Posted July 13, 20233:00 pm
A roundup of recent updates:
Legal Aid joined Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce as a supporting member. Plexus represents a unique and influential network providing connection, education, and advocacy across the LGBT and allied professional and business communities.
Colleen M. Cotter, Executive Director, was appointed to the board of trustees of the Lakewood Community Services Center, a non-profit organization that provides basic needs assistance and referral services with food, housing, senior services, and youth programming.
Stephen M. Fazio, president emeritus of Legal Aid’s board of directors, was recognized by Squire Patton Boggs as the Pro Bono Partner of the Year for his outstanding commitment to pro bono service.
Lauren Hamilton, Supervising Attorney in Housing, was elected to the board of directors of Neighborhood Pets, a non-profit organization that supports low-income people by assisting with pet care and other needs.
Katherine Hollingsworth, Managing Attorney of Economic Justice, was selected as an inaugural member of The Ohio Workforce Coalition’s Workforce Leadership Academy, a fellowship designed to build capacity in the local workforce ecosystem and present innovative solutions to challenges faced by workers or businesses.
Jennifer Kinsley Smith, Senior Attorney in Health and Opportunity, was elected to the board of directors of Magnolia Clubhouse, a non-profit organization that offers a rehabilitative support program for adults who live with mental illness.
Julie Reed, Supervising Attorney in Volunteer Lawyers Program & Intake, and Karen Wu, Senior Attorney in Housing, were both selected to take part in the inaugural class of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion Fellowship, designed to accelerate racial equity within the law.
Krystle S. Rivera, Staff Attorney in Health and Opportunity, was elected to the board of directors of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, a local non-profit that fosters literacy and a love of reading by distributing free books to children in need.
Joshua D. Rovenger, Supervising Attorney in Economic Justice was appointed to join the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
Alexandria Ruden, Supervising Attorney in Family Law, was honored by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center with a 2023 Visionary Voice Award for her work protecting survivors of domestic violence through legal representation and policy advocacy.
Melanie A. Shakarian, Director of Development and Communications, was appointed to the board of trustees of the Cleveland Public Library.
Originally published in Legal Aid's "Poetic Justice" newsletter, Volume 20, Issue 2 in July 2023. See full issue at this link: “Poetic Justice” Volume 20, Issue 2.