Belen Enriquez
Office Director and Prison Consultant
Belen Enriquez, originally from Quito, Ecuador, has established herself as a prominent advocate, creative artist, and thought leader in the United States since her arrival in 2004. Her multifaceted career spans entrepreneurship, digital art, writing, and serving as a political and legal commentator in a non-attorney capacity, showcasing her diverse talents and relentless determination.
Belen's academic background is robust. She holds an Organizational Management degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University and an MBA in Finance from Nova Southeastern University. Her passion for teaching is evident in her role as a college professor at Miami Dade College's Global School of Business. Her career turned significantly toward criminal law and white-collar crime during her internship at the Palm Beach State's Attorney's Office.
In 2018, facing personal legal challenges, Belen transformed this difficult chapter into an opportunity for advocacy and reform. During her incarceration, she became a pivotal figure by assisting fellow incarcerated individuals as a prison paralegal and successfully securing the release of two women. Her dedication was exemplified by countless hours spent in the prison law library, drafting documents on an old-fashioned typewriter.
After her release in 2020, Belen's activism entered a new phase. She joined the Law Offices of Paul Petruzzi in Miami as the Office Director, Paralegal, and in-house Prison Consultant, focusing on complex legal cases involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and international narcotics, including extraditions. Under the supervision of counsel, Belen has developed expertise in trial preparation, investigations, legal research, legal writing, clemency petitions, compassionate release motions, prison coaching, and consulting. She also holds extensive training in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and federal sentencing matters.
Belen's commitment to continuous learning and impactful advocacy is evident in her participation with organizations such as JustLeadershipUSA (Leading with Conviction 2023), Ladies for Hope Ministries, Dream.org's Dream Justice Cohort, Prison to Professionals (P2P) cohort 27, and A New Way of Life's Women Organizing for Justice and Opportunity fellowship. She is an alumna of the Social Impact Strategy Executive Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Her accomplishments include winning the Canary Impact Fund Prize 2023 and the 2023 Creative Competition: Futures Without Fracture from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison. Belen's work is further enriched by motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy training, which enhances her reentry initiatives.
As a Managing Partner at Reentry Innovations, Belen leads a tech-focused initiative to support formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrating into society. She also serves on the Board of the Florida Justice Center. Recognized for her achievements as a digital artist, writer, and political analyst, Belen's work has been featured by media outlets such as Univision and other international news platforms.
Belen resides in Miami, Florida, where she enjoys photography, art, and literature. She fervently advocates immigration reform, reentry programs, and justice-impacted individuals. Her dedication to reentry, education, and reform is highlighted by her presentations at major conferences, including the Stop the Stigma Conference (March 2024, Southern New Hampshire University, virtual), the Beyond the Bars Conference (April 2024, Columbia University), the National Conference on Higher Education in Prison (November 2023, Atlanta, GA), and the Rise Up Conference (September 2023, virtual). She was also a Regional Finalist for the White House Fellowship 2024.
Aspiring to become an attorney, Belen's journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and creating meaningful, positive change in society.