Alana Pilar Cantillo
Senior Director of Advocacy, New York Immigration Coalition (PLEN Alumna)
Alana Pilar Cantillo is the Senior Director of Advocacy for the New York Immigration Coalition. In this role, She leads the planning, implementation, and execution of the NYIC’s top campaigns. She also provides strategic vision and oversight of the organizations federal, state, and local agendas as well as member and political engagement across the state.
Previously she was the Director of Government Affairs for Charter Communications where she oversaw community investment and municipal compliance in addition to national initiatives to expand digital access and diversity and inclusion in partnership with local stakeholders.
Ms. Cantillo also served as the Director of the New York City Council Progressive Caucus where she coordinated 18 Council offices to advance an agenda that promotes a more just and equal New York. Through legislation, funding of social service programs and advocacy, Alana lead multiple city-wide efforts that address inequalities in education, employment, housing and criminal justice.
Emigrated from Colombia and raised in New Jersey, Ms. Cantillo earned a BA in Anthropology and Spanish from Rutgers University and a MS in Bilingual Special Education from City College, City University of New York. She is a proud alumna of the New York City Teaching Fellows Program and Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. Alana has been recognized in City and State Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars list and is the recipient of the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Community Engagement Award. Alana volunteers with multiple mentorship programs and is a member of the Public Leadership Education Network’s Board of Directors, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center’s Junior Board and New York State Archives Partnership Trust Advisory Committee.