Beyond Legal Aid Blog
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Black History Month Community Partner Spotlight
Beyond is thrilled to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth with community partner, SWOP Chicago. Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP Chicago) is a Black-led grassroots organization dedicated to providing direct aid and advocacy to current and former sex workers in the Chicagoland area.
Expanding our Reach
With many of our community members currently living in fear, we thought there would be no better time than the present to expand our reach. Beyond Legal Aid is proud to announce that we have launched a new community partnership.
Breaking Language Barriers
Rebeca is a Spanish-speaking community member that first came to Beyond in March 2021 as a referral through community partner, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center. At that time, she worried her legal team would not be able to communicate with her.
Stressed to Blessed
Americans have a right to safe, adequate housing, but for many Chicagoans, that right is something they have to fight for. Jae knew this reality all too well.
A Family's Pursuit for Hope
Norma is a new community member in Chicago. A mother hoping to secure fundamental rights for her and her family, she sought out immigration support from one of Beyond’s community partners, Enlace Chicago.
Organizational Update
Dear Beyond Legal Aid community, On behalf of Beyond Legal Aid and its Board of Directors, I write to inform our community of a leadership transition at Beyond Legal Aid effective September 1, 2024.
A Letter from our Founder
Dear Beyond Community, After much deep reflection over the past few months, I have made the decision to step down as Co-Director of Beyond.
Worth the Fight
"I took a stand and I'm proud of myself," said community member Joe*, after his case came to a close earlier this year. Joe came to Beyond through community partner, Blocks Together, in December 2022.
Finding Liberty
It's often easy to overlook certain privileges, but community member, Pablo, will always be grateful for the privilege of US citizenship.
Resiliency is Key
Ina is a community member that worked with Beyond Legal Aid in 2023 through our partnership with Jane Addams Senior Caucus, but that is not when her story begins. Ina is an Ashkenazi Jewish woman, which puts her at a significantly higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Welcoming a New Partnership
Beyond Legal Aid is thrilled to announce the launch of our newest partnership with Chicago Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (CIWOC) in this new year! CIWOC is Beyond's 9th activism partner, bringing an exciting addition to our 22 total partnerships!
Too Often Overlooked
There are many barriers to receiving decent legal services, and unfortunately, money is one of them. Community member, Michelle, chose to fight her custody battle without representation for this reason. However, after a few months, she felt the case remained stagnant; that's when she was referred to Beyond Legal Aid by a friend.
Enough is Enough
When people think of slumlords, they tend to think of landlords with multiple large properties. However, in Chicago, we've seen that there are small landlords that you have to be wary of, as well. Many small landlords don't know the eviction process, or they prey on tenants that don't know their rights. Luckily, community member Jorge knew his.
Pleasant Surprises
Financial stress is something many people experience in their life, and it frequently puts strain on relationships. Unfortunately, community member, Juan, experienced this first-hand. He came to the legal clinic at our community partner, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, in 2018 to receive assistance in collecting unpaid wages.
Finally Telling Your Story
Some of our cases aren't always a "success" in the traditional sense, but that doesn't mean those stories shouldn't be told. Mr. G is a community member who came to Beyond back when we were still called Community Activism Law Alliance (CALA).
Important Announcement from Beyond Legal Aid
Beyond is proud to announce the promotion of long-time staff member, Bindhu Vijayan, to Co-Director, alongside founder Lam Nguyen Ho. Bindhu came to Beyond with over 10 years of immigration experience, immediately making her an invaluable member of the team.