Legal Aid of Western Ohio

Guests at the 2024 Access to Justice Awards Celebration on November 7 will have the opportunity to hear from our Keynote Speaker, Victor Goode. Victor is a civil rights attorney responsible for policy development, policy implementation and advocacy work at federal, state, and local levels, partnering with our NAACP units across the country. He currently serves as both Assistant General Counsel and Interim Education Director of the NAACP and is responsible for a full range of racial justice issues, including educational opportunity, diversity, adequacy, access and retention; employment and housing discrimination, voting rights, and criminal justice. Reserve your spot to be inspired by Victor Goode today: https://bit.ly/3NAvomM

We're just a couple weeks away from our annual Access to Justice Awards Celebration in Dayton on November 7. A new category this year is the Brilliance Award, which will go to attorney Keara R. Dever for her commitment to the legal field and community service. A graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law, Keara specializes in immigration, criminal defense, and family law at her own firm, The Law Office of Keara R. Dever, LLC. Known for her dedication to ensuring fair treatment for all, Keara also engages in pro bono work with organizations like the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, LAWO, and ABLE. Find more details and purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/3Y8wsEL

We are pleased to announce that Ashlyn Warsitz has joined the LAWO team as an attorney supporting the Veterans Project. Ashlyn is an alumnus of both Wright State University (2020), where she obtained her BA in English Literature, and the University of Dayton School of Law (2023), where she obtained her JD. She previously worked for LexisNexis where she specialized in legal research and corporate counsel training. Ashlyn has also served as an adjunct professor of English at both Wright State University and Sinclair Community College. Ashlyn is a native of Buffalo, NY, where both her mother and father are from (though technically she was born in Florida--military kids know you're never truly "from" one place) and settled in the Dayton area when her father retired from active-duty service in the Air Force. She lives in the area with her partner, Elliot, who is also an attorney, and their three cats. Welcome to the team, Ashlyn!

Please join us on November 7 at the 2024 Access to Justice Awards Celebration where we are honoring Yellow Springs Home, Inc. as this year's Patricia Rousseau Community Advocacy Award recipient. This organization is dedicated to affordable housing and community development in our region. As a community land trust, Yellow Springs Home, led by Executive Director Emily Seibel, focuses on homeownership for low-income individuals, rental housing, financial empowerment, and economic development. Major projects include the Cascades Senior Housing Development and the Glen Cottages Pocket Neighborhood. With over 25 years of impact, Yellow Springs Home continues to promote diversity and affordable housing, while advocating for the expansion of the land trust model in Ohio. Purchase your tickets for our awards event and support the work of LAWO, ABLE, and GDVLP: https://bit.ly/3Y8wsEL

In observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day, all LAWO offices are closed today.

Attorney Kristina M. Rainer will be honored as this year's 2024 Lloyd O’Hara Public Interest Law Award at the Access to Justice Awards Celebration in Dayton on November 7. She was nominated for her dedication to pro bono work and service to the local legal community and has averaged almost 30 pro bono hours a year over the past 16 years. A graduate of the University of Dayton, Kristina is an OSBA Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law and has been with Roberson Law since 2007. She volunteers with the Greater Dayton Lawyer’s Volunteer Project and serves on the Dayton Children’s Hospital Planned Giving Advisory Committee. Honor Kristina by purchasing a ticket or table to the 2024 Access to Justice Awards Celebration today at https://bit.ly/3Y8wsEL. All proceeds benefit the Campaign for Equal Justice and the free civil legal services provided to low-income community members by LAWO, ABLE, and the GDVLP.

LAWO Attorney Sarah Smidi and LAWO Paralegal Alicia Nichols provided resources and information about our organization at the NAMI Latino Leadership Initiative forum last week. Sarah and Alicia connected with other community partners and leaders who work with Latinx and Hispanic community members. Thanks for representing us, Sarah and Alicia!

The LAWO Veterans Project team recently participated in the Dayton VA Medical Center’s 19th Annual Stand Down event. Over 250 Veterans attended and were provided with legal information and resources. Thanks to our incredible team for everything you do to assist our community members!

LAWO is proud to serve our community members alongside pro bono partners like Marathon Petroleum Corporation.

The Community Action Table has worked for a year to develop recommendations that will guide the City of Toledo's decision making for the next five years. In pursuit of a safe, vibrant, and engaged Toledo grounded in strong neighborhoods and networks, empowered households, and resilient individuals, the plan seeks to eliminate the root causes of violence. Community feedback on the draft plan is welcome through September 13, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gaNnYXZ5