Arcelia Hurtado

Arcelia Hurtado, Esq., has been a life-long activist for civil rights. She has been a trial and appellate lawyer representing adults and children in the criminal justice system and most recently, representing women on death row. She is the former Executive DIrector of Equal Rights Advocates, a national women's rights organization, and she founded and co-directs the Breaking Down the Barriers/Let Her work Project that assists formerly incarcerated women reenter the workforce. Arcelia has also been a teacher having taught at various law schools; a mentor for students pursuing public interest legal careers; and an active board member of various professional, legal services, philanthropic, and community-based organizations. She is the former Deputy Director and currently a Policy Advisor at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving LGBT equality through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.