The Board

Elizabeth Lopez, Esq. is the Founder and Executive Director of the Southern California Immigration Project (SCIP). Established in 2015, SCIP is a nonprofit organization that represents predominately African asylum seekers from the detention facilities in Imperial and San Diego counties in Southern California.

Elizabeth has over thirty years of experience as an attorney. She spent over a decade running her own firm in Orange County representing plaintiffs in employment law cases before spending several years lobbying for social justice issues in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. While in D.C., she worked on the immigration bill and became aware of the tremendous need for immigration attorneys. This led her to return to Southern California where she spent seven years as an immigration attorney on the U.S./Mexico border with the nonprofit Casa Cornelia Law Center (CCLC) in San Diego. During her tenure at CCLC she represented hundreds of asylum seekers from over eighty countries throughout Africa and beyond.

In addition to running SCIP, Elizabeth serves on the board of directors of Survivors of Torture International (SOTI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for survivors of politically motivated torture and their families who live in San Diego County.

Bardis is a civil rights and immigration lawyer in private practice. He spent 9 years as a Senior Staff Attorney and Interim Legal Director with the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, and another 4 years as a Staff Attorney in the Orange County office of the ACLU of Southern California. Prior to the ACLU, Bardis was the director of the political asylum program at Casa Cornelia Law Center in San Diego.  Bardis received a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year award in 2017 for his work on the issue of deported United States veterans. He has also been on litigation teams that have been recognized for their contributions in the field of immigrants’ rights, including the Rodriguez litigation team awarded the National Lawyer’s Guild’s Daniel Levy Award in 2008 for their work on the issue of prolonged detention in immigration prisons, and the Ms. L litigation team named attorneys of the year by the San Diego Law Raza Lawyers’ Association in 2018 for their work challenging forced family separation. He graduated from Tufts University in 1997 and the University of San Diego School of Law in 2006, where he received a Wiley Manuel award for pro bono service.

Ms. Lake is an Administrative Law Judge with the State Hearings Division, California Department of Social Services and adjudicates In-Home Supportive Services benefits.  Prior to her employment with the State of California, Ms. Lake served as staff attorney at Children's Legal Services of San Diego and represented foster children in Dependency proceedings.  While representing foster children for 11 years, she earned an additional specialty certification as a Child Welfare Law Specialist, recognized nationally and by the California State Bar.

Ms. Lake was also previously employed at Casa Cornelia Law Center and held various positions over her 4.5 years there.  She most enjoyed her time as Director of the Unaccompanied Minor Program, representing and directing pro bono volunteer attorneys in representing detained minors in Immigration Court.

Ms. Lake has many volunteer activities including Commissioner on the City of Chula Vista Human Relations Commission working to make Chula Vista a Welcoming City. Ms. Lake volunteers her time at the Chula Vista Learning Community Center and with La Fiesta Danzantes.

Ms. Lake graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2005.  Ms. Lake also attended Catawba College in Salisbury, NC and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English and History.  Ms. Lake grew up in Vermont and enjoys returning home when she can.

Donna Hauck Peterson - B.A. Business Administration, Accounting from Cal State University Fullerton, 1982; Certificate in Human Resources Management, Cal Poly Pomona, 2008

35+years in the public sector in various financial and management capacities with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Suzanne recently retired after a 35 year career in various executive leadership roles at  Procter & Gamble and Berkshire Hathaway.  She led regional and global organizations and spent 12 years abroad in various assignments in Asia, Europe and Canada. Among numerous accomplishments, she was able to lead breakthrough programs to deliver affordable and effective consumer products to low income consumers around the world.  During her tenure, she played a meaningful role in leveraging diversity within the company and via external leadership forums.  In addition to her professional career, she has extensive experience in board leadership of a variety of nonprofit organizations across the US and various International locations including United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls club, and the Girl Scouts.

Essma obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of California San Diego and her master’s degree from the University of San Diego. Essma is also serving on the executive board of the non-profit Council on American Islamic Relations San Diego chapter (CAIR-SD), which is an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing civil rights of all Americans. She is also serving on the Staff Advisory Council at the School of Global Policy and Strategy. Previously, she was a board member of the University of California San Diego Community Standard Board, which handles all non-academic student misconduct cases.

In addition to her service, Essma is the co-founder of Pacific Best Home Services, Inc., a mortgage and real estate company, where she helps clients achieve their home ownership dreams. Essma is also a project manager at the School of Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego. When not working or serving, Essma enjoys running, hiking, reading, and spending time with her husband and two children Zackary and Leya.

B.A. Bachelor of science, Business Administration, Finance from San Diego State University, 2014. Associate in Arts, emphasis in Mathematics, 2011. Certificate in Transaction Coordinator issued by California Association of Realtors, 2021. Founder/Owner of Date Delight Bakery, vegan pastries and sweets, 2021. 8 years experience in public relations, sales and management skills, obtained from self-employment. 15+ years experience in the art and science of baking.

Mrs. Eweedah received her US citizenship a decade ago through an asylum case with the help of an amazing lawyer at a non-profit immigration office and would like to help others with their cases for a chance to a better life.