on changes to the employment authorization application form. We have outlined the changes below.
The United States government is more strict regarding asylum seekers than it has been in the recent past. If you have questions as you complete your initial or renewal employment authorization application, including about the required documentation, please contact RIF at [email protected] to schedule a legal consultation.
More detailed information about the changes can be found on Angela Torregoza’s blog here.
The first iteration of a new Alumni Engagement initiative united alums working in solo and small firm lawyer for the school's first Practice Group meeting on May 23, hosted in the co-working space available at 2 Court Square.
The Solo/Small Business Practice Group brought together students, experienced alumni in the initial stages of small private practice, and professionals considering a starting down a new path in the name of learning and supporting one another (and enjoying delicious local Mexican food).
From marketing and book keeping to technology, hiring, and maintaining a separation of downtime and ownership of a small business, the group discussed local resources available to small firm start ups and shared information and contacts. A central tension the group is combatting is the desire to be not only financially stable but also successful in the face of lawyering 'in the service of human needs' and providing affordable representation; many in the group began their practices to better serve the communities of which they are a part.
Leading the group is alumna Angela Torregoza, ('12) who recently launched a boutique immigration law practice in Long Island City with fellow alumnus Amir Rasoulpour ('12). The Practice Group model is designed to support Torregoza in collecting feedback from the group to determine what topics of most of interest going forward, and will expand to include an on-line discussion group and resource archive. In addition to in-person meetings and workshops, the program will include speaker series and CLE programs. To date, forty alums have connected to advance this Practice Group.
THE FIRST ITERATION OF A NEW ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE UNITED ALUMS WORKING IN SOLO AND SMALL FIRM LAWYER FOR THE SCHOOL’S FIRST PRACTICE GROUP MEETING ON MAY 23, HOSTED IN THE CO-WORKING SPACE AVAILABLE AT 2 COURT SQUARE.
Leading the group is alumna Angela Torregoza, (‘12) who recently launched a boutique immigration law practice in Long Island City with fellow alumnus Amir Rasoulpour (‘12). The Practice Group model is designed to support Torregoza in collecting feedback from the group to determine what topics of most of interest going forward, and will expand to include an on-line discussion group and resource archive. In addition to in-person meetings and workshops, the program will include speaker series and CLE programs. To date, forty alums have connected to advance this Practice Group.
