Summer 2017 Newsletter


NEWSLETTER                                                         Vol. 3 SUMMER 2017

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OUR MISSION

The mission of the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic is to provide essential legal services to all residents of Highland Park and Highwood who otherwise cannot afford them.

 


A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Susan B. Shulman, J.D.

Executive Director

No Le Digas a Nadie – Don’t Tell Anyone

Last month’s “A Night at the Movies,” was a huge success!

Thank you to all our sponsors, and to those who came out in support of the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic. The very powerful and inspiring story of young Immigrant, Angy Rivera, and her journey to unbind herself from the fear and restraints her illegal status cast upon her is an empowering story of perseverance, fearlessness and determination which left many of our audience members gripped by emotion.  Angy’s story reminds us of the importance our work at HPHLAC provides to the community. Thank you again to all for your support.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Health Care Foundation of Highland Park

A Night at the Movies:

Our Sponsors

 

COUNSELORS

 

Allstate Insurance Company

Baizer Kolar P.C.

Becker Gurian

Hal & Diane Gershowitz

Highland Park Community Foundation

Terry and Geoff Kass

Polsinelli P.C.

William and Sheila Wasserman

 

PARTNERS

 

Andy & Amy Bluhm

Andrew & Gail Brown

Congregation Solel

Richard Cortesi

DLA Piper

First Bank of Highland Park

Ron & Pam Futterman and Dan & Samantha Fisher

Foley & Lardner LLP

Holland & Knight

Hal & Nancy Krent

Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle LLC

Mayor Nancy Rotering

Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP

Alvin Shulman

Caryn and Gerold Skurnick

Andrew & Amy Small

U.S. Bank N.A.

 

SUPPORTERS

 

William and Susan Abrams

Galya Ben-Arieh and Jim Ruffer

Berger Schatz

Gould & Ratner LLP

Robert and Melanie Harris

Highland Park Bank & Trust

Jaqueline Hirsh

Israel Cancer Research Fund

JP Morgan

Kantor Apter & Esposito, Ltd.

Melissa Kerpel

Betsy & Scott Lassar

Lavin & Waldon, P.C.

Millennium Properties R/E

North Shore College Consulting

Daniel & Rhoda Pierce

Ross Highland Park

Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney

Shaw Legal Services, Ltd.

Sunset Foods

Barbara Weiner

Wiczer & Sheldon, LLC

 

IN KIND

 

Beelow’s

The Bent Fork

Avery Cohen

Design by Steve Haskin

Goodies

Highland Pop Gourmet Popcorn

Hon. Alyssa Knobel

Target

 

RAFFLE DONATIONS

 

Bluegrass Restaurant

Betsy Brint & Hon. Sally Higginson

Dunkin’ Donuts

Highland Park Bank & Trust

Larry Mason

Molly Maids

Once Upon a Bagel

Park District of Highland Park

Ravinia Festival

Real Urban Barbecue

Gabriel Viti


OUR INVALUABLE VOLUNTEERS
Karla Livney 

Karla Livney grew up in Philadelphia. She attended the University of Vermont, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After leaving for college, her mom moved to Highland Park. Karla has always enjoyed critical thinking and analysis, never doubting that her career path would lead her towards something in the legal field. Karla chose The University of Illinois Law School to foster these dreams, eventually making Highland Park her permanent home.

Upon graduating from the University of Illinois, Magna Cum Laude, Karla began practicing law with McDermott, Will and Emery, then moved to Goldberg Kohn, working with clients in the areas of commercial and employment litigation. She was also a Board member of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation. This led her to become involved with the Chicago Charter School Foundation, one of the first charter schools in Chicago. This work ultimately inspired her to leave private practice and become the Executive Director of that organization. After taking time off to raise her family, Karla became an active volunteer at Pro Bono Network, an organization that partners with legal aid agencies offering legal services to those in need.

Karla came to the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic several weeks ago after concluding a four year term as a District 112 Board Member.  During her time as a board member, Karla met many people in the community and became acutely aware of the community’s need for legal services.

Karla’s work in public law has always been her passion, and working in private commercial practice was the path Karla chose. However, for a variety of reasons, Karla recently decided to make a change and use her skills towards helping our most vulnerable community members enabling them to prosper in and around our community. It is Karla’s hope to, “Provide people with an opportunity to choose their own path when given the freedom to live their lives to their fullest potential.”

Karla’s understanding of the most recent changes in immigration law have confirmed the difficulty many undocumented immigrants face of being productive and contributing members of society. Karla’s hope is that the Clinic’s capacity to supply legal services as they are needed continues to grow in order to meet the demands of the community.


IN THE NEWS

On Tuesday May 16, 2017, at Highland Park High School (HPHS) the Clinic Student Board hosted the second Highland Park-Highwood Legal AId Clinic Naturalization Ceremony, where approximately 133 citizen candidates from around the world were sworn in as U.S. citizens . Carissa Coen, Chief of Staff, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, administered the Oath of Allegiance.

The Clinic Student Board was founded by Clinic Board member Terry Horwitz Kass as an opportunity for high school students to gain hands on experience in providing advocacy for those in need while learning about the legal profession.

Mayor Nancy Rotering, who founded the Clinic to provide access to justice for individuals who live or work in Highland Park and Highwood focusing on the areas of immigration, housing matters, and domestic abuse, was present.  “We all share the desire to succeed. Together we create a stronger city, state and nation.” Said Rotering.

The inspiring words were echoed by HPHS’s principal,Tom Koulentes as he pointed to the inscribed words on the auditorium’s wall, “Dream…Believe…Achieve,” explaining that this idea is very poignant, and not only applies to the students attending HPHS, but to all who walk among us. Principal Koulentes went on to say,  “Those seeking citizenship in the United States are living proof that this idea is very much alive.”

Our client,

The League of Women Voters were there to register newly Naturalized CItizens.

Highland Park Stands With Its Immigrant Community

On February 27, 2017, the City Council adopted a Resolution endorsing the Lake County Welcoming and Inclusive Community Pledge.  The City of Highland Park is committed to being an inclusive community by serving all residents and families regardless of their background, and  encourages the community to join in signing the pledge which can be found by clicking the link below.

Welcome and Inclusive Community Pledge

On Tuesday March 21, 2017 the District 112 Board of Education approved a resolution declaring that North Shore School District 112 is a Safe Haven School District. Among other things, this declaration states that all D112 schools are to be safe havens for students and families threatened by immigration enforcement or discrimination, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Safe Haven Resolution


HOW YOU CAN HELP

There are several ways one can volunteer at the Clinic.

  1. We need help with immigration cases! Non-attorneys and attorneys wanting to help with immigration, including family based petitions, can take an on-line e-learning course for a discounted cost.To register follow this link:  https://cliniclegal.org/coil-application-april-2017. Space is limited!
  2. The Clinic is always looking for fluent Spanish speakers who can serve as interpreters and translators.
  3. We always need attorneys able to take cases in our three practice areas: immigration, domestic violence and housing.
  4. Non-attorneys can help by lending their technological skills.

UPCOMING EVENTS
  • June 21, 2017: HIGHWOOD EVENING GOURMET MARKET

This popular and fun party in the park provides great food, entertainment and shopping. HPHLAC will have a table JUNE 21. Stop by and see us!. The Market is held in EVERTS PARK from 4-7pm, located on Highwood Avenue just West of Green Bay Road.

 


WE WORK FOR YOU

To set up an appointment,
please call us at (847) 926-1867
or email us at info@hphlegalaid.org.


HPHLAC is a private, independent not for profit corporation that is supported by, but not affiliated with, the cities of Highland Park and Highwood.  When it seeks to enforce building code violations against landlords, it is doing so on behalf of its clients, and not on behalf of the cities in which they reside.
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