Posted October 12, 20239:00 am
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s 118th Annual Meeting will be an afternoon program and reception on Monday, November 20, 2023 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.
The November 20 event will begin promptly at 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.). The one-hour program (CLE credit pending for attorneys) will be followed by a social reception with food and drinks.
Legal Aid executive director Colleen M. Cotter and board president Jonathan Leiken will begin the program themed on the Langston Hughes quote, "Hold fast to dreams” and they will highlight hope, extend gratitude, and provide updates on high-impact community partnerships and initiatives.
The 118th Annual Meeting will feature a special panel discussion with:
- Gina Beredo, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Owens Corning,
- April Miller Boise, executive vice president and chief legal officer at Intel Corporation,
- Paul Grewal, chief legal officer at Coinbase, and
- Taras (“Terry”) Szmagala, Jr., executive vice president and chief legal officer for Eaton
Moderated by board vice president Quo Vadis Cobb, these corporate leaders will discuss how their corporate social responsibility initiatives align with Legal Aid’s work to promote fairness, racial equity, and social justice – illustrating why civil legal aid is imperative to all. The panelists will join a list of distinguished past Legal Aid keynote speakers, including U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Senators Portman and Brown, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and (just last year) Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., who each highlighted the importance of civil legal aid during previous gatherings.
Legal Aid’s Annual Meeting is a chance for community members, philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders to gather and reflect on Legal Aid’s accomplishments over the past year, as well as learn about new initiatives and plans for the year ahead.
Legal Aid’s dedicated staff, volunteers, and strong regional partnerships will be celebrated during the event. Awards will be presented to outstanding employees, volunteers and community organizations who demonstrate profound support for Legal Aid’s mission. Additionally, Vanetta Jamison will be presented with Legal Aid's highest honor, the Louis Stokes Paragon Award. Ms. Jamison was the first non-attorney president of Legal Aid in 2015 and 2016.
Sponsorships for Legal Aid’s 118th Annual Meeting are still available, and individual $150 tickets are on sale now. All proceeds from ticket sales support Legal Aid’s work to extend justice across Northeast Ohio. Learn more at lasclev.org/2023Event.
Founded in 1905, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the United States. Serving residents of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties, Legal Aid staff and volunteers secure justice, equity, and access to opportunity for and with people who have low incomes through passionate legal representation and advocacy for systemic change. In 2022, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland handled nearly 8,000 cases, helping more than 21,000 people.
Visit lasclev.org/2023Event for more event details and to purchase Annual Meeting tickets.