Meet Our Staff

A native of the southern sector of Dallas, Shalaina Abioye has worked in the humanitarian sector for over 15 years. She has extensive leadership, management and direct service experience. Shalaina was introduced to this sector as a volunteer, after spending six years in the semiconductor industry. The first refugee family she met back in 2007, drew her into this work where her passion grew in increasing protection, impact and reach to the immigrant community, as well as in sharing their stories.

Through her various leadership positions at three nonprofits, a research consulting firm, and serving as a graduate faculty member for 8 years, Shalaina brings extensive strategic planning, change management, and operations experience to the organization. She holds a BBA, a Master of Arts in Diplomacy with a focus on International Peace & Conflict Management, and has completed her coursework for a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership/Development.

When Shalaina is away from work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son and loves to travel.

Born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, Margarita earned her law degree from Universidad de las Americas. She recently relocated to Texas with her family and brought with her a strong desire to help immigrant communities and empower them to reach their full potential. Prior to HRI, Margarita practiced intellectual

Outside of HRI she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling and writing. She is an avid arts and crafts enthusiast.

Zeyla, a Texas native, is a graduate of the University of North Texas in Denton where she studied International Studies and Spanish. Before joining the team in 2013, Zeyla was a committed HRI volunteer and translator. When she’s not assisting HRI’s lawyers and clients, Zeyla can be found immersed in the arts–having trained in ballet and modern dance for 15 years.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Naschaly attended the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology. In 2019, Naschaly moved to Texas to obtain her Master of Science in Criminology at the University of Texas at Dallas. She’s passionate about advocating for women’s rights and the rights of those who have been wrongfully convicted. Outside of HRI, Naschaly is passionate about animal rescue, and enjoys weightlifting and any activity that requires being physically active.

Richard is a native of Southern California who recently moved to Dallas, Texas. He graduated from the University of California at Irvine with degrees in economics and political science. He graduated from the Whittier College of Law. For the past 20 years he has practiced immigration law representing immigrants in all aspects of immigration law. He has successfully argued numerous immigration cases before the Federal Court.  Richard has also worked for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles where he supervised the deportation defense department and where he was interviewed on numerous occasions by the media on various immigration issues. For the past twenty years, through community outreach, he has been an informative voice for the immigrant community on immigration issues.

Christian Piatt joins the HRI team with a background in business, nonprofit, and as an author and public speaker. Most recently, Christian has acted as the Founder and Owner/Operator for Brew Drinkery & Bistro (a craft beer taproom, restaurant and event space), as well as Brew Aleworks (a craft microbrewery) over the past four-plus years. Christian served under contract as a Grant Writer for Merchant McIntyre & Associates for two years and, prior to that, worked as the Director of Development and Community Relations for Samaritan House in Ft. Worth. He served as Development and Communications Director at Catholic Charities (Pueblo, CO), Mountain Park Environmental Center (Beulah, CO) and as Director of Volunteer Services at AIDS Interfaith Network (Ft. Worth, TX).

In addition to his nonprofit work, Christian was the Owner/Operator of Square Core Media, an audio production company, and Crowdscribed, a crowdfunding-driven publishing company. He is the author of thirteen books and has been a contributing writer to several publications and websites, including TIME, Huffington Post, Sojourners and Red-Letter Christians, among others. He was a weekly columnist for the Pueblo Chieftain Newspaper for three years, and was a Managing Editor and contributor to PULP, a free weekly independent tabloid in southern Colorado.

Antonio is a Texas native and attended the University of Texas at Arlington earning his bachelor’s in Criminology and Criminal Justice. He then worked in Dallas County, which pushed him towards law in order to help people. He attended and graduated from the University of Massachusetts School of Law. When not working, he likes to spend time with his dog and friends, enjoying some live music, or just exploring the city.

Kristin Mae is a native Memphian who is excited to be relocating to Dallas, Texas to begin working with the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas!

She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Memphis in December 2020. As a daughter of immigrants from the Philippines, Kristin Mae knew she wanted to go law school to pursue a career in advocating for immigrant families. She attended University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and was active in several leadership positions and student organizations such as the President of APALSA (Asian Pacific American Law Student Association); Senior Student Justice on Honor Council; a tour guide and student ambassador; and pupil for the Sr. Leo Berman American Inns of Court.

During her time in law school, she found multiple opportunities to expand her knowledge of immigration law. Kristin Mae was a law clerk at a Siskind Susser, P.C, a Memphis-based immigration firm that focused on employment-based immigration for her first- and second-year summer. Moreover, her experience as a student attorney during her experiential learning course with Mid-South Immigration Advocates solidified her desire to seek justice and support non-citizen children and families. Lastly, she received the CALI award in Immigration Law, an award given to the highest scoring student in a course, a testament to her dedication and passion to learn about immigration law.

In her free time, Kristin Mae enjoys going on walks, trying new restaurants, and exploring new places.

Catherine V. Langlois is a passionate and experienced bilingual attorney licensed in Texas. She is dedicated to providing effective client representation, focusing on both family and immigration law. Catherine is known for her compassionate leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and creative problem-solving abilities. She has extensive experience in District Family Courts, representing clients in matters of divorce, custody, and estate distribution. She is also a skilled immigration attorney, having represented clients in all immigration-related matters, including business, individual, or family-based cases.

Catherine’s commitment to her clients is evident in her dedication to providing personalized legal solutions, crafting strategic arguments, and navigating complex legal challenges. She is fluent in French and English and enjoys working with diverse clients. When she is not at Court, Catherine loves to travel and cherishes spending quality time with her family and friends!