WBBM- Virtual Cooking Demos To Save Lives

“The success of that website then led us to try to find other ways to reach survivors where they are and that led to the founding of the cooking demonstration.”

Special thank you to Andy Dahn and WBBM for helping us save lives.

North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic hosts virtual cooking demonstrations with professional chefs on the second Thursday of each month, inviting anyone with questions about domestic violence to ask those questions to NSLAC attorneys anonymously in the chat. Join NSLAC in any of our upcoming demonstrations. Click here to learn more.

Apple Safety Check Features For All

Working towards our mission to provide access to justice for those most in need, NSLAC believes it is important for all individuals to know the safety measures they can take using their phones. We are so thankful to Apple for providing us with further education on their Apple Safety Check features to share with the public. 

 

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 immediately.

To set up an appointment, please call (847) 737-4042 or click here to schedule a consultation.

DACA 10th Anniversary- NSLAC Media Appearance

Dreamers, their families, and the advocates concerned for their protection are grateful for DACA, but they are concerned for their future in the US. NSLAC Staff Attorney Irma Wilson joined WTTW – Chicago PBS for an important conversation about DACA. Read more about this update here.

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic continues to strongly urge DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals to contact us immediately for a full legal screening. We provide free legal assistance to any and all individuals, regardless of where they live or work, who need assistance in renewing their DACA application.
For questions about DACA, please contact info@NSLegalAid.org or 847-737-4042

Domestic Violence Resources in Lake County (Townships: Benton, Deerfield, Libertyville, Moraine, Newport, Shields, Vernon, Warren, Waukegan, Zion)

Courthouse 

Lake County Courthouse (847) 377-3600 

18 N County St, Waukegan, IL 60085 

In-House Domestic Violence Advocates: A Safe Place (847) 360-6471, 5th floor, Rm D-100 

Domestic Violence Shelters and Services 

A Safe Place (847) 249-4450 

Shelter, permanent housing, court advocacy, counseling, referrals. 

House of Peace (224) 430-4977 

The House of Peace Shelter, in partnership with Catholic Charities, provides a secure, temporary residence for Latina women and children suffering from domestic violence. 

Lake County Haven 847-680-5408 

Lake County Haven provides shelter and life-changing services so that homeless women and their children can achieve healthy, stable, independent living. 

Noah’s Rest (847) 764-6624 

Temporary shelter for pets of domestic violence survivors, available for transitional periods. 

Childcare 

YWCA Gurnee Child Care Assistance Program (847) 662-4247 

The YWCA administers the IDHS Child Care Assistance Program to help income-eligible parents pay for childcare while they work or go to school. 

Employment 

Catholic Charities Family Self-Sufficiency Program (847) 782-4233 

This program assists low-income, single parents with dependent children to break the cycle of welfare and poverty. Participants receive education, training, employment assistance, and case management for up to five years as they learn to achieve and maintain an independent, self-sufficient lifestyle that allows them to provide for their families’ basic needs. 

Lake County Job Center (847) 377-3450 

The Job Center cultivates and connects our employers and workforce to fuel economic growth and well-being in Lake County. The Job Center serves all members of the public. We have resources for job seekers who may have a barrier to employment or a specialized situation including veterans, youth, seniors, ex-offenders, and individuals with disabilities.
 

Mano a Mano Family Resource Center (847) 201-1521 

Mano a Mano’s Education and Career Coach assists in resume and cover letters, scholarship search, job referrals, transfer credits, and volunteer programs.  

Food/Benefits 

Northern Illinois Food Bank (844) 600-7627 

The Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Outreach Team assists Lake County residents with SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and other public benefits programs. They can also link to various food pantries throughout the county. 

Mental Health 

Bradley Counseling Center 847-356-3322   

Bradley Counseling Center provides a range of outpatient therapy and psychological testing services. Locations include Lake Villa and Gurnee.  

Catholic Charities – Lake County Behavioral Health (847) 782-4049   

Provides professional mental health and substance abuse counseling services to families and individuals affected by one or more social problems. Individual and group counseling is offered in a safe and supportive atmosphere.  

Community Youth Network (CYN) Counseling Center 847-548-6000 

CYN Counseling Center is a non-profit comprehensive community-based counseling center that serves children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with a variety of mental health issues. CYN offers general and specialized counseling and psychotherapy, case management, crisis intervention, and community education. 

Family Service of Lake County 847-432-4981    

We provide counseling, education, and support services to strengthen individuals and families in need to succeed in school, at work, in relationships, and within our community. 

Gurnee Counseling Center 847-336-5621    

Gurnee Counseling Center offers a variety of mental health services including child, adolescent, couples, family, and geriatric counseling along with psychological testing and substance abuse assessment/treatment.  

Josselyn Center 847-441-5600  

Long-term, sustainable mental wellness programs with empathetic, culturally-aware, licensed therapists. For individuals, couples, young people, and families. 

Lake County Behavioral Health – Adults 847-377-8088, Child/Youth 847-377-8110   

Staff provide treatment, training and support services to persons experiencing problems related to emotional and mental illness, or drug and alcohol addiction. Individual and group therapy, case management, housing counseling, psychiatric medication, and emotional/cognitive skill-building methods of treatment are used. 

Youth and Family Counseling 847-367-5991    

Provides caring, confidential, personalized counseling in a private office environment. A staff of licensed psychotherapists works with children, teens, adults of all ages, couples, and families. 

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center (847) 872-7799 (24-hr) 

Z-Center provides a place where survivors of sexual assault and abuse can heal, and works to mobilize the community toward action to end sexual violence. 

Housing 

Catholic Charities – Emergency Assistance Program (847) 782-4100 

Provides emergency food, shelter, rental and utility assistance, and crisis management services. Emergency food services help clients to meet short-term nutritional needs. Shelter services include emergency shelter for homeless women, children, and persons with medical needs that cannot be met by local shelters. Homeless prevention services include security deposit, rental and mortgage assistance to prevent homelessness. Other services that help a client stabilize include pharmaceutical assistance, transportation assistance, clothing vouchers, and case management services. 

Community Action Partnership of Lake County (CAP Lake County) (847) 249-4330 

Community Action Partnership of Lake County serves Lake County, Illinois with programs that help local families find self-sufficiency. They accept applications for assistance via telephone, internet, and the use of dropbox service for: rent, mortgage, water/sewer bills, shelter, energy, and the curbside food pantry. 

Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) (847) 263-7478 

CPAH is a HUD-certified nonprofit organization that develops affordable housing and provides services that empower individuals and families to secure and retain quality housing. 

Great Lakes Credit Union (800) 982-7850 

Looking to make a purchase or in need of rental assistance? GLCU’s expert NCHEC and HUD-Certified counselors can walk you through every step of the process. Let GLCU guide you through the home buying or rental experience, taking advantage of every opportunity to help along the way. Schedule a screening at https://www.glcu.org/schedule-your-screening/ 

PADS Lake County (847) 689-4357 

PADS Lake County is a community-based organization that provides trauma-informed support, resources, and shelter to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and a housing crisis. 

Township 

Illinois Townships 

We strongly advise reaching out to your Illinois township for a variety of assistance programs including emergency financial assistance, food pantries, access to state benefits, and other local resources. You can find your township by visiting https://prairie-research.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=16239dfab62f49e48e692bb93b495fd9. 

Utilities 

Community Action Partnership of Lake County (CAP Lake County) 847-249-4330 

Community Action Partnership of Lake County serves Lake County, Illinois with programs that help local families find self-sufficiency. They accept applications for assistance via telephone, internet, and the use of drop box service for: rent, mortgage, water/sewer bills, shelter, energy, and the curbside food pantry. 

Domestic Violence Resources in Northwestern Cook County (Townships: Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Palatine, Schaumburg, Wheeling)

Courthouse 

Rolling Meadows Courthouse (847) 818-3000 

2121 Euclid Ave, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 

In-House Domestic Violence Advocates: Between Friends (847) 818-8900, Basement 

Domestic Violence Shelters and Services 

Apna Ghar (773) 334-4663 

Provides culturally-sensitive wraparound services including a 24-hour crisis line, shelter (emergency and transitional), case management, counseling, legal advocacy, and supervised visitation/exchange.  

Between Friends (800) 603-4357 

24-hour help line, counseling, legal assistance, resources  

KAN-WIN (847) 299-1392 

Additional resources available to survivors across immigrant, refugee, and marginalized communities. 24-hour help line, transitional housing, legal advocacy, case management, support group, children’s program 

WINGS Women’s Shelters (847) 519-7820 

Offering shelters across the Chicagoland area 

Noah’s Rest (847) 764-6624 

Temporary shelter for pets of domestic violence survivors, available for transitional periods. 

Childcare 

Illinois Action for Children (312) 823-1100 or https://www.actforchildren.org/home  

The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program makes it possible for families who qualify to receive financial assistance in paying for child care. Parents must meet the State of Illinois’ income and family size guidelines. 

Employment 

JCFS Career Services (855) 275-5237 

JCFS provides employment services including career exploration, job search strategies, and career workshops and groups. 

National Able Network (855) 994-8300 

National Able Network provides personalized career support that integrates career coaching, specialized training, and direct connections to the job market. 

Food/Benefits 

Greater Chicago Food Depository (773) 843-5416 

The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Outreach Team helps people in Cook County with SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and other public benefits programs. They can also link to various food pantries throughout the county. 

Housing 

JOURNEYS | The Road Home (847) 963-9163 ext: 117 

JOURNEYS | The Road Home is a non-profit agency that provides both shelter and social services to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in 37 towns in north/northwest suburban Cook County. 

Northwest Compass (847) 392-2344 

Northwest Compass provides comprehensive assessment, brief crisis intervention, counseling and assistance to people experiencing housing instability or homelessness by connecting them to housing options, resources and various supportive services. 

Suburban Cook Call Center (877) 426-6515 

The Suburban Cook Call Center is a coordinated entry point for resources to prevent homelessness throughout the county. Resources include rental assistance, shelter, and security deposit assistance.  

Mental Health 

Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County (847) 885-0100 

CAC provides free, healing services to children who have experienced abuse, allowing them to process trauma and reclaim their childhoods. 

JCFS Counseling Services (855) 275-5237 

JCFS provides integrative counseling services and psychological testing to understand learning differences, cognitive, emotional and other mental health disorders. 

Kenneth Young Center (847) 524-8800 

Kenneth Young Center is a community-based non-profit, comprehensive provider of mental health and senior citizens’ support services. 

Life-Span (847) 824-0382 

Provides comprehensive services for women and children enabling them to stay together without violence, and/or to help women eliminate the abuse from their lives, build upon their strengths, and become self-sufficient. 

Northwest Center Against Sexual Abuse (NWCASA) (888) 802-8890 

NWCASA’s services include: individual, family, and group counseling for survivors and their loved ones; medical advocacy; legal advocacy; a crisis intervention telephone hotline; and professional training, sexual abuse prevention education, and community activism. 

OMNI Youth Services (847) 353-1500 

OMNI is a comprehensive behavioral health organization serving the needs of children, adolescents and adults throughout Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs. 

Township 

Illinois Townships 

We strongly advise reaching out to your Illinois township for a variety of assistance programs including emergency financial assistance, food pantries, access to state benefits, and other local resources. You can find your township by visiting https://prairie-research.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=16239dfab62f49e48e692bb93b495fd9 

Utilities 

Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA)  

CEDA offers a variety of services to low-income individuals including gas and electric assistance, furnace repair/replacement, and water assistance. For more information or to find an intake site near you, text “CEDA” to 313131. 

Domestic Violence Resources in Northeastern Cook County (Townships: Evanston, Maine, New Trier, Niles, Northfield)

Courthouse

Skokie Courthouse (847) 470-7200 

5600 Old Orchard Rd, Skokie, IL 60077  

In-House Domestic Violence Advocates: YWCA Evanston/North Shore (847) 470-5052, Rm 218 

Domestic Violence Shelters and Services 

Apna Ghar (773) 334-4663 

Provides culturally-sensitive wraparound services including a 24-hour crisis line, shelter (emergency and transitional), case management, counseling, legal advocacy, and supervised visitation/exchange.  

KAN-WIN (847) 299-1392 

Additional resources available to survivors across immigrant, refugee, and marginalized communities. 24-hour help line, transitional housing, legal advocacy, case management, support group, children’s program 

SHALVA (773) 583-4673 or https://shalvacares.org/ 

SHALVA supports Jewish women experiencing and healing from domestic abuse through counseling, supportive services, and community education. 

YWCA Evanston/North Shore (847) 864-8780 or (877) 718-1868 

24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter and longer-term housing, counseling, financial education, workforce training and employment assistance, affordable housing support, community education and training. 

Noah’s Rest (847) 764-6624 

Temporary shelter for pets of domestic violence survivors, available for transitional periods. 

 Childcare 

Illinois Action for Children (312) 823-1100 or https://www.actforchildren.org/home  

The Illinois Child Care Assistance Program makes it possible for families who qualify to receive financial assistance in paying for child care. Parents must meet the State of Illinois’ income and family size guidelines. 

Employment  

JCFS Career Services (855) 275-5237 

JCFS provides employment services including career exploration, job search strategies, and career workshops and groups. 

National Able Network (855) 994-8300 

National Able Network provides personalized career support that integrates career coaching, specialized training, and direct connections to the job market. 

Food/Benefits 

Greater Chicago Food Depository (773) 843-5416 

The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Outreach Team helps people in Cook County with SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and other public benefits programs. They can also link to various food pantries throughout the county.  

Housing 

Connections for the Homeless (847) 475-7070 

Connections for the Homeless works to prevent homelessness through financial assistance to households facing eviction, providing emergency shelter for people in crisis, securing permanent housing for individuals and families, and organizing the community through advocacy efforts. 

Suburban Cook Call Center (877) 426-6515 

The Suburban Cook Call Center is a coordinated entry point for resources to prevent homelessness throughout the county. Resources include rental assistance, shelter, and security deposit assistance. 

Mental Health 

Family Service Center (847) 251-7350 

FSC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) mental health agency serving the Illinois communities of Wilmette, Glenview, Northbrook, and Kenilworth. 

Haven Youth and Family Services (847) 251-6630 

Responds to the physical and emotional needs of youth and their families by providing emergency housing services, individual, group, and family therapy, 24-hour crisis intervention, daily outreach to area schools, psycho-educational workshops, youth leadership positions, and service-learning opportunities. 

JCFS Counseling Services (855) 275-5237 

JCFS provides integrative counseling services and psychological testing to understand learning differences, cognitive, emotional and other mental health disorders. 

Josselyn Center (847) 441-5600 

Long-term, sustainable mental wellness programs with empathetic, culturally-aware, licensed therapists. For individuals, couples, young people, and families. 

Womencare Counseling and Training Center (847) 475-7003 

Specializing in the relational treatment of trauma, Womencare Counseling and Training Center offers individual, relationship, and family counseling aimed at restoring life’s meaning and the capacity to form healthy relationships. 

Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook (847) 724-2620 

Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook offers various programs including counseling, crisis intervention and socialization groups. 

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center – Skokie (847) 872-7799 (24-hr) 

Z-Center provides a place where survivors of sexual assault and abuse can heal, and works to mobilize the community toward action to end sexual violence. 

Township 

Illinois Townships 

We strongly advise reaching out to your Illinois township for a variety of assistance programs including emergency financial assistance, food pantries, access to state benefits, and other local resources. You can look up your township by visiting https://prairie-research.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=16239dfab62f49e48e692bb93b495fd9 

Utilities  

Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA)  

CEDA offers a variety of services to low-income individuals including gas and electric assistance, furnace repair/replacement, and water assistance. For more information or to find an intake site near you, text “CEDA” to 313131. 

NORTH SUBURBAN LEGAL AID CLINIC ADDS STAFF ATTORNEY

North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic (NSLAC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Kelly Ehrenreich as a staff attorney. Ehrenreich will be assisting NSLAC’s Domestic Violence Law Practice.

Kelly Ehrenreich

Kelly Ehrenreich is an attorney dedicated to zealous advocacy for people who have experienced gender-based violence. Kelly has served clients who have endured domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking since beginning her legal career.

Before joining the Clinic, Kelly worked as a Staff Attorney at Life Span Center for Legal Services & Advocacy in Chicago and Prairie State Legal Services in Bloomington-Normal. Kelly also interned with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Michigan Law’s Human Trafficking Clinic, and Legal Services of South Central Michigan’s Family Law Project. At each of these organizations, Kelly strived to serve folks who suffered gender-based violence in a wide variety of litigation matters with compassion and commitment to holistic representation.

Kelly received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her B.A. in Honors Political Science with Minors in Economics and Religious Studies from the University of Delaware.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen a dramatic rise in domestic violence cases and we continue to make sure that we have the resources needed to help domestic violence victims find safety and go on to live productive and secure lives,” stated Executive Director Susan Shulman. “We are pleased to welcome Kelly to the team as we make the law work for all. Her experience in domestic violence law and the public sector will serve our clients well as she offers counsel to best fit their unique situation.”

 

 

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Health Care Power of Attorney and Why Students Need It – Thursday June 9, 2022

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, New Trier Township, and Winnetka Youth Organization are pleased to partner with attorney Adam Garber from Levenfeld Pearlstein to present Health Care Power of Attorney and Why Students Need It on Thursday, June 9, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Winnetka Community House.

This health care Power of Attorney (POA) clinic is for parents/guardians of high school or college-age students with a permanent address in suburban Cook County and throughout Lake County. For questions email probono@nslegalaid.org.

After the presentation, parents and students can sign up for a free 45-minute consultation with an attorney at our POA clinic on Wednesday, August 3 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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Immigrant Heritage Month 2022

June is dedicated to sharing the stories of the immigrants that make America what it is today and supporting diversity in our nation. Every family has an immigration story, or knows someone who is an immigrant. We sure do!

To celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month here are some immigration stories from our clients, staff, and volunteers.

Lia Kim-Yi

Director of Immigration Lia Hyunji Kim-Yi’s father was a college professor in South Korea. When her family arrived in the U.S. back in 1985, her father got a job as a deliveryman. When he realized his job couldn't support his wife and three children, he went back to South Korea to continue teaching. Her mom stayed behind to raise Lia and her siblings, while she worked 12-hour days at her own business. For almost 18 years Lia’s father sent back almost his entire salary to the family in the U.S. and only saw them during his vacations. When Lia passed the bar and called her father in South Korea, he cried and told her that she “made his American dream come true, and all those years apart were worth it.”

Esteban Carbajal

Esteban Carbajal is a Staff Attorney. This is his immigration story. “Both my parents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico nearly forty years ago.  Each arrived with no more than a fourth-grade education because they came from very poor families that needed them to help contribute to the household income, even as children.  However, these unfortunate circumstances molded my parents into the hardest workers and most benevolent persons I have ever known.  Both have always been willing to sacrifice so much for the sake of others.  After immigrating to the U.S., my father worked twelve-hour shifts as a cook in numerous restaurants and my mom worked multiple jobs at the same time, ranging from housekeeper to seamstress, in order to provide for my sister and me.  Their demanding work schedules allowed for very little family time, but I always recognized it as a necessary sacrifice that my parents willingly bore without any complaints because of their dedication to us.  Their extraordinary work ethic and kindness were what motivated me the most in pursuing a law degree.  Today, I can proudly say that I have obtained my Juris Doctor degree and I will continue to follow my parents’ example by helping others.”

Daniel Schack

Daniel Schack is a member of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic’s Advocacy Committee. His grandfather escaped Nazi Germany. He watched his hometown of Munich burn on Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, he knew needed to leave. After heading first to England and then Australia, he finally ended up in Chicago. Like so many other refugees, Erich Schack owed his and his family’s lives to the willingness of others to take a chance on him. They made a good bet. Daniel’s grandparents built a business in which he and his two brothers now represent the fourth generation.

Miguel & Rosaura

Miguel was a North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic Client. We were honored to help him on his journey to become a new American. His father first came to the U.S. in 1985 with the hope of earning a better living to support our family of eleven back in Mexico. He settled in Colorado with a group of friends from his hometown and worked in agriculture picking various fruits. Seven years later, he joined him at the age of seventeen to help lessen the burden of supporting his large family. Together, they picked peaches, apples, and cherries during the warm months. During the winter months they would make apple juice. About three years later, he made his way to Illinois to reunite with the love of his life and now wife, Rosaura. The Clinic helped her to obtain her LPR status after living in the U.S. undocumented for 25 years. Together, they worked multiple jobs, made many sacrifices, and persevered through countless hardships to establish roots here, but they say, “it was all worth it. We had two beautiful daughters here and I finally became a U.S. citizen this year—something I never imagined when I first came here many years ago as a humble seventeen-year-old from a rural Mexican town. I am so appreciative of the many opportunities this country has provided my family and me, and I am especially proud of being able to say that I am a U.S. citizen.”

Susan Shulman

Executive Director Susan Shulman’s grandmother, Ruth Shulman (nee Liederman), was born in Leeds, England as her mother made her way from the Ukraine to Chicago to meet her husband.  When they arrived, Ruth’s father had already taken another wife.  Things were not easy for Ruth – her mother ended up in an asylum, and she grew up in different foster homes.  After her father kicked her out of the house at the age of 12, she worked at a department store in downtown Chicago.  Eventually, she ended up at the Yellow Truck and Coach Company, where she worked for a dashing manager named Louis Shulman.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Ramon

Ramon was a North Suburban Legal Aid client and is a naturalized U.S. citizen. In March of 2018, he came to us for help to petition his wife and fourteen-year-old stepson—both of whom lived in Mexico—for permanent resident status in the U.S.  Ramon and wife had been married for a little over a year by then and finally saved up enough money to pay the processing fees for their case.  The following month we submitted both petitions and by December of 2019 the U.S. Department of State had finished processing the cases.  Both cases were then placed in a queue for an interview at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, which at the time was taking about one year to be scheduled.  Consequently, he was expecting that his wife and stepson would not be able to come into the U.S. until January of 2021. Around the same time the Department of State had notified us that processing of the cases had been completed, Ramon was visiting his wife and stepson in Mexico for the holidays.  While there he started to feel very sick and eventually had to be admitted into a hospital where it was discovered that he had cancer.  The doctors there advised him to return to the U.S. immediately for further evaluation and treatment.

Before returning to the U.S., Ramon contacted the Clinic to see if there was a way to get his wife and stepson into the U.S. sooner since he was worried that his condition could ultimately be fatal.  He wished to have them by his side for support and stated that he did not want to leave them without the opportunity to immigrate.  The Clinic prepared a letter to the Department of State explaining Ramon’s situation and sought to expedite the cases based on humanitarian reasons.  The Department of State granted our request and scheduled an interview for March 19, 2020.

However, two days before the interview the Department of State announced that all interviews would be canceled because of COVID-19.  Luckily, Ramon’s wife and stepson were granted an exception to still be seen because of the extenuating circumstances of their case.  They were interviewed on March 20th and approved for permanent residency the same day so they could be reunited with our client shortly afterward.

Ramon just completed his chemotherapy and says he is so grateful for the help we provided him so his family could be by his side during these difficult times.

Rob Muriel

Rob Muriel is a North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic board member. Rob’s parents were raised in large families in Bolivia, South America. His parents were married in late 1962, and one month after the birth of their first child, William, in August 1963, Rob’s dad Hugo came to Chicago. Hugo had just finished his medical degree in Bolivia, and upon the advice of a Catholic priest he met from Chicago, Hugo secured an internship for postgraduate training at Mother Cabrini Hospital in Lincoln Park. Hugo worked multiple jobs while studying for the foreign medical equivalency exam. About seven months after arriving in the U.S., in April 1964, Hugo’s wife Eleanor and son joined him in Chicago. Hugo completed his training and passed his equivalency exam; he began practicing medicine in 1970. Nine years (and two more boys) later, Hugo was appointed by Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne to the position of Commissioner of the Department of Health. In the 15 years following his arrival, over 25 medical graduates from Bolivia followed him to Chicago. These physicians formed the Bolivian Medical Society and regularly returned to Bolivia for medical missions and conferences to pass on their knowledge to medical students in their homeland. Rob did not follow in his father’s medical path, but instead chose the practice of law. Forty years after his father was chosen to be Chicago Health Commissioner, Governor JB Pritzker asked Rob to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Khemarey “Khem” Khoeun

Khemarey “Khem” Khoeun is a Board Member. She came to the United States just over 6 months of age. Her parents survived the Cambodian genocide (1975-1979) and met in Khao-I-Dang refugee camp. From there they went to Sa Kaeo, another refugee camp along the Thai-Cambodian border, where Khem was born.

They arrived to the U.S. in 1981, and settled in Uptown Chicago, a port of entry for many immigrants and refugees at the time. Khmer was the primary language spoken at home. The family eventually moved to the southwest suburbs, in hopes of leaving the inner city and providing more opportunities for education.

As a young adult, Khem was interested in reconnecting with her heritage and history - something she struggled to understand as her parents and the community she identified with struggled with untreated mental health issues. She went on to become President of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial and later became the first Cambodian American woman elected to any position in the country. She has been an advocate for immigrant and refugee voices and engages in breaking the cycle of trauma through personal and collective healing.

Belany Contreras

Belany is a Law Clerk in the Immigration Law Practice. Belany and her mother came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was a baby. Last year, her grandma finally joined them in the U.S. Her family started her grandmother's immigration process a few years ago. Her grandmother's attorney unfortunately passed away during the process and by this time, the pandemic had just begun. Her family was desperately looking for help. At the time, Belany was taking an immigration law course and reached out to her professor for help. Her professor reviewed her grandma’s case and walked Belany through what needed to be done. Belany did what she could to help her family. This experience reminded Belany of why she wants to become an immigration lawyer. She wants to continue helping families and individuals live their American Dream.

Nicole Minnis

“I don’t remember a time in my early life without my grandparents.” Nicole—first from the right--is our clinic Pro Bono Coordinator. Her mother Nenita immigrated in the 1980s during a nursing shortage here in the U.S. After Nicole was born, her grandpa Teofilo and grandma Veronica immigrated to the U.S. to help Nicole’s mom and dad care for their two kids so they could work to provide for the family. They became U.S. citizens in 1993 and continued to care for Nicole and her two siblings, and later newer members of the Paredes family through to the last Paredes cousin born in 2001. With the support of Teofilo and Veronica, Nicole’s parents, aunties and uncles were able to navigate life as new immigrants with more success and give their children opportunities they would have otherwise not have had in the Philippines. Nicole recalls spending most of her childhood with her grandparents, while her mom worked nights and her dad worked days. “Growing up, I didn’t appreciate the sacrifices my parents and grandparents made to ensure that we, the kids, would be well-educated, safe, and fed. I now better understand the challenges they all faced as immigrants in the U.S. and am in awe of how their hard work and dedication to us allowed us to explore our fullest potentials. Without my grandparents, my life would have been so different. Not just because it would have been more difficult for my parents to raise three children, but also because they taught me to be proud of my Philippine heritage, and to never forget where I came from."

Rachel Doherty

Rachel Doherty is an Immigration Law Practice Assistant. Her maternal grandfather (Albert Erlebacher) was born in Karlsruhe Germany. In 1940, Albert and his family members were deported to concentration camps in France. In 1941, he and his parents applied for visas to the United States to escape persecution and be reunified with his brother, who had come to the United States at age 13. Eventually, Albert was rescued by OSE after his parents made the difficult decision to sign over custody. He escaped with a group of other eight-year-olds across the train tracks from France to Switzerland. By the time their visas were ultimately granted, it was too late to save his parents. Albert was eventually able to come live with distant relatives on the south side of Chicago.

Rachel’s paternal grandfather’s dad (Patrick Doherty) immigrated from Carrick, Ireland to the western United States to work on the railroads. Her paternal great-grandmother (Hannah Byrne) had immigrated from Carrick, Ireland to Indianapolis. Patrick got in touch with the girl he’d grown up with, moved to Indianapolis, opened a grocery store, and started a family with her.

Rachel’s paternal grandmother’s family immigrated to the United States from Luxembourg in the 1880s and 1890s.

Rachel reflects on what her immigration story taught her. “It’s important to me, as the descendant of immigrants and refugees, that I remember that history. Over 80 million individuals around the world have been forced to flee from home. It is our job to welcome those who are lucky enough to make it here,”

Pictured: 2nd from the left is Rachel’s great-grandmother, Irma Erlebacher. She is shown here with other Le Comité volunteers who cooked meals for sick people in the concentration camp.

 

Marina Maric

Marina Maric is an Immigration Assistant at NSLAC. This is her immigration story. "My parents first immigrated to Canada in 1992 in search of better economic opportunity. My mother had just graduated medical school in Serbia and employment opportunities were scarce in the former Yugoslavia during times of war and hyperinflation. During my parents’ immigration interview in Canada, the officer very matter-of-factly let my mother know that she wouldn’t work a day in her life as a doctor in Canada. She accepted this at first, but after some years had passed, she knew she needed to find a way to exercise the profession she had worked so hard for. She took the leap to begin interviewing for residency positions in the United States, where she knew there were many more opportunities open to foreign medical graduates. She was already 5 months pregnant with me at the time of the interviews and worried that she might be rejected if the interviewers were to find out. After she was accepted to the residency program at John H. Stroger Hospital here in Chicago, my parents immigrated to the United States with an 8-month-old baby in their arms, ready to begin their next chapter. My mother spent the next three years juggling the rigorous demands of a medical residency alongside the emotional demands of being a new mom with an infant waiting at home, which she could not have done without the loving support of my dad. She graduated and became an attending physician in the year 2000 and has proudly served historically underserved communities on Chicago’s West Side with the Cook County Health and Hospitals System for 25 years. I am proud of her every day."