Sometimes life isn’t a jog in the park. And, most days, the same could be said for the work we do at LCBH. Our staff, board, and volunteers frequently face new obstacles, especially while defending renters’ rights in an ever-changing legal, political, and social landscape — turning what might have been a nice summer jog into a marathon. Despite this, they persevere all the way to the finish line, oftentimes going even farther to remove impediments to housing and advance our mission.
That drive is why we dedicate this issue of The Scoop to some of our outstanding staff and board who’ve gone the extra mile, not just at our organization, but within our community. It’s also an invitation to celebrate this work with me in person at our 40th Anniversary Celebration on October 13th.
It’s no surprise that COVID-19 rapidly changed the scope of our work, adding another obstacle to an already tough marathon. That didn’t stop LCBH Rentervention Attorney Ashley Chong from dedicating extra time to a nervous client named “Mary” though.
After a retaliatory eviction marred Mary’s record, she sought help from LCBH’s chatbot at Retervention.com to generate a motion to seal it. Still, Mary was nervous to appear in front of a judge after filing her motion. That’s where Ashley came in.
Ashley, who was an intern at the time, explained the process to Mary and even role-played so she could practice what she would say before a judge. Though Mary never had to present her speech, it was Ashley’s extra attention and empathetic solution that gave Mary the confidence to file her motion and get this barrier to housing sealed from her record, she said.
If working at LCBH is like a marathon, some could say Claire Battle is an ultra-marathoner. Claire first joined LCBH as an intern while obtaining her undergraduate degree at Northwestern University in 2001. Now, more than 20 years later, her relationship with us continues.
During her tenure, Claire served as a member and president of the Board of Directors, helped develop the Young Professionals Board, and aided in creating public policy changes that protect renters’ rights and expand housing justice. Today, Claire serves on the LCBH Advocates Council where she continues to provide a meaningful and lasting impact on our work.
This fruitful relationship is why we are so excited to award Claire with the Sharon L. King Distinguished Alumni Award at our 40th Anniversary celebration. The award recognizes outstanding professional achievement among former LCBH legal fellows and interns, and we can’t think of anyone more fitting than Claire.
Sharon L. King joined LCBH as a volunteer in the Attorney of the Day Program in 1997 and then became a member of the Board of Directors, serving two terms as president. Later, Sharon helped establish the Brach-Brodie Endowment that allows LCBH to hire a recent law school graduate for a one-year position. Sharon is elated that Claire will be joining the list of esteemed recipients. You can see them both in October at the celebration.
Claire and Ashley are just a few of the dedicated LCBH team members who exemplify what it means to go the extra mile. That’s why I invite you to celebrate these folks and our remarkable history with me at our 40th Anniversary Celebration at Buddy Guy’s Legends on October 13th, 2022. Together, we will honor our past and cheer our future, while reconnecting with old friends and colleagues.
You can find more information and buy early bird tickets here.