Emily Sarasa comes to the affiliate with a passion for legislative advocacy and community organizing. She is a proud graduate of William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she received certificates in Environmental Law and International Law. Prior to coming to Hawaiʻi to attend law school, Emily was a Legal Justice Fellow with Repair the World Brooklyn. Through her fellowship with the Legal hand Crown Heights clinic, she assisted community members struggling with access to housing, immigration, and public benefit services.
During law school, Emily completed an externship with Beyond Guilt Hawaiʻi, a clinic dedicated to assisting individuals with clemency, compassionate release, parole, and clearing criminal records. As a summer 2023 Legal Intern with the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, she supported our cases involving Title IX discrimination, criminalization of unsheltered individuals, and police misconduct. She also volunteered pro bono with the ACLU of Hawaiʻi Policy Team to provide legislative research for our Smart Justice and Reimagining Public Safety campaigns in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.
Born and raised in South Florida, Emily received her B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, yoga, reading, photography, and spending time with her rescue dog.
Carrie Ann Shirota, Policy Director, of the ACLU of Hawai’i: “We are excited that Emily has joined the ACLU of Hawaiʻi Policy team and look forward to her drawing upon her education, training and community organizing experience to advance public policies that protect the civil rights and liberties of all people. Emily’s deep listening skills and commitment to creating a more vibrant democracy and just world will help her build bridges with people and communities in Hawai’i most directly impacted by dehumanizing systems. Her advocacy work will elevate data driven solutions along with personal stories to highlight the need for systemic changes.”