Being Known: A Special Message from Executive Director Amy Horton
As God’s children, we have both the ultimate justice and the best place of belonging in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each of us is known to Him—we are known before we are born into this world and in every circumstance after until we are called Home. Each hair on our heads is known to God. What a staggering concept that is—that we are known, continuously and at that level of detail, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
We Have Exciting News!
After much careful and prayerful consideration, it is our great pleasure to announce the appointment of our new executive director: Amy Horton! Last autumn, our board of directors formed a search committee tasked with finding an experienced leader familiar with legal systems and possessing strong nonprofit management skills to advance the work of Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. Amy Horton is that leader.
Meet Sarah Doak, Fort Wayne Office Coordinator
Long before becoming our Fort Wayne Office Coordinator, Sarah Doak was interested in helping others. “Hip hop music exposed me to a lot of injustice that I had been sheltered from,” she says. Sarah decided to get her degree in social work and attended IUPUI for her freshman year. During this time, she started volunteering with our partners at Outreach, Inc., a non-profit organization that walks alongside homeless youth, equipping and empowering them to achieve stability and transformation in their lives.
A Beacon of Grace: A Message from Barnes & Thornburg Partner and Clinic Board President Matthew Barr
It’s a cliché: Lawyers wear suits and ties. They carry briefcases and are serious with serious careers—the epitome of a grownup. Many days, this summary encapsulates precisely what I do. And I find the work fulfilling. But I also crave opportunities that shake up that routine, where I can use my education and stretch my legal muscles in service of the public good.
ICYMI: August 2019
In case you missed it, this August, we featured our Victim Justice Program (VJP), exploring the hardships faced by many of our clients and the provisions in place to help them achieve safety and stability.
On the blog, we started the month with a moving message from VJP Staff Attorney Annie Anderson called, “There Is Room At The Table.” We also learned a little more about the aspirations and achievements of our summer interns, and we introduced you to three amazing staff members in our VJP.
Immigrant Justice Modest Means Program
Director of Immigrant Services Rachel Van Tyle says, “Modest Means is a legal phrase that means lower cost services. Some may call it ‘low bono’ as opposed to pro bono. It means that there is usually a flat fee for a case.” And while the flat fee depends on the case type, the cost remains affordable.
ICYMI: June 2019
In case you missed it, this month, we’ve been taking a close look at the impact and importance of the Legal Clinic's neighborhood roots in our community. Also this month, thanks to the generosity of several families, we've been able to match every contribution up to $25,000! You are making an impact. Not only have we secured our match, but our community has rallied, raising a combined $84,875—and we're still going strong!
Justice For All Gala 2018
A huge thank you to everyone who came to our Justice For All Gala! Nearly 400 people were in attendance and we raised a total of $173,121! That’s the most we’ve ever raised during a JFA celebration—and it’s all thanks to our amazing supporters and friends! Thank you for caring about justice in your community!
To Give is Better Than to Receive
Members of the same church, Nick and Chris began to meet regularly for Bible study and coffee back in 2009. Through that close relationship, Nick’s eyes were opened to the great need in our city. “I never really was aware of the legal inequities that our society heaps on the poor, and how difficult it is for many people to navigate a complex legal system that should be protecting them,” he says. “Through getting to know Chris, praying with him, and seeing his passion for serving this community, it began to resonate with me.”
Justice For All 2015 Video
Our organizing theme for JFA 2015 was Renewal. At the event, Executive Director Chris Purnell talked about where we're headed as an organization and why renewed passion and purpose for Christ and for our clients is so important. He then told the story of a couple he was able to assist early in his career at the Clinic. After he helped the couple, the wife mentioned it was her birthday and began crying. When Chris asked her why she was crying, the woman responded, "This is the best gift I've ever received." Chris then asked attendees to prayerfully consider a donation to the Clinic, reminding them that this donation might be the best gift someone else has ever received.
A Time of Renewal: A Message from Director of Engagement Cassandra Sanborn
Last year was a big year at the Clinic. We celebrated our 20th anniversary, which gave us a chance to reflect. We remembered families reunited; homes saved from foreclosure; crippling debts forgiven; lives preserved through asylum, and more. We remembered the tens of thousands of clients we served with the help of countless volunteers, donors, and other supporters of the Clinic.