CGLA 16pg Ann Report5.qxd

For every impoverished person in Illinois who seeks free assistance
with complex legal problems, just one in fourteen actually secures
a lawyer. The other thirteen are left standing alone.
Together, we can do better…
1:14
CGLA
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
Fiscal Year 2004/2005 Annual Report
Executive Director’s Report
Dear Friends,
There is no better way to describe it: we are in the midst of a remarkable season of growth at Cabrini Green Legal Aid.
Through the generosity of hundreds of investors, the tireless efforts of an outstanding staff, the leadership of our board of
directors and advisory board, and the bigheartedness of an army of volunteers, we are significantly increasing our societal
impact in Chicago. These are exciting days!
Changed Lives
Although the report you hold gives the “numbers” associated with our growth, the most important headline is that through
the work of CGLA, hundreds of vulnerable individuals were saved from very real life consequences this year.
• Mr. Thomas, a former client of founder Chuck Hogren, returned to CGLA this year to obtain help in regaining
custody of his teenage son. After six years of sobriety through the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, Mr. Thomas
was ready to once again be a father to 16-year-old Jamaal. Family law attorney Alecia Wartowski worked with the
child’s guardian ad litem and advocated before the judge on Mr. Thomas’ behalf. The result: father and son are
reunited.
Table of Contents
3 Case Statistics
• Sixty-six year old Mrs. Long lives in public housing with the four grandchildren she is raising alone. When her
grandson was arrested, the Chicago Housing Authority filed an eviction against the entire family. CGLA
attorney Christine Farrell represented Mrs. Long in housing court and secured a victory, enabling the family to
stay in their home.
4 Programs and Services
6 Doing More...Better
Increased Capacity to Serve
7 Report Card In Fiscal Year 2004/2005 (FY05), CGLA focused its energy on providing quality legal representation to greater numbers
of clients in more holistic ways. Existing programs grew, and new initiatives were developed. Revenue increased significant-
8 Financial Summary ly to support our expansion. Volunteers invested a record-setting number of hours in direct client services. All the while, we
9 Funding
10 List of Contributors
12 Volunteers
13 List of Volunteers
14 Governance
remained laser-focused on our mission to answer God’s call to seek justice and mercy by providing free legal
services to the poorest of the poor.
Allow me to highlight a number of developments that we accomplished together in FY05:
• Strengthened our Criminal Records Program by making it a full service offering of the clinic;
• Opened an Expungement Pro Se Assistance Desk at the Daley Center (Chicago’s downtown courthouse) which
each year will help hundreds of clients clear their criminal records in order to secure jobs and housing;
• Developed an innovative one-year aftercare program that connects teams of LaSalle Street Church volunteers with
CGLA client families in pursuit of increased self-sufficiency;
• Hired three new staff members: attorneys Alecia Wartowski and Beth Johnson, as well as development officer
Tim Wallace;
• Engaged 345 volunteers in a record setting 7,834 hours of pro bono service, an increase of over 40%;
• Added four new members to the board of directors and five new advisory board members;
• Finished the year in the black, with increased revenue of 28% over the prior fiscal year’s expenses.
15 Liberty and Justice A Vision for the Future
16 CGLA Staff Our tagline for the upcoming year is to “do more, better.” Although grammatically-challenged, this simple phrase
summarizes what we must accomplish together.
We must do more. Among the poor, the desperate need for legal assistance remains largely unaddressed. A statewide study
released this year found that low-income households secure free representation for only one out of every 14 legal problems
encountered. Did you catch that? Only one out of every 14 poor persons desperately in need of legal assistance finds an
attorney willing to handle his or her case at no cost. Over one-third of these are housing or family law problems - matters
we handle at CGLA. We need to add attorneys to increase our capacity to accept the most desperate cases. Thousands of
Chicagoans need assistance in clearing their records - legal relief which the law provides for, but is nonetheless difficult to
secure without the competent guidance of an attorney. We also need to expand our criminal defense program which offers
mercy by serving the unjustly accused, first-time offenders, juveniles, and others who require extra hand holding.
And we must do more, better. Our vision is to serve every client in holistic ways-addressing the root causes that led to
the legal problem-so our attorney is the last one he or she will ever need in the midst of crisis. To that end, we will hire
a social worker to support our clients through community referrals, crisis intervention, and ongoing family support. Most
of our clients need jobs. Others need assistance finding housing. Still others need help opening a bank account, securing
benefits, finding day care, or enrolling a teenage daughter in a tutoring program. By offering clients a multi-disciplinary
approach to services, lives can be stabilized through legal representation and then transformed through comprehensive care.
When I shared this vision recently, a friend exclaimed, “Do you have any idea how much that will cost?” I do. But I also
believe passionately in our mission, and I witness firsthand the generosity of individuals like you who support it. Thank
you for joining with us in this bold vision for CGLA’s future. I am humbled and inspired every day by your kindness to the
“poorest of the poor” in Chicago.
Yours,
Robert B. Acton
Executive Director
2
Case Statistics
Criminal Defense
For Fiscal Year 2004/2005
Expungement,
Sealing,
Clemency
Family
Distribution of Caseload in Program Areas
Expungement, Sealing,
Clemency
Housing
Family1
Criminal Defense
41%
28%
16%
15%
Client Demographics
African-American
Latino
Caucasian
Other
Housing
Other
Caucasian
Latino
AfricanAmerican
86%
9%
3%
2%
A recent survey found there were over 680,000 legal problems experienced by impoverished Chicago households in 2003. Cabrini
Green Legal Aid Clinic is one of only 17 legal aid agencies in Chicago that exist to meet that tremendous need.
CGLA’s staff and volunteers met face-to-face with 956 impoverished individuals seeking legal representation in FY 2004/2005.
Thousands more received referrals to agencies in and around Chicago more aptly suited to handle the potential client’s case.
Of the 956 persons who told us the details of their legal dilemma, 471 vulnerable individuals were accepted as clients of the Clinic
in FY 2004/2005.
1.
Due to a staff attorney transition, family law intakes were closed for a period of time, reducing the total number of family law clients served in
fiscal year 2004/2005.
One Client’s Story
In the late 1980’s, Reginald was in between high school and college and in a rush. He was
late for an engagement, and as he reached the “L” station he saw the open train doors, ready to
close. He jumped the turnstile rather than be late, and he was immediately arrested by a police
officer standing four feet away.
Feeling foolish and embarrassed, Reginald spent the night in jail, and in the morning, the
officer who arrested him told him to, “tell the judge you’re sorry and won’t do it again.” Reginald
complied and was released, not realizing that he now had a criminal record.
In 1994, Reginald graduated from college with a degree in social work case management.
He tried get a job with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and
was rejected. By way of explanation, the human resources officer told him only, “You know
why.” Reginald didn’t, but found himself barred repeatedly from similar jobs for shadowy
reasons.
In 2002, Reginald had another job offer which the State rescinded, and he was finally told
why. He had a criminal record. He had been arrested and convicted, and that record precluded him from working for the
State in a social worker capacity.
It was this legal dilemma that led Reginald to CGLA. It was this story that a CGLA volunteer attorney shared with the
Illinois Prisoner Review Board, which recommended to the Governor that Reginald be granted executive clemency, a pardon.
Today, thanks to his persistence and the legal help of CGLA, Reginald has cleared the record that haunted him his
entire working life. He is now free to use his social work degree to find a better job to support himself and his family.
3
CGLA’s Programs and Services
CGLA’s staff attorneys and volunteers are committed to each client, speaking up for
vulnerable individuals as they face challenges to their families, their homes, their livelihoods, and their safety. Because of that commitment, each of our clients knows that
their voice will be heard and that there is hope for justice and mercy.
Family Law
CGLA’s Family Law Program is dedicated to helping clients
and their children attain safety, provision, and security in their
homes. The Family Law program accepts cases for child custody,
visitation, child support, guardianship, and divorce in cases where
spousal abuse or other aggravating circumstances are present. The
need for family law assistance is constant. In February 2005, the
Illinois Legal Needs Study II found that over 20,000 low income
persons in Illinois each year are unsuccessful in their quest to obtain
legal representation in family law matters. One client who found
help last year was Valerie.
From floor to ceiling, Valerie’s closet doors are covered with
pictures of her three children. There is a picture of her seven-yearold daughter, hitting a golf ball at a park, a picture of her smiling
CGLA attorney Alecia Wartowski meets with her client Valerie
fourteen-year-old son standing next to his mother, and a picture of to discuss her family law case.
her twelve-year-old daughter getting ready for school. Today, Valerie can share these kinds of moments with her kids, in part,
because of CGLA’s involvement in her life.
In early 2004, Valerie’s marriage began to crumble. Her husband demonstrated physical and mental abuse, which were,
in Valerie’s words “directed at me and my kids.” The tension between them was exacerbated by his marital infidelity and
Valerie’s major back surgery in March 2004, which took her away from her job and placed her on Social Security Disability.
Seeking to leave her volatile relationship, but unable to afford the service of a private attorney, Valerie sought help at CGLA.
She received it in February 2005. With the help of CGLA’s family law attorney Alecia Wartowski, Valerie was able to
secure a divorce, child support, and custody of her two daughters. Yet CGLA has remained active in Valerie’s life. Valerie’s
family was the first selected for CGLA’s new Family Support Teams (FST) program, and this summer three volunteers from
LaSalle Street Church began working with her and her children. Valerie and her volunteer mentors have been engaged in several ways. Recently, Valerie relocated her family to a safer area with better schools, and one of her FST mentors took the time
to assist her in moving boxes. On account of their move, her daughters changed math curriculums, and another of her mentors has been tutoring the girls so that they can catch up with their classmates.
Perhaps the most important way the FST program has been involved was in procuring emergency custody of Valerie’s
son. When Valerie found out that her son had not been in school because of her ex-husband’s recent incarceration, she
reached out to her new friends in the FST program, who in turn informed CGLA about the situation. As a result, Valerie is
now taking care of her son.
Valerie is excited about what is in store for her future. She has goals. She is facing the challenges of physical therapy,
hoping to be back at work soon. Valerie also hopes to be a homeowner and to complete her education. For now, she is focusing on her family, raising and enjoying her time with her children. With the long-term involvement of her volunteer mentors,
the attainment of her goals is likely not far off.
Housing Law
The Housing Law Program at CGLA focuses on preventing homelessness for low-income Chicagoans. As more and
more public housing is torn down and more residents relocated, there is a grave need for representation to protect the rights
of current and relocated residents. CGLA represents clients in eviction cases, grievance hearings, and back rent disputes.
Significantly, CGLA is one of the only agencies that provides legal representation free of charge in public housing one-strike
cases. These cases arise when a tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or a guest of the tenant allegedly violates one of the
4
CHA’s lease rules, putting them at risk of eviction and ineligible to continue in public housing.
CGLA vigorously represents tenants in trials and hearings in order to fight an eviction and
ensure safe shelter for Chicago families. This year, CGLA fought to preserve Gloria’s home.
Gloria’s apartment used to be full of life, with her adult daughter and her two children,
along with Gloria’s own adopted child, all living together. Due in part to a subsidized housing
voucher from CHAC, the administrator of the Section 8 voucher program, Gloria was able to
pay rent month to month, while supporting four loved ones.
However, Gloria’s ability to pay rent was suddenly put in jeopardy. After a trip to the doctor, Gloria’s daughter was diagnosed with a serious medical ailment, and she enrolled in a treatment program in Minnesota, leaving her children in Gloria’s care.
Unfortunately, the housing voucher for Gloria’s apartment was under her daughter’s name,
and CHAC terminated it, unwilling to transfer the name on the voucher. As a fifty year old caretaker raising three children alone, Gloria now faced the imminent threat of eviction and possibly
homelessness.
Andy Dougherty, CGLA housing law attorney, vividly described Gloria’s impending situation as “a giant wave that was
about to crash on her and her family.”
Gloria came to CGLA in the summer of 2005, asking for assistance in transferring the voucher from her daughter’s
name to her name. After negotiations between CGLA and CHAC, the agency eventually reversed its prior decision and
transferred the name on the voucher, stating that they had failed to understand the complete picture of Gloria’s situation.
Today, without a looming eviction threat, Gloria’s apartment once again teems with life and vibrancy.
Criminal Defense
CGLA’s Criminal Defense Program is one of the only alternatives to the public defender available to low-income individuals in Chicago. We are committed to representing the innocent and unjustly accused, first time offenders, juveniles, and
others for whom the Clinic feels we can make a positive, lasting impact. Because we keep our caseload manageable, CGLA is
able to offer intensive involvement and representation for each client, preparing almost every case for trial and refusing to plea
unnecessarily. In the end, we strive to ensure that every client receives the defense he or she deserves.
Angela has been a model parent for her six year old son despite difficult circumstances, including the child’s father
being addicted to drugs and afflicted with mental illness. Angela has always stressed to her child the values of education and
hard work, and like any good parent, she disciplines him when he goes astray.
One day, Angela’s son arrived at school with a small bruise from an unknown source. True to procedure, his teacher
reported the incident to the police. When the police interrogated Angela, she willingly explained that she occasionally disciplined her son with a belt over the pants. The police charged Angela with domestic battery based on that statement despite
positive recommendations concerning her parenting skills by all of the child’s school teachers and the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Facing the prospect of prison time and the loss of her son, Angela came to CGLA, where criminal defense attorney
John Benson began work on her case. Eventually, John persuaded the state’s attorney to drop the charges, largely based on her
proven history of good parenting.
With the daily challenges of raising a child with ADHD as a single mother with a full-time job in mind, John invited
Angela to participate in CGLA’s Family Support Teams Program. Again demonstrating her concern for her child, Angela
accepted John’s invitation.
Angela hopes to enrich her son’s life by exposing him to a world of opportunity that lies outside their poverty stricken
neighborhood.
Expungement, Sealing, and Clemency
A vast number of Chicagoans have been arrested but were never found guilty or were convicted of minor offenses years
ago and have since led law-abiding lives. Each of these individuals has a criminal record that results in diminished access to
employment, educational loans, and housing. After just five years engaging in this work, CGLA is a recognized statewide
leader in helping qualifying individuals clear their arrest and minor conviction records through expungment, sealing, and
clemency. Through the newly promoted full-time practice at CGLA and our Expungment Pro Se Assistance Desk at the
Daley Center, CGLA provides relief to qualifying Chicagoans, so that they are able to contribute to their own livelihoods and
that of their families.
continued on page 8
5
Doing More...Better
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic continues to develop innovative approaches to serve
increased numbers of clients in more meaningful ways. To that end, CGLA launched
two major initiatives in fiscal year 2004/2005.
Expungement Pro Se Assistance Desk
The Expungement Pro Se Assistance Desk was created to help qualifying individuals clear their arrest and minor conviction
records. The Desk dramatically increases efficiency in serving individuals seeking to have their prior arrest records expunged
(as if they never existed) and low-level, non-violent convictions sealed from public view.
The Desk is located at the Daley Center in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County where expungement
petitions are filed. It is staffed by a CGLA attorney and supported by volunteers from CGLA and the Hispanic Bar
Association. This client-friendly service streamlines the filing process into a one-stop experience that will help hundreds more
individuals each year clear their records in accordance with the law. In the process, the Desk provides a valuable service to the
court by ensuring these applications are properly completed and, to the maximum extent possible, only filed in appropriate
cases.
To further simplify the filing process, CGLA has partnered with Illinois Legal Aid Online and the A2J Project at ChicagoKent College of Law to develop software that enables clients to input the requisite information in an interactive and userfriendly interface, once a CGLA attorney or volunteer has determined their eligibility for this legal relief.
The Expungement Pro Se Assistance Desk assists a vulnerable population in supporting itself and removing barriers. Once a
record is cleared, clients have an increased ability to contribute positively to society by gaining access to employment, housing,
education and licensure.
Family Support Teams
The Family Support Teams program, developed in partnership with LaSalle Street Church, was created to enhance the way
CGLA serves clients in holistic, life-transforming ways.
This innovative program matches select CGLA client families (generally single moms with kids) trying to break out of the
cycle of poverty with teams of volunteer mentors who offer emotional and practical support. The Family Support Teams program is designed to help former clients find solutions in practical areas such as money management, changing careers, tutoring children with schoolwork, maintaining a safe home, pursuing an education or even acquiring necessities that can make the
difference between mere existence and a basic standard of living. Through this multi-disciplinary approach to client services,
critical legal needs are immediately met while persistent life struggles are deliberately addressed.
Mentors are not trained social workers, nor therapists. They are lay persons, friends who commit to a year of intensive aftercare and personal involvement in the lives of a client-family. Please let CGLA know if you would be interested in learning
more about volunteering in this program.
6
Report Card
To ensure we provide quality legal services to every individual, CGLA asks clients to fill
out a survey when they first come to the Clinic for help, and then again after we complete representation. The results of this internal “report card” are encouraging.
When clients arrive at our door, they are filled with anxiety and stress. Worse, the majority do not understand the legal problem that confronts them.
Pre-Service
Pre-Service
Please rate your anxiety/stress level.
Do you know what must be done to solve your legal problem?
70
Percentage of Group
Percentage of Group
40
30
20
10
0
60
50
40
30
20
10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
0
9 10
Yes
No
Yes and No
40
Pre-Service
Please rate your understanding of
your rights and responsibilities.
30
20
10
0
1
2
5
6
Post-Service
Please rate your understanding of
your rights and responsibilities.
50
Percentage of Group
Percentage of Group
Through the course of representation, CGLA clients are empowered, gaining increased levels of understanding about their
rights and responsibilities under the law.
40
30
20
10
0
10
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
10
80
60
40
20
0
Yes
No
70
Post-Service
Please rate your attorney’s explanation of court proceedings.
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Post-Service
Did the CGLA staff treat you
with respect?
Percentage of Group
100
Post-Service
Was the process for interviewing you
and taking your case adequately
explained to you?
Percentage of Group
Percentage of Group
Clients report receiving a thorough explanation about their case and unanimously agree that they were treated with respect by
CGLA staff.
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 9.9 10
100
80
60
40
20
0
Yes
No
Our clients’ handwritten comments best articulate their assessments:
• My attorney always explained the legal issues to me with the utmost respect.
• Without the win, I would have been homeless.
• My attorney was very confident and put me at ease concerning the outcome.
• I have referred a friend to CGLA because I was satisfied with the help and was treated like a paying client.
• With the expungement of my records, I should have an easier time at finding a better job. Thank you.
• I was treated with respect the minute I walked in the door.
• Your attorneys really care about their clients.
• I had one of the best lawyers. God bless her and keep up the good work.
Source: “2001-2005 Client Assessments: Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic,” M. Connolly Human Resource Management: 312.388.1977.
A full report is available from CGLA upon request.
7
Financial Summary
For Fiscal Year 2004/2005
Revenue
FY 03/04
Individuals
449,907
Foundations
212,876
Law Firms & Corporations
25,906
Churches
16,420
Government
31,500
Other Income
53,287
Total Revenue
789,896
Expense
Program Services
Support Services
Administration
Building Operation
Fund Development
Total Expenses
Change in Net Assets
600,209
54,395
19,296
78,258
752,158
37,738
FY 04/05
475,831
226,258
66,312
18,460
30,750
47,315
864,926
646,370
43,644
18,389
86,364
794,767
70,159
1,000,000
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
Changes in
Net Assets
04
FY
05
FY
Fund Development
11%
Building Operation
2%
Program Services
82%
Administration
5%
Note: FY 2004/2005 Individual Giving includes $280,552 in pro bono services provided by volunteer attorneys and law students.
Source: Audited Financial Statements (FY04 & FY05), by Rosalie J. Freidlin LTD., Certified Public Accountants. Copies available
from CGLA upon request.
continued from page 5
In November of 1997, Roger was a college student studying to be a high school teacher. He was stopped by the police
for running a red light on November 18th, setting off a series of events that threatened to derail his dream to teach.
When Roger was pulled over, the police officers told him they could not write a ticket on the street and told him to go
to the police station. He complied. While the citations were being written, one of the officers asked Roger for his car keys.
Again, Roger complied. The officer illegally searched his car and found a firearm in it, unassembled and under a seat. That
night he was charged with unlawful use of a weapon (UUW), a felony, despite the fact that he possessed a Firearms Owners
Identification Card.
The police did not appear in court. Nevertheless, his attorney advised him to plea guilty and to accept a sentence of
conditional discharge in order to keep him out of jail. And he did, but while Roger did not go to jail, he now had a felony
record. He had never been arrested prior, and he hasn’t been since. But when he graduated from college, he discovered that he
could not pursue a career in education. Public schools will not hire convicted felons.
Roger came to the Clinic in September 2004. On review of his record, we found that his felony conviction occurred
during a 5 year period when the UUW penalty had been enhanced from misdemeanor to felony. The felony classification was
voided in a 1999 Illinois Supreme Court decision. By operation of law, Roger’s conviction should have been a misdemeanor.
The court record had to be corrected.
CGLA staff attorney Margaret Soffin filed a motion to vacate the felony conviction and to impose a sentence of
supervision. Both were granted. Roger’s record can now be expunged. A conviction that never should have occurred will now
be obliterated from the record, and Roger can leave his part-time job and find a position teaching.
8
Funding
For Fiscal Year 2004/2005
A host of generous individuals and organizations enable us to ser ve the “poorest of
the poor” in Chicago. Thank you for your ongoing partnership with us!
Foundations
Chicago Community Trust
United Way
Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois
Chicago Bar Foundation
Tyndale House Foundation
Houlsby Foundation
Chicago Area Foundation
for Legal Services
Barney II (Bill & Sabra Reichardt)
Morrow Charitable Trust
Out of the Box Foundation
Public Interest Law Initiative
Illinois Bar Foundation
Equal Justice America
Corporations
$45,000
$37,000
$32,000
$22,625
$20,000
$12,500
$10,000
$5,500
$5,250
$5,000
$4,500
$2,500
$2,000
Churches
Fourth Presbyterian Church
College Church in Wheaton
LaSalle Street Church
Grace Lutheran Church
Church of the Three Crosses
Winnetka Presbyterian Church
$5,500
$5,400
$2,445
$3,300
$415
$400
$5,000
$4,000
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
$500
$100
Matching Gifts
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
Peoples Energy
Pepsico Foundation
CNA Foundation
Winston & Strawn LLP
Chicago Community Trust
Microsoft
William Blair & Company
Abbott Laboratories
The Arthur J. Gallagher Foundation
Fannie Mae Foundation
$2,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$350
$300
$275
$250
$129
$100
$50
Government
Law Firms
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP1
Jenner & Block LLP
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
Hoogendoorn & Talbott LLP
Winston & Strawn LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Chapman & Cutler LLP
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary
Holland & Knight LLP
Mauck & Baker
Newland, Newland & Newland
Household International
(HSBC-North America)
Hewitt Associates Foundation
Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc.
Covenant Trust
Redeemed Partners
UBS AG
Kennedy Consulting Group, Inc.
$9,000
$6,500
$5,500
$5,000
$5,000
$4,500
$4,500
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
$1,000
$500
$50
City of Chicago,
Department of Housing
$30,750
1. In the FY04 Annual Report, the amount reported for Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP failed to include a $3,000 gift to CGLA that
was made through United Way. The Firm’s total FY04 giving was $7,349, including $5,500 in direct firm giving and $1,849 in
matching gifts.
9
List of Contributors
For Fiscal Year 2004/2005
CGLA Leadership Society
$10,000+
Richard & Claudia Kapnick
Ed & Ann Mason
Daniel & Mary Wilkening
$5,000 – $9,999
James & Virginia Archer
Charles & Isabel Hughes
John & Dawn Koch
Donald & Jo Ann Soderquist
Chris & Cynthia Stacey
Donald Zeithaml & Esther Oh
$1,000 – $4,999
Robert Acton
David Bea
Duane & Helen Binns
John Box & Carol Zajackowski
Bernice Brandel
Frank & Janice Cicero
Bob & Rachel Cockrell
Lisa M. Dietlin
Patricia Foltz & John Mueller
David & Jenny Fuller
Martin & Vanessa Hayden
Carol Childs & Peter House
Charles & Mary Jackson
Tim & Kelly Johnson
Christian Kemnitz & Julie Moody
Timothy & Margaret Jo Klenk
Bill & Jan Kroeschell
Karl Lauger & Dee Dee Parnell
Mark Lura
Hugh & Nancy Magill
Tim & Deborah Melton
Jeff & Karin Meyer
Steve & Dana Nasralla
David & Kathy Neely
Brett & Anne Nelson
Robert & Beth Niewijk
David & Stacy French Reynolds
Dale & James Riemersma
Courtney Rosen
Eugene & Faith Schoon
Sven & Julie Sykes
Eva Tameling
Kenneth & Margaret Taylor
Jeremy & Christian Taylor
Mark & Carol Taylor
10
Terry & Laura Truax
Roger & Maria Vander Werf
Bob & Anne Woodson
$500 – $999
Bill & Jane Acton
A. Hayes & Margaret Welsh Barclay
Glenn & Carol Brown
Bruno Caridine
Herbert & Carol Carlburg
James & Marge Chesney
Kenneth & Robin Cozette
Howard Edmonds
Joy Etienne
Deanna Finley
Christopher & Elizabeth Fung
Vinny Gauri
Gerald & Becky Haase
Skye & Amanda Jethani
Thomas & Virginia Johnson
John & Linda Leathers
Matthew & Julie Litfin
Ronald Marmer
Sandra Hoogland & James Melia
Michael & Susan Mosher
Larry & Sandy Reed
Nathan Richardson
Jack & Adrienne Samuels
Richard & Judy Sawdey
Jeff & Sonia Semenchuk
William & Mary Sneed
Roger & Lynne Tarras
Joyce Van Der Molen
Sarah Vander Werf
Robert Watson
Young Men’s Educational Network
$200 – $499
David & Jean Allen
Gary & Valerie Anderson
Greta & Richard Bowe
Michael & Libby Ester Brody
Sherrie Chapman
Paula Clark
Marla Cobb
William & Patricia Cochran
Douglas Colber &
Bethany Graham-Colber
Christina Collins
Bernard & Adrienne Cozette
Karen Darby
David & Holly Easterbrook
Julius Farrell
Elaine Filus
Robert & Mary Frappier
Richard & Pamela Goad
Michael Jahoda
Thomas & Mary Kay Kaufmann
Gail Kim
David & Ona Kozar
Terrence Leonard
Marion Lloyd
Gregory & Karen Lyons
Henri & Arlynn Manasse
James & Lynn McClure
Michelle McGuiness
Ann McKenzie & John Wischnewsky
Marena McPherson
Ronald & Joann McQuigg
Paul Metzger
William Milbratz
Kevin Murphy & Karen Brammer
Dawn Clark Netsch
Vivian & Stewart Odell
James O’Neal
Christian Poland
Stephen & Agnes Reading
Grayce Rein
Michael & Mayme Roettig
Michael & Phyllis Ryan
Sarah Schriber & Eric Truett
Kenneth & Gladys Smith
Sam & Jessica Sohl-Darrigrand
Sandra Storey & Alan Roche
Dennis Thorn
Steven & Rebecca Tousey
Judith Trombley
Charles & Eleanor Truett
Dianna Uchida & Roy Coleman
Marc Ungar
Robert & Jane Vallin
Timothy & Bee-Lan Chan Wang
Donald & Ruth Whittaker
James & Cheryl Wilkes
Up to $200
Hilton & Linda Abbott
John & Grace Adams
Lauren & Robert Adams
Angela Alleman
Julane Alt
Katie & Phil Andersen
Mike & Nicole Auerbach
Justine Bandstra
Nathanial & Lois Barnard
Susan Bart
Sarah Baum
Michael & Diane Beemer
John Benson
Stephen & Susan Bisgeier
Kimyatta Blackmon
Scott & Verily Blim
Matthew Borgula & Jennifer McManus
John Bouman
Cynthia Grant Bowman
Steve & Cindy Bretsen
Richard & Carol Brook
Shirley Brunette
Greer Burey
Barbara Burke
George & Nancy Buth
Annie Buth
Diana Butts & Terence Yates
Frank & Carolyn Campbell
Molly Carpenter
John Chapin, Jr.
Leland & Wilberta Chinn
Steven & Susan Cochlan
Richard & Debra Haley Cozzola
Phyllis Cozzola
Marc & Tracy Crisenbery
Robert & Elizabeth Crowe
Dennis & Nancy Dassoff
Clyde Dickens
William Dickerson
Dawn Duffy
Andre Dumas
Margaret Walker & Jon Engelberth
Jonathan Epstein
Lupe Esparza
Barry & Chrissy Farrell
Katharine Friedman
Laurel Leslie & Allen Gifford
Reynold & Jennette Gottlieb
Warren Grienenberger
Debra & Kevin Grigg
Kathleen Grady & Victor Grimm
Edward Grossman
Jonathan Hancock
Robert & Ann Hein
Natalie Heineman
Madalyn Henderson
Timothy & Norma High
John Hobbs
John & Nina Hochevar
Molly Hubbard
Amy Hughes
Timothy & Annette Huizenga
Walter Hunter & Miriam MooreHunter
David & Valerie Johnson
Paris Johnson
Aziel & Marian Jones
William Jovan
Jean Kaplan
Charles Katzenmeyer
Julie Kelley
Bobbie Kelly
John & Laura Kennedy
George Kleinert
Carla Koontz
Kathy Russell & Charles Krikorian
David & Rebecca Kuhlmann Taylor
Bradley Lane
Nick & Sherri Lantinga
Richard & Patricia Booth Levenberg
Betsy Landes & Barry Levenstam
Thayer & Ann Lindner
Tadd & Sheli Lindsay
Joshua & Angie Lindsay
Edith Love
Harold & Rhoda Mackenzie
Grace Marquis
Brian & Barbara Marvin
Rod & Toni Mathews
William Burdine & Vickie May
Andrew & Pamela McGaan
Bernard & Judith McKee
Tara Meadows
Lauri Meekhof
Abner & Zoe Mikva
James Miller
Antonio Moore
Molly Moran
Marjie Nielsen
Lisa Noller
Ginger Odom
Lois Ottaway
Bruce & Kerry Otto
Sam & Wyllis Paravonian
Bill & Vivien Pehrson
Rudd & Gail Petrich
Erica Phillips
Tabayah Pickett
Don Powell
Zenzile Powell
Mark Gregory & Michelle
Prentice-Leslie
Jane Purdy
Lynne Raimondo & Stanley Parzen
William & Mary Hutchings Reed
Omer & Beverly Reese
Tim & Barbara Riggenbach
Jill Rogers
Paul & Mary Roloff
Jim Morris & Susan Ryan
Natalie Saltiel
Tamar Samuels-Johnson
Kathleen Sanderson
Rudy & Lucinda Schade
Rick & Ann Schissler
J. David & Melinda Ann Schmidt
Anthony Scaperlanda & Mary Schriber
Lois Scott
Ted Scudder
Anne Segall
James Sergent
Betty Eng & Percy Smith
Margaret Soffin
James Stanhaus
Joan Steinman
Brian Stepp
Patricia Steverson
Eva Stewart
Janet Stock
Joseph & Kim Switzer
Jeffrey Szuba
Dick & Nancy Temple
Amanda Terrell-Orr & Chad Orr
Win Nyunt & May Thin
Sarah Thomas
Christina Toto
Barbara O’Brien & Christopher Udry
Daniel & Brenda Van Ness
Daniel & Sally Wagenmaker
Charles & Darlene Walles
Henry & Pam Way
Rebecca Gaither & Robert Weaver
Stuart Weg & Judith Roth
Mary Weiland
Robert Weinberger
Whitney Werich
Jesse White
Rob & Juli Wilson-Black
Jeffrey Wright
Laura & Harold Wright
Kristine Zeabart
Lawrence & Carol Zeller
Carol Ziegler
Kevin Davey & Cheryl Zminda
Karen & David Zucker
11
Volunteers
For Fiscal Year 2004/2005
CGLA’s Volunteer Program continues to grow tremendously each year. Through the
dedication of a record 345 volunteers, the Clinic was able to increase our capacity
to serve.
Total Volunteer Hours
FY04-05
FY03-04
FY02-03
FY01-02
7,834 hours
5,553 hours
4,087 hours
2,467 hours
Value to the Organization
10,000
7,500
5,000
2,500
0
5
02 2-03
04
-0
130
0
0
04
Y
FY
FY
FY
F
CGLA volunteers donated $280,522 in pro bono service in fiscal year 2004/2005.
Additionally, CGLA volunteers gave financially to support the work of the clinic in the amount of $11,833.
Total Clients Served
345 volunteers directly served 592 clients and potential clients in fiscal year 2004/2005.
2005 Volunteers of the Year
Volunteer Attorney of the Year:
Rich Balind
From left to right: Rich Balind, Drew Vaughn, Volunteer
Coordinator Sarah Baum, and Jeremy Sartori
12
Rich Balind graduated from DePaul University College of
Law in 2004. Referred by another volunteer, he began
volunteering at CGLA in September 2004. Rich invested
over 170 hours serving our clients in FY2004/2005. Rich
quickly became an integral and beloved member of the
CGLA community. Rich conducts intakes, handles clemency
cases, and periodically appears in court on Clinic cases. We
also relied on Rich to train other volunteers learning the
intake procedure. “Rich is a dedicated and reliable volunteer,”
said Criminal Records Attorney, Margaret Soffin. “He is the
type of attorney that makes the clemency program work.”
Rich is a consummate professional who brings a spirit of
generosity to his work at the Clinic. His skill level and
dedication to the mission of CGLA are exceptional. “We are
lucky to have him,” said Soffin.
List of Volunteers
CGLA thanks all of its volunteers, and particularly honors the 98 individuals who contributed 10 or more hours of pro bono work on behalf of CGLA clients this fiscal year.
Michael Apolskis
Ginger Archer
Jim Archer
Miriam Arguete
Rebecca Bailey
Rich Balind
Kari Beyer
Julie Bisbee
Patrick Bitar
David Campbell
Anjan Chatterji
Liah Chehadeh
Jane Choi
Aaron Churchill
Douglas Colber
Christina Collins
Jessa DeSimone
Lauren Dies
Bryan Duplechain
Christine Eichinger
Barry Farrell
Rob Felker
Deanna Finley
Jane Fischer
Jennifer Flory
Kim Frankovich
Jamie Freedman
Doris Funches
Rayne Galbraith
Annabel Garcia
Vinny Gauri
Jude Geiger
Oletha Hall
Micah Hamstra
Ashley Harris
Brian Hudson
Kenneth Jaconetty
Candice Jennings
Marc Johnson
Tim Johnson
Kelly Kaiser
Bobbie Kelly
Anna Kempisty
Kelly Kennedy
Shahzad Khan
Diana Kifarkis
Andy Kim
Suzanne Kim
Robert LaPorte
Daniel Lev
Joseph Lombardo
Eric Maciolek
Tyler Manic
Vito Manicioto
Kara Mannix
Tara Meadows
Nicole Mercho
Michelle Miller
Joseph Mole
Rashad Morgan
Jeanne Moulthrop
Adil Musabji
Marisa Nachman
Jeffrey Nichols
Takenya Nixon
Brian Oleniczak
Deborah Osei-Agyeman
Laura Paplauskas
Jigar Patel
Sharyn Procaccio
Jimmy Lee Ramsey
Tanish Rodriguez
Liz Rogers
Elizabeth Rosenthal
Dwayne Samuel
Jeremy Sartori
Brad Sauer
Dick Sawdey
Kingsley Sawyers
Sarah Scopel
Josh Smith
Erica Soderdahl
Jenny Theis
Benjamin Thelen
Patricia Turner
Juanita Tyson
Marc Ungar
Cristina Valle
Jennifer Van Cleve
Brad Van Zoeren
Drew Vaughn
Lyndsay Walters
Matt Wasserman
Kai Wedel Diaz-Perez
Andrew Weiss
Stewart Weiss
Rob Wilcox
Brian Zeft
Volunteer Law Student of the Year:
Drew Vaughn
Volunteer of the Year:
Jeremy Sartori
Drew Vaughn began volunteering at CGLA in March of
2004. Drew is now known at CGLA as a thorough and
articulate intake interviewer. “Drew is a selfless volunteer
who contributes time and energy for every intake,” said
Housing Attorney Christine Farrell. “I really noticed how he
grew comfortable with speaking with clients throughout the
months that he did intakes and how he was able to pinpoint
legal issues and hone in on them.” Not only is Drew exceptionally reliable, motivated, and professional, but he has also
proven himself to be highly committed to public service. He
dedicated himself to work at the Clinic every week for a
semester on a volunteer basis, giving dozens of hours of
service. Based on his work as a volunteer at CGLA and other
legal aid organizations, Drew won the Illinois State Bar
Public Service Award for Loyola Law School last spring. In
very recent news, Drew has received a job offer from Schiller,
Ducanto and Fleck. Congratulations Drew!
Jeremy Sartori spent countless hours this year developing
CGLA’s professional new website. Such a service can cost an
organization up to $15,000, but Jeremy did it all free-ofcharge. Referred to CGLA by a board member, Jeremy
currently works as a health data analyst at American Imaging
Management. The website Jeremy created includes a user
friendly guide to available programs, a search engine, an
events calendar, and a simple process for making online
donations. Not only that, but he also created an infrastructure that allows CGLA staff to update events and offerings
with ease. Most impressive, however, has been Jeremy’s attitude toward volunteerism. “Jeremy is the model of a committed CGLA volunteer willing to give sacrificially of his time,
expertise and energy to help vulnerable residents of Chicago,”
said Executive Director Rob Acton. In fact, Jeremy continues
to spend time fine tuning the site and adding content on a
weekly basis. “We’d like to clone him,” Acton added.
13
Governance
For Fiscal Year 2004/2005
CGLA is governed by an independent Board of Directors that meets six times per year.
Board members receive no monetary compensation. Board member terms are three
years.
Board of Directors
Chair
Vice-Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Christian T. Kemnitz, Partner, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Greta Bowe, Friends of Seward Park & Friends of Washington Square Park
David W. Fuller, Associate, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
Courtney A. Rosen, Associate, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
David L. Bea, Law Offices of David L. Bea (chair, personnel committee)
Posh Charles, Manager of Marketing Services & Special Projects, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Melissa Hoogendoorn DeVries, Partner, Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP
Lisa M. Dietlin, President & CEO, Lisa M. Dietlin & Associates (chair, fundraising committee)
Tim Johnson, Business Manager, Phil Vischer Enterprises (chair, strategic planning committee)
Father Esequiel Sanchez, Pastor, Mary Queen of Heaven
Christ Stacey, Law Offices of Christ Stacey
Jeremy M. Taylor, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
Eva Tameling, President, Tameling & Associates, PC
Robert B. Acton, Executive Director, Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic (ex officio)
CGLA’s Advisory Board members are interpreters and promoters of the organization
among member constituencies and the public. Members advise and assist the
Executive Director and Board of Directors in matters concerning CGLA’s services and
relationships between CGLA and the community.
Advisory Board
Chair
14
Richard B. Kapnick, Partner, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
James Archer, Managing Partner (Retired), Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
Charles V. Hogren, Founding Executive Director (Retired), Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
Charles S. Hughes, Partner, Chapman & Cutler LLP
Charles C. Jackson, Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
C. John Koch, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
Edwin D. Mason, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
Timothy J. Melton, Partner, Jones Day
Dr. Kenneth B. Smith, Senior Fellow, The Chicago Community Trust
Terrence J. Truax, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
Mary Wilkening, Executive Director (Former), Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
...With Liberty and Justice For All...
We have heard the stories of 1 in 14 who find legal aid. We have seen the impact caring advocates
can have on vulnerable families. Deep down we know that “justice for all” is not just an ideal; it’s a
promise.
With your help, we keep our promise to answer God’s call to seek justice and mercy by providing
free legal services to the poorest of the poor. The hundreds of men, women and children we help
each year find a champion who will fight with them as they strive to protect their families, their
homes, their livelihoods, and their safety.
But for every vulnerable person provided free legal assistance in Illinois, thirteen stand alone, not
knowing where to turn or worse having been turned away, not for lack of merit, but for lack of
resources.
And so we must do more.
Thank you for joining us in this commitment to serve the poorest of the poor.
Together, when we pledge, “and justice for all,” they need to know we mean it.
15
CGLA Staff
Robert Acton, Executive Director
John Benson, Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense
Maggie Devany, Volunteer Coordinator
Andy Dougherty, Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Christine Farrell, Legal Director
Tanya Haughton, Director of Operations/
Development Officer
Alecia Wartowski, Staff Attorney, Family Law
Beth Johnson, Staff Attorney,
Expungement Self Help Desk
Dierdre Johnson, Office Manager
Margaret Soffin, Staff Attorney, Criminal Records
Tim Wallace, Director of Development
CGLA’s Staff and Interns: (front, left to right) Rob Acton, Kelly
Kennedy, Maggie Devany, Tanya Haughton, Margaret Soffin,
Dierdre Johnson, Rachael Mamula; (back, left to right) Tim
Wallace, Alecia Wartowski, Chrissy Farrell, John Benson, Andy
Dougherty, Ryan Patton.
CGLA Interns
Brian Appel
Kari Beyer
Annalise Buth
Robert Felker
Vance Gathing
Micah Hamstra
Elizabeth Jackson
Bobbie Kelly
Kelly Kennedy
Brian LaBenne
Rachael Mamula
Kara Mannix
Jeanne Marsh
Lindsay Nemirow
Adam Poe
Sharyn Procaccio
Elizabeth Rosenthal
Abigail Staudt
Jed Untereker
CGLA
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
Fiscal Year 2004/2005 Annual Report
Special Thanks
Design • Christos Haralambidis, Winston & Strawn LLP
Writing • Aaron Churchill, Volunteer
Photography • Robin Cozette, Three Strands Photography
Consulting • Posh Charles, Board Member
Printing • Jeff Barsch, JB Graphics
Contact Information
Board of Directors: (front row, left to right) Greta Bowe, Christ
Stacey, Melissa DeVries, Courtney Rosen, Jeremy Taylor; (back row,
left to right) Father Esequiel Sanchez, Lisa Dietlin, David Bea, David
Fuller, Rob Acton; (not pictured) Christian Kemnitz, Posh Charles,
Tim Johnson, Eva Tameling
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic
206 West Division Street
Chicago, IL 60610
ph. 312.266.1345
fax. 312.266.7417
www.cgla.net