Jora Trang, Board Chair
Worksafe
“The legal aid community plays a critical role in contributing to and building a Race Equity Culture that is focused on a proactive counteraction of race inequities and structural racism. I serve on the LAAC Board because I am passionate about ensuring that legal aid organizations have the capacity to engage in race equity work in solidarity with each other. This includes strengthening their own inclusivity, representation, and internal race equity culture while engaging in solidarity work in these efforts.“
Kate Marr, Co-Vice-Chair
Community Legal Aid SoCal
“I serve on the LAAC Board because I value LAAC’s critical role in training the next generation of legal service attorneys that advocate on our behalf at the state legislature.”
Nicole Perez, Co-Vice-Chair
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
“LAAC is the bedrock for California’s legal services; it spearheads critical funding, leads innovative advocacy trainings, and is moving the needle forward on racial justice in civil legal aid. As a lifelong legal aid attorney, I am proud to serve on the LAAC board and amplify our shared mission to promote diversity and inclusion in legal services, while strengthening legal aid’s capacity to serve our low-income neighbors facing legal crises.”
Pablo Ramirez, Treasurer
Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
“I serve on the LAAC Board because I want to invest in my community, believe change is possible, and I am passionate about helping and legal aid work.”
Kim Kruckel, Secretary
Child Care Law Center
“I am honored to be on LAAC’s board. Our whole society benefits when every individual can work, live and raise their family with dignity. By protecting and expanding our legal aid services, LAAC is making a difference.”
Amanda Alvarado Ford
La Raza Centro Legal
“All Californians deserve quality legal representation that is accessible to them, regardless of their income level. LAAC leads the effort to secure more funding, so the valuable work of California’s nonprofit legal aid offices may expand, to try to better address the needs within our state. I am honored to serve as a LAAC Board member since LAAC helps ensure that people have access to excellent legal services, especially vulnerable state residents such as senior citizens, immigrant youth and families, first-generation young people, and communities of color.”
Hannah Brady
Senior Advocacy Network
“Working at the intersection of legal services and social services has given me a singular perspective on how community players should be working together; how powerful it can be when that is done well and how detrimental it is when such work is siloed. Joining LAAC’s Board of Directors is an exciting next step on the continuum of my commitment to advocacy and community-building that ultimately aims to foster initiatives and programs that will best serve the needs of the clients.”
Laura Chiera
Legal Assistance to the Elderly
Sandra Chung
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
“I serve on the LAAC Board because I support LAAC’s work in improving and increasing access to justice through civil legal services for all Californians. I also support its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. I have personally benefited from LAAC’s trainings and have seen the impact of LAAC’s advocacy for funding to support legal aids in serving low-income communities. I am honored to serve on the Board and collaborate with other individuals who are also passionate about the work and eliminating poverty through civil legal services.”
Leon Dixon
Legal Services of Northern California
“Serving on the LAAC board gives me the honor to contribute to the work this great organization does to support and empower other legal aid advocates as they serve the community. “
Michael Godbe
California Indian Legal Services
“It’s simple but we still need reminding: finding justice in our legal system should not only be experienced by those with means. Civil legal aid is a necessary and invaluable safety net for low-income and marginalized communities, and LAAC supports the advocates whom keep people from falling – and hold the net when they do. I’m honored and proud to serve on the LAAC Board because I have seen and believe in the value of legal aid.”
Eric Harris
Disability Rights California
“I am proud to serve on the LAAC Board because I want to ensure that my community, especially people who are Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color have the legal aid services that they need and deserve.”
Carla Lopez
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
Adam Murray
Inner City Law Center
“I serve on the LAAC Board of Directors because of LAAC’s deep and longstanding commitment to supporting the lawyers who are fighting to end poverty in California.”
Yeison Soto Valdez
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice
“I serve on the LAAC Board to ensure that legal services nonprofits continue to have access to the tools, trainings, and support that they need in order to provide quality legal services to low income Californians. Today, low income Californians are more vulnerable than ever and we must ensure that legal services nonprofits are properly equipped to serve those who otherwise would not have access to justice.”
Randi Sunshine
Learning Rights Law Center
“I sit on the LAAC Board because access to legal support is necessary if those with minimal financial means are to access justice. I strongly believe that equal legal access is the building block of a fair and humane legal system.”
