Mercedes Thompson and Lucinda Weller have a long history of working with domestic violence survivors. Thompson, a domestic violence advocate and paralegal with Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO), and Weller, the managing attorney of LAWO’s Stability and Independence for Survivors Practice Group, have dedicated their careers to helping survivors achieve safety and stability through [...]
For the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. hoping to find a new beginning, the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation is a lifeline.Thanks to a generous grant from the State of Ohio, the Foundation is awarding $2.3 million over two years to support the immigration legal needs of nearly 2,000 Afghan evacuees. In partnership [...]
If there’s anyone who has earned retirement, it’s Henry County Family Court Judge Denise McColley. During her decades of experience as a magistrate and then as a judge, Judge McColley has worked tirelessly to enhance the legal system through programs and services for Ohioans. For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation [...]
The Ohio Justice Bus has an immediate opening for a Program Manager. Position Overview: Job Title: Ohio Justice Bus Program Manager (Attorney) Status: Full-Time, Exempt Position Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and a generous benefits package The Ohio Justice Bus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Ohio [...]
Katie Kersh has years of experience working with the immigrant community in Dayton as an attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE). When she became project director of a new community lawyering initiative at ABLE in 2019, it was the perfect opportunity to marry her legal experience with a new approach to building social [...]
When it comes to accessing legal information and resources, language should never be a barrier. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that roughly 24.8% of Ohio’s Spanish-speaking households — approximately 62,000 people — live below 100% of the federal poverty level. Ohio Legal Help, a Foundation grantee that leverages technology and innovation to improve justice and [...]
When Lilly Cavanaugh accepted the invitation to join the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, she was already familiar with the Foundation’s work. As Executive Director of the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission, Cavanaugh understood the value of access to civil legal services, particularly for new Americans, and the role the [...]
Jill Stewart,* a proud member of the National Guard and a foster mom, struggled to find steady employment during the pandemic, fell behind on her rent, and faced an eviction. Like thousands of low-income Ohioans, Ms. Stewart contacted her local legal aid for help. Legal aid helped Ms. Stewart access Ohio's rental assistance program so [...]
The Foundation is excited to welcome Ellie Preston, our new Executive Assistant! Ellie is a native of Columbus, Ohio. Ellie is an experienced non-profit administrator who previously worked at Bridgeway Academy, a nonprofit education center serving children with autism and developmental disabilities. Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? I am a big fan [...]
In late July, the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation convened a new, standing committee, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The committee is composed of a handful of Foundation board members and other leaders from around the state who represent organizations ranging from the private bar to Ohio’s Black Judges Association to the Ohio Commission [...]
