Matthew Lopas

Matthew’s work supports activists and advocates seeking to create change on issues affecting low-income immigrants at the state and local levels. This includes managing projects and campaigns that build power arising from affected communities, including NILC’s work at building a path to Health for All and creating paths for those voices to inform national debates. He began this area of work by founding NILC’s Winning in the States initiative to amplify leaders fighting against negative federal policies. Prior to his current role, he was a health policy attorney at NILC, serving as a national resource for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act for immigrants at the state and local level, advocating for federal legislative and administrative change, and confronting the harm resulting from fear over issues like public charge.

Matthew has a Bachelor of Science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and was a published newspaper reporter before changing career paths. He earned a juris doctorate from the American University Washington College of Law and is licensed to practice in Virginia.

Matthew lives in Washington, D.C, is a bookworm, and enjoys hikes with his partner and their rescue dog, traveling, and continuing his COVID-lockdown project of learning the guitar.