23rd Annual Human Rights Awards Program Book

NATIONAL
IMMIGRANT
JUSTICE CENTER
A
PROGRAM
23 RD ANNUAL
NATIONAL IMMIGRANT
JUSTICE CENTER
JEANNE M. SULLIVAN

Dentons is proud to partner with the
National Immigrant Justice Center
and to support its invaluable work
promoting human rights and access
to justice for immigrants.
Our congratulations and gratitude to this
year's Human Rights Awards honorees.
Grow | Protect | Operate | Finance
Dentons, the law firm
of the future is here.
dentons.com
© 2022 Dentons. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms
and affiliates. Please see dentons.com for Legal Notices.
2

23 RD ANNUAL
NATIONAL IMMIGRANT
JUSTICE CENTER
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022
12:00 – 1:30 P.M. CDT
HILTON CHICAGO
Virtual Event:
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
4:30 – 5:15 P.M. CDT
immigrantjustice.org/HumanRightsAwards
honoring
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Elizabeth V. Lopez
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Dan-el Padilla Peralta
#HumanRightsAwards
3

THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT to bolster our work to defend
immigrants and people seeking asylum in the United States. Our country’s
obligation to uphold values of human rights must extend to people at our
borders who are seeking refuge. Inaction increases the risk of racist policies
that have long plagued the U.S. immigration system becoming further
entrenched. We must work together to protect the rights of immigrants and
asylum seekers, regardless of their race or country of origin, to ensure that
all people have access to the safety, protection, and stability that they need
to thrive.
In the face of mounting challenges, this past year, NIJC:
• Litigated and won a lawsuit against ICE to end racial profiling in mass
raids and traffic stops;
• Collaborated with civil rights leaders to condemn violence against
Haitians at the border and to end Title 42 expulsions that target Black,
Brown, and Indigenous people;
• Launched a universal representation pilot program with the Cook County
Public Defender and partner organizations that created an infrastructure
to reduce racial disparities in the immigration system and ensure
immigrants have access to counsel;
• Helped to secure legal status for thousands of families, LGBT individuals,
asylum seekers, survivors of human trafficking, and survivors of crimes.
For more than three decades, NIJC staff and pro bono attorneys have ensured
human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees, and
asylum seekers through a unique combination of direct services, policy reform,
impact litigation, and public education. NIJC partners with more than 2,000 pro
bono attorneys from the nation’s leading law firms and provides legal services
to 10,000 people each year. The Human Rights Awards is NIJC’s signature event.
Thanks to your support, many people and families will continue to have access
to life-changing legal services and programs that protect their rights.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH NIJC
TO ADVANCE JUSTICE FOR ALL!
4

NIJC’S MAJOR VICTORIES FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
in 2021:
2,000 volunteer attorneys devoted 62,800
hours
to defend immigrants from 104
countries
10,000
people received life-changing
immigration legal services
145
people freed from
immigration detention
2,200
people we helped
seek asylum
93%
success rate
in winning asylum
Notable recent victories:
ENDED IMMIGRANT
DETENTION IN ILLINOIS
with the passage of the
Illinois Way Forward Act
Significantly LIMITED ICE’S ABILITY
TO DETAIN IMMIGRANTS in mass
raids and traffic stops through a major
class action settlement agreement
EXPANDED ACCESS TO COUNSEL
for people in detention and began
building a model for universal
representation through the new
Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance
Forced ICE to STOP ITS
ILLEGAL PRACTICE OF
DETAINING IMMIGRANT
YOUTH on their 18th birthdays
after a lawsuit victory
5

6

THE SIDLEY AUSTIN FOUNDATION
and PARTNERS OF SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP
ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
National
Immigrant
Justice
Center
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE
HONOREES OF THE 23RD ANNUAL
HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS
The Sidley Austin Foundation is funded solely by Sidley Austin LLP, an international law
firm, to further the firm’s commitment to the community and to public service. MN-17609
7

SPONSORS
PREMIER
JEANNE M.
SULLIVAN
DIAMOND
PLATINUM
Kapnick Foundation
KMA ZUCKERT
EMERALD
GOLD
8

SPONSORS
SILVER
Global IP
Law Group
JASZCZUK P.C.
AT TORNEYS
Jerry Newton Ingredion is proud
to support the
National Immigrant
Justice Center
Virtual Human Rights
Awards 2022
Sheli and Burt
Rosenberg
FRIEND
We bring people, nature,
Cabrera Foundation and technology together McGuireWoods to
LLP
make life better.
CBRE
Mesirow Financial
Discover
Nixon Peabody
Eimer Stahl
Sheila O’Brien
Global Relay
Ogletree Deakins
Guidehouse
Rapp Law Group LLC
Jarecki Law Group
Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila
Johnson & Bell
Mony Ruiz-Velasco
Law Office of Jennifer K. Fardy Monica Weed and Frank Smith
McDonald’s Corporation
BENEFACTOR
Bob Anderson
Mark Flessner
Gannon Center for Women & Leadership, Loyola University
Sherene Awad Jodrey
Jesse Ruiz
Jody Williams
SPECIAL THANKS
(in kind and other donations)
Dotted Design
Jonty Young and Jenner & Block LLP
9

We are proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice
Center and its efforts to ensure
access to justice for all.
Our congratulations to the
NIJC Human Rights Awards
honorees.
10

katten.com
Katten is proud to honor the
National Immigrant Justice Center
for its dedication to ensuring
human rights protections and for
giving us the privilege of contributing
to this invaluable work.
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
CENTURY CITY | CHARLOTTE | CHICAGO | DALLAS | LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK | ORANGE COUNTY | SHANGHAI | WASHINGTON, DC
LONDON: KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN UK LLP | ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
11

12

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom LLP and Affiliates
Skadden is honored to
be recognized by the
National Immigrant Justice
Center with the Human
Rights Corporate Award
and we congratulate
the rest of the award
recipients.
Beijing
Boston
Brussels
Chicago
Frankfurt
Hong Kong
Houston
London
Los Angeles
Munich
New York
Palo Alto
Paris
São Paulo
Seoul
Shanghai
Singapore
Tokyo
Toronto
Washington, D.C.
Wilmington
skadden.com
13

AT&T
is honored to sponsor the
National Immigrant Justice Center
23 rd Annual Human Rights Awards
With our pro bono partners, AT&T legal professionals work
to support NIJC’s efforts to defend the human rights of
individuals regardless of their citizenship status. We join the
Pro Bono community to congratulate this year’s honorees:
Jeanne M. and Joseph P. Sullivan Award
Dan-el Padilla Peralta
Human Rights Corporate Award
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager & Flom LLP
Human Rights Practitioner Award
Elizabeth Lopez – United Airlines
Community Change Award
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
©2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
Protecting Human Rights
Faegre Drinker supports NIJC in its mission to
protect human rights and provide access to justice
for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Congratulations to each of today’s award recipients.
faegredrinker.com
© 2022 Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
All Rights Reserved.
14

The Kapnick Foundation is proud to
support NIJC’s 23rd Annual
Human Rights Awards.
KMA ZUCKERT
We are proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice Center
and its vital work protecting the rights of
immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
KMA Zuckert LLC
CHICAGO MIAMI NEW YORK NEWARK WASHINGTON, DC
kmazuckert.com
15

16

is proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice Center’s
23rd Annual Human Rights Awards
Austin • Century City • Dallas • Houston • Los Angeles • Newport Beach
New York • San Francisco • Silicon Valley • Washington, DC
Beijing • Brussels • Hong Kong • London • Seoul • Shanghai • Singapore • Tokyo
omm.com
17

Compassion. Action.
Impact.
Seyfarth is deeply committed to supporting the
communities in which we live and work. We believe
that leadership means taking the initiative to help
people through charitable giving, community service,
pro bono legal work, and sustainable living.
Seyfarth is proud to support the National Immigrant
Justice Center’s Annual Human Rights Awards.
©2022 Seyfarth Shaw LLP #22-8255 R1 www.seyfarth.com/probono
18

19

Equitable is proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice Center
www.fragomen.com
20

21

EXCELLENCE IN LAW
In Support of
Great Causes
PERKINS COIE is honored to sponsor the National Immigrant Justice Center’s
23rd Annual Human Rights Awards and to continue representing people seeking
refuge and a new beginning in the United States, in partnership with NIJC.
PerkinsCoie.com
Perkins Coie LLP Attorney Advertising
Willkie proudly supports the
National Immigrant Justice Center
in its unwavering commitment to ensuring human rights protections for all immigrants
and joins in saluting this year’s distinguished honorees
22

Arnold & Porter joins human rights champions everywhere
in celebrating the National Immigrant Justice Center’s
life-changing services and 2022 awardees.
Brussels | Chicago | Denver | Houston | London | Los Angeles | Newark
New York | San Francisco | Seoul | Shanghai | Silicon Valley | Washington, DC
© Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP 2022 All Rights Reserved
23

Human rights and justice for all.
Chapman is proud to support NIJC and
congratulates this year’s Human Rights Award
honorees. Together, we have profound impact:
ensuring human rights protections and access to
justice for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Chapman and Cutler llp • chapman.com • Attorney Advertising Material.
Charlotte • Chicago • New York • Salt Lake City • San Francisco • Washington, DC
We proudly support the
National Immigrant Justice
Center and its 23 rd Annual
Human Rights Awards.
© 2022 Cozen O’Connor
Michael J. Heller, Executive Chairman & CEO
(215) 665-4141 | mheller@cozen.com
Vincent R. McGuinness, President & Managing Partner
(215) 665-2097 | vmcguinness@cozen.com
John F. Dunn, Member
(312) 382-3165 | jdunn@cozen.com
800 attorneys | 32 offices | cozen.com
24

Crowell & Moring is proud
to support National
Immigrant Justice Center
and its commitment
to advancing human rights.
crowell.com
©2022 Crowell & Moring LLP | Attorney Advertising
Speaking
for justice.
We are happy to join NIJC in honoring this year’s
Human Rights Champions for their contributions
to protecting immigrant rights.
dlapiper.com
Anne Helms, 444 West Lake Street, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60606
Attorney Advertising | MRS000187839
25

Justice for All
Foley is proud to support the National Immigrant
Justice Center. We share in their mission to bring
legal aid to those most in need.
For more information about Foley, please contact:
Ellen Wheeler | Chicago | ewheeler@foley.com
FOLEY.COM
©2022 Foley & Lardner LLP | Attorney Advertisement | 321 N. Clark Street., Suite 3000, Chicago, Il 60654 | 312.832.4500 | 22.MC28467
26

GCM GROSVENOR IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
National Immigrant
Justice Center
AND THE
2022 Human Rights Awards
Alternative Investing Since 1971
Chicago | New York | Toronto | London | Frankfurt | Tokyo | Hong Kong | Seoul
gcmgrosvenor.com
is proud to support
National Immigrant Justice Center
Congratulations to this year’s honorees
Dan-el Padilla Peralta
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Elizabeth Lopez
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
www.gibsondunn.com
Beijing • Brussels • Century City • Dallas • Denver • Dubai • Frankfurt • Hong Kong • Houston • London • Los Angeles
Munich • New York • Orange County • Palo Alto • Paris • San Francisco • São Paulo • Singapore • Washington, D.C.
27

This is
your summit.
The Grant Thornton team is proud to
support NIJC’s Human Rights Awards.
© 2022 Grant Thornton LLP | All rights reserved | U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd. In the U.S., visit gt.com for details
GTLAW.COM
Greenberg Traurig is proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice Center
We applaud your mission to ensure human rights protections and access to
justice for all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP | ATTORNEYS AT LAW | 2400 ATTORNEYS | 43 LOCATIONS °
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
GreenbergTraurigLLP
GT_Law
GT_Law
Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of
Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2022
Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. Attorney advertising.
All rights reserved. Contact: Paul J. Ferak in Chicago at
312.456.8400.°These numbers are subject to fluctuation. 36692
28

Jones Day proudly supports the National Immigrant
Justice Center and its efforts to ensure access to
justice and human rights protection for all.
Why Jones Day? Binding energy, conviction, and
credibility arising from shared professional values.
2500 LAWYERS. 42 LOCATIONS. 5 CONTINENTS. ONE FIRM WORLDWIDE ® . JONESDAY.COM
29

Latham & Watkins LLP is proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice Center
in their mission.
LW.com
30

is proud to support
the National Immigrant
Justice Center on its
23rd Annual Human
Rights Awards and joins
in congratulating this
year’s honorees.
Proskauer is a leading global law firm, providing a wide range of legal services to clients worldwide.
To learn more about the firm, visit Proskauer.com.
Proskauer Rose LLP | Eleven Times Square, New York, NY 10036-8299 | 212.969.3000 | Attorney Advertising
31

A passion
for purpose
PwC is proud to support
National Immigrant Justice Center
as part of our commitment to
making a meaningful difference in
the world and helping others thrive.
TheNewEquation.com
© 2022 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership.
All rights reserved.
Proudly Supports the
National Immigrant
Justice Center
and Congratulates the
23 rd Annual Human Rights
Award Recipients
quinnemanuel.com
32

ROPES & GRAY
is proud to support
the 23rd Annual
National Immigrant Justice Center’s
Human Rights Awards
ropesgray.com
Attorney Advertising ©2022 Ropes & Gray LLP
Schaner Dispute Resolution is proud to support NIJC in
protecting the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers,
and congratulates the 2022 Awardees.
www.schanerlegal.com
33

PADDLE RAISE
Today’s paddle raise provides an opportunity for you to bid on
various levels of support for NIJC’s work. Here’s how it works:
1. All guests should have a paddle card on the table with a large number
on the front and their name. If you do not have a bid paddle with your
name on it, please notify NIJC staff.
2. When the amount you would like to give is called, raise your paddle
and keep it raised until your number has been recognized from the stage.
3. NIJC will record all bids and charge your account if a card is on file.
4. If you didn’t register your payment information, but provided a cell
phone number or email address at registration, you will receive a text
or email prompting you to self-checkout.
5. If you didn’t provide contact or payment information and wish to
participate in the paddle raise, please visit the registration table after
the event to quickly checkout and get your tax receipt.
Thank you for your generosity!
GIVING LEVELS
$5,000 Defends an asylum seeker against deportation in
immigration court
$2,500 Sponsors a legal clinic for asylees & refugees to
obtain lawful permanent residency
$1,000 Files a civil rights complaint for a person who
suffered in detention
$500 Files an abused or neglected child’s application for
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
$300 Helps an undocumented survivor of domestic
violence apply for work authorization
$100 Provides a legal consultation for an LGBTQ+ person
seeking asylum
34

PROGRAM
23rd Annual Human Rights Awards
WELCOME
José Ramón González, Equitable Holdings and Linda K. Myers, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Co-Chairs of Human Rights Awards Committee
RISING STARS PRESENTATION
Ivan M. Poullaos, Winston & Strawn LLP; Robert E. Richards, Dentons;
John M. Skakun III, Sidley Austin LLP
LUNCH
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Human Rights Corporate Award
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Accepted by Charles Smith
Presented by Sylvester
Human Rights Practitioner Award
Elizabeth V. Lopez
Presented by Gemina
Community Change Award
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Presented by Robert and Vanessa Esparza-López, NIJC
Paddle Raise and Call to Action
Marta Carreira-Slabe, Aon and Abiman Rajadurai, McDonald’s Corporation
The Jeanne M. and Joseph P. Sullivan Award & Keynote
Dan-el Padilla Peralta
Presented by Sherene Awad Jodrey
CLOSING REMARKS
Mary Meg McCarthy
Executive Director, National Immigrant Justice Center
#HumanRightsAwards
35

HONOREES
KEYNOTE & JEANNE M. AND JOSEPH P. SULLIVAN AWARD
Dan-el Padilla Peralta
Dan-el Padilla Peralta is Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University,
where he is associated with the Department of African American Studies and
affiliated with the Programs in Latino Studies and Latin American Studies and
the University Center for Human Values. A Dominican by birth and New Yorker
by upbringing, he holds degrees from Princeton, Oxford, and Stanford. He is the
author of Undocumented: A Dominican Boy’s Odyssey from a Homeless Shelter to the
Ivy League (Penguin 2015) and Divine Institutions: Religions and Community in the
Middle Roman Republic (Princeton University Press 2020).
HUMAN RIGHTS CORPORATE AWARD
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Advancing access to justice is one of the hallmarks of Skadden, and many of
its team members have demonstrated invaluable pro bono leadership locally
and nationally. Skadden has provided pro bono support to more than 100 NIJC
clients in the last year alone, through which it has changed lives and upheld the
human dignity of vulnerable people. NIJC is grateful for Skadden’s dedication
to providing legal services and celebrates its commitment to creating systems
that enhance access to counsel and dismantle structural injustices.
HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTITIONER AWARD
Elizabeth V. Lopez
Elizabeth Lopez is Managing Counsel at United Airlines, where she has shown
a strong commitment to pro bono leadership and to ensuring access to justice
for immigrants. Elizabeth’s zealous advocacy and keen, yet compassionate,
approach for individual clients has positively impacted many lives. As one of
the first members of NIJC’s Associate Leadership Board, Elizabeth has been a
critical advocate in encouraging NIJC’s mission and engaging United attorneys
and legal staff to provide life-changing pro bono legal services.
36

HONOREES
COMMUNITY CHANGE AWARD
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has made
significant contributions to advancing justice for immigrants, refugees, and
asylum seekers through its policy advocacy, organizing, community education
and outreach, program coordination, and key partnerships with NIJC and other
organizations. ICIRR has led coalitions to pass several recent state laws that
protect immigrant rights, provided critical assistance to community members
through its Family Support Network hotline, supported community campaigns
to stop new for-profit immigration detention centers, and partnered in efforts to
release people detained by ICE and to end immigration detention in Illinois. As
a co-plaintiff in the successful class action lawsuit, Castañon Nava v. DHS, ICIRR
challenged abusive immigration enforcement operations in our communities.
RISING STAR AWARDS
The Rising Star Awards recognize attorneys who have demonstrated
extraordinary commitment to ensuring access to justice for immigrants
by devoting substantial time to NIJC pro bono work, serving a significant
number of NIJC clients, and/or representing clients with complex cases.
Congratulations to this year’s awardees!
Misha Boutilier, Quinn Emanuel
Dan Burley, Perkins Coie LLP
Dominique Gonzales, DLA Piper
Eric Grossmann
Tassity Johnson, Jenner & Block
Bernardo Lopez, Sidley Austin LLP
Ren Morris, formerly of Proskauer Rose LLP
Patrick O’Meara, Winston & Strawn LLP
Caroline Gizem Tunca, Perkins Coie LLP
37

PRESENTERS
GEMINA
Gemina is the mother of three daughters, and lives in Indianapolis with her
family. She volunteers with the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants,
visiting people in immigration detention.
VANESSA ESPARZA-LÓPEZ
Managing Attorney, NIJC’s Immigrant Legal Defense Project
Vanessa Esparza-López is a managing attorney with NIJC’s Immigrant Legal
Defense Project, where she represents individuals before the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Justice.
Vanessa is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
(AILA), where she currently serves on the Chicago AILA District Director Liaison
committee. She obtained her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2009
and her Bachelor of Arts with honors in International Studies from DePaul
University in 2006. During law school, Vanessa was the cofounder of a new
student group, the Society for Asylum & Immigration Law.
SHERENE AWAD JODREY
Senior Counsel - Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits at Boeing
Sherene Awad Jodrey is senior counsel and senior director at The Boeing
Company, where her practice focuses on employee benefits and executive
compensation matters. Prior to joining Boeing, Sherene was lead employee
benefits and executive compensation counsel at Aon plc, and in private
practice at Winston & Strawn LLP. Born in the United Kingdom to an English
mother and Palestinian father, Sherene spent her childhood in East Jerusalem.
She left Palestine to attend Princeton University and she received her law
degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Sherene is the recipient
of the Chicago Bar Foundation’s 2019 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award
and an alumna of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs 2019 Emerging Leaders
Program. Sherene serves on NIJC’s Leadership Board and frequently represents
asylum seekers in immigration proceedings.
ROBERT
Robert is an immigrant from Haiti and is the father of two daughters. He is
studying communications at a college in Illinois.
SYLVESTER
Sylvester is an immigrant from Nigeria who lives in Chicago. He currently
works as a health aid.
38

NIJC BOARDS & COMMITTEES
Human Rights Awards
Committee
José Ramón González – Co-Chair
Linda K. Myers – Co-Chair
Carrie Di Santo
Chad Doobay
Jonathan Drage
Jennifer K. Fardy
Stephanie Hipp
Jon Milonas
Tony Padilla
Ernesto R. Palomo
John "Jay" Reidy III
Heather Russell
Gloria Santona
Brett Scharback
John M. Skakun III
Charles Smith
Natalie Spears
Jeanne M. Sullivan
Kimberly White
Teresa Wilton Harmon
Vania Wit
NIJC Leadership Board
Marta Carreira-Slabe – Co-Chair
Ann Marie Walsh – Co-Chair
Caitlin Annatoyn
Marina Aronchik
David Berten
Bartram Brown
Gabrielle Buckley
Edie Canter
Peter Cheun
Joan Coogan
Kathleen Dillon Narko
Amy Doehring
Chad Doobay
Crystal Doyle
Jennifer K. Fardy
Terry Feiertag
Susan Fortino-Brown
Eric Gorman
Sarah Gryll
Lisa Haidostian
Monica Halloran
Nicole Henning
Thomas Hurka
Annette Isaacson
Michael Jarecki
Sherene A. Jodrey
Marc Kadish
Richard "Brad" Kapnick
Richard Klawiter
Danae Kovac
Marketa Lindt
Iris Millán
James Morsch
Craig Mousin
Alexis Perlmutter
Daphnee Pierre Camilien
Ivan M. Poullaos
Abiman Rajadurai
Ernesto Ramos
Randall Rapp
John "Jay" Reidy III
Gabriel Rodriguez
Mony Ruiz-Velasco
Lee Ann Russo
Enrique Salgado
Gloria Santona
Douglas Sargent
Mark Schwartz
David Serwer
Duane Sigelko
John M. Skakun III
Michele Slachetka
Maile H. Solis
Mark Sullivan
Alen Takhsh
Nick Tarasen
Wade Thomson
Ann Marie Wahls
Benjamin C. Weinberg
Ellen Wheeler
Vania Wit
Gretchen Wolf
Miriam Zeidman
NIJC Associate Leadership
Board
Eric Garcia – Co-Chair
Caroline Gizem Tunca – Co-Chair
Marjorie Baltazar
Marlen Cortez Morris
Katie Craig
Carolina de Marchena
Jonathan A. Enfield
Michael D. Gibbons
Erin Groble
Sandra Lopez
Anna Mikulski
Margaret O’Connor
Matt O’Donnell
Patrick O’Meara
Peter O’Meara
Monica Pedroza
Anna Perocchi
Kristine M. Schanbacher
Sydney Slyfield
Edward W. Somers
Marlow Svatek
Deepak R. Tamasker
Hope Tone-O’Keefe
Lara Wagner
Lizzy Westrope
Brittany Wiegand
Lavanga Wijekoon
Sylvia Wolak
Lindsay Woods
Edward C. Young
39

HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS – A BRIEF HISTORY
The Human Rights Awards is Chicago’s premier event to honor human rights advocates and bring
together business, civic, and philanthropic leaders committed to promoting human rights in our
community and beyond. The event benefits Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center.
2021
PANEL: Ella, Gabriela, Samer, Maria Hinojosa
(moderator)
AWARDEES: Allstate; Johannes Favi; Sara
Ghadiri, Chapman and Cutler LLP
2020
KEYNOTE: Aarti Shahani, journalist and bestselling
author
AWARDEES: Ankura; Munger, Tolles & Olson
LLP
2019
KEYNOTE: Julissa Arce, author and
immigrant rights activist
AWARDEES: Kirkland & Ellis, Interfaith
Community for Detained Immigrants,
Margaret Balsley-Cross
2018
KEYNOTE: Dolores Huerta, labor leader and
civil rights activist
AWARDEES: Jones Day, Microsoft
Corporation
2017
KEYNOTE: Minnesota House Representative
Ilhan Omar, first Somali-American legislator
and former refugee
AWARDEES: Aon, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Reed
Smith LLP
2016
KEYNOTE: Monica McWilliams, Professor
of Women’s Studies, University of Ulster,
Northern Ireland
AWARDEES: John “"Jay"” Reidy III, AT&T Inc.;
the Loyola University Chicago Student Body;
Walgreen Co.
2015
KEYNOTE: Ishmael Beah, New York Times
bestselling author and president of the
Ishmael Beah Foundation
AWARDEES: Carol Brook, Federal
Defenders Program; Mark Flessner,
Holland & Knight; JPMorgan Chase
2014
KEYNOTE: Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer
Prize-winning journalist
AWARDEES: Linda Coberly, Winston &
Strawn; Daniel Olmos; United Airlines,
Inc.
2013
KEYNOTE: U.S. Senator Richard Durbin
(D-IL)
AWARDEES: AT&T Inc.; Immigrant Youth
Justice League; Brian Murray, Jones Day
2012
KEYNOTE: Maria Hinojosa,
correspondent for PBS FRONTLINE, host
of NPR’s Latino USA
AWARDEES: Caterpillar Inc. Legal
Services Division; Jesús G. Chuy”
García, Cook County Board of
Commissioners; Lawrence S. Schaner,
Jenner & Block LLP; Jon Stryker, Arcus
Foundation
2011
KEYNOTE: Chief Justice Margaret
Marshall, former Chief Justice of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
AWARDEES: Albany Park Theater Project;
Terry Yale Feiertag, Hughes Socol Piers
Resnick & Dym, Ltd.; McDonald’s
Corporation
2010
KEYNOTE: Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift,
defense counsel in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
AWARDEES: Duane Sigelko, Reed Smith;
Sisters of Mercy; Exelon Corporation
40

2009
KEYNOTE: António Guterres, U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees
AWARDEES: Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls;
James Morsch, Butler, Rubin, Saltarelli
& Boyd; Winston & Strawn LLP
2008
KEYNOTE: Harold Hongju Koh, former
dean, Yale Law School; former assistant
secretary, U.S. Department of State
AWARDEES: The Chicago Community
Trust; The Chicago Public Library;
Chicago Public Radio; The Chicago
Reporter; WTTW11; Melville Washburn,
Sidley Austin LLP
2007
KEYNOTE: Joseph Margulies, former
assistant director, MacArthur Justice
Center, Northwestern University Law
School
AWARDEES: Jenner & Block LLP;
Carlos M. Sada, former minister for
Congressional Affairs, Embassy of
Mexico; Tibetan Alliance
2006
KEYNOTE: Seymour Hersh, journalist,
The New Yorker Magazine
AWARDEES: Levi Strauss & Co.; Marjorie
Kovler Center for the Treatment of
Survivors of Torture; Irené Martinez,
M.D.; Lee Ann Russo, Jones Day
2005
KEYNOTE: Richard J. Goldstone, former
justice, South African Constitutional
Court
AWARDEES: Joseph Margulies, assistant
director at MacArthur Justice Center;
Natalie Spears, Sonnenschein Nath &
Rosenthal
2004
KEYNOTE: Paul Hoffman, civil and
human rights attorney
AWARDEES: Margaret Blackshere,
former president of the Illinois AFL-
CIO; David Berten, attorney; Ariel
Investments
2003
KEYNOTE: Mary Robinson, former U.N.
High Commissioner for Human Rights,
former president of Ireland
AWARDEES: Juan Mendez, University of
Notre Dame; Bob Glaves, Chicago Bar
Foundation; Aon Corporation
2002
KEYNOTE: The Honorable Abner J.
Mikva; Peggy Kuo, attorney, UN
International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia
AWARDEES: Chicago Tribune Editorial
Board; Edwin Silverman, Illinois
Department of Human Services;
Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan,
philanthropists
2001
KEYNOTE: David S. Weissbrodt,
University of Minnesota Law School
AWARDEES: Jacqueline Bhabha,
the University of Chicago; Baxter
International Foundation
2000
KEYNOTE: Juan Garcés, attorney and
leader of the legal team prosecuting
Chilean dictator General Augusto
Pinochet
AWARDEES: Robert Kirschner,
physician and human rights leader;
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky
41

NIJC STAFF
Lizeth Aguilar
Michelle Alba-Sanchez
Anthony Alcivar
Heidi Altman
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Bilal Bach
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Haley Bastin
Gilma Benitez Villatoro
Erik Bingham
Geoff Cebula
Lisa Chun
Peter Claassen
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Colleen Cowgill
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Taha Din
Mary Donnelly
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Yasmeen Elagha
Vivian Enriquez
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Moises Rodriguez Cruz
Carla Rodriguez Flores
Charles Roth
Jordyn Rozensky
Kimberly Ruesch
David Ruiz-Padilla
Theodora Saclarides
Elisa Salgado
Nora Salgado
Catalina Salley
Lizbeth Sanchez
Berenice Sanchez Ruiz
Carrie Schwarz
Batyah Selis
Eva Shapiro
Anna Sheridan
Marie Silver
Nadiya Singh
Stephanie Spiro
Lynn Stopher
Karrie Talbert
Trisha Teofilo Olave
Sarah Thompson
Tara Tidwell Cullen
Julia Toepfer
Naomi Tovar
Lee VanderLinden
Daniela Velez
Elvira Villa
Colleen Ward
Isabel Weber
Mayon Yen
Keren Zwick
42

ABOUT THE HEARTLAND ALLIANCE
Heartland Alliance provides comprehensive services and
advocates for systems change to advance social, economic,
and racial justice to those who have been denied it.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Evelyn Diaz, President, Heartland Alliance
Kary McIlwain, Chair
Robin Armour, Vice Chair
Melinda Earle, Vice Chair
Jonathan Laux, Vice Chair
Daniel Lezotte, Vice Chair
Theodore W. Michalke, Vice Chair
Michael Nutter, Vice Chair
Zaher Sahloul, Vice Chair
Mary L. Ahern
Shubha Ahya
Mike Bagley
Elissa Bassler
Sandra Berkhia
Henry Beverly
Ryan Boyle
Anucha Browne
Linda T. Coberly
Jacqueline English
Jennifer Faron
Susan Fortino-Brown
Becky Frederick
Cynthia Fronczak
Shannon Galvin
Alicia Gonzalez
Scott Goodman
Richard Grossi
Lisa W. Haag
Alan Harder
Elaine Klemen
Alison W. McConnell
Julianne Migely
Renee Moses
Joey Nakayama
Glenn D. Newman
Arnold Patton
Kyle Peterson
Susan Rider Porter
Randall Rapp
Leslie Riekenberg
Selwyn Rogers
Mary Rosenberg
Ryan S. Ruskin
Robin Snyderman
Kevin Sterling
Alén Takhsh
Ronald Tuan-Mu
Lorraine Waller
Andrea Wiles
Paul Wilkowski
Nineveh Zoudo
Rhyan Zweifler
43

44

45

46

Uncommon Value
47

48

consilio cares
Providing legal services and
advocating for the rights of
immigrants, refugees, and
asylum seekers is important.
At Consilio, we agree. That is why we proudly support
the National Immigrant Justice Center and their 23rd Annual
Human Rights Awards.
consilio.com
Copyright © 2022 Consilio LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
49

Congratulations to this year’s
amazing Rising Stars!
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50

51

52
Global IP Law Group
is proud to support
NIJC’s 23rd Annual
Human Rights Awards.

Holland & Knight is proud to support
Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center
and its 23rd Annual Human Rights Awards.
We commend all of this year’s honorees for their
commitment to providing life-changing legal services
to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
www.hklaw.com
New York, NY | 212.513.3200
Copyright © 2022 Holland & Knight LLP All Rights Reserved
53

Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. is dedicated to the
defense of immigrant and refugee rights. We are proud to
sponsor the 23rd Annual Human Rights Awards.
Congratulations to all the awardees and to the staff of NIJC
for their tireless work.
HSPRD | 70 W. Madison St| Suite 4000 | Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 580-0100 |
hsplegal.com
Ingredion is proud
to support the
National Immigrant
Justice Center
Virtual Human Rights
Awards 2022
We bring people, nature,
and technology together to
make life better.
54

Jaszczuk P.C. is proud to
sponsor
The National Immigrant
Justice Center’s 23 rd Annual
Human Rights Awards
Jaszczuk.com | Insurance Recovery | Litigation | TCPA Defense | Class Action Defense | Media Transparency
King & Spalding proudly
supports Heartland
Alliance’s National
Immigrant Justice Center.
kslaw.com
55

56

Proud to be a part
of the solution.
Manatt proudly supports the
National Immigrant Justice Center
and congratulates this year’s Human Rights Award recipients.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, llp
manatt.com
PROTIVITI IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
HUMAN RIGHTS
AWARDS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER
protiviti.com
© 2021 Protiviti Inc. An EOE M/F/D/V. PRO-0421
57

We’re proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice
Center Human Rights Awards.
At RSM, we’re committed to giving back to local communities where we live and
work. The National Immigrant Justice Center enriches the lives of people in this
community. And it’s our pleasure to support them.
rsmus.com
Visit rsmus.com/aboutus for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International.
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
is proud to support the
National Immigrant Justice Center
and congratulates the honorees of the
23rd Annual Human Rights Awards.
saul.com
James A. Morsch, Partner
161 North Clark Street
Suite 4200
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 876-7866
58

Shook is proud to support the
NIJC Human
Rights Awards.
ATLANTA
BOSTON
CHICAGO
DENVER
HOUSTON
KANSAS CITY
LONDON
LOS ANGELES
MIAMI
NEW YORK
ORANGE COUNTY
PHILADELPHIA
SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE
ST. LOUIS
TAMPA
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
The Modern
Law Firm.
Celebrating those who
champion human rights.
Taftlaw.com
59

VedderPrice
is proud to support
VedderPrice
Vedder Price P.C. is affiliated with Vedder Price LLP, which operates
in England and Wales, Vedder Price (CA), LLP, which operates in
California, and Vedder Price Pte. Ltd., which operates in Singapore.
Wiedner & McAuliffe, Ltd. is proud to sponsor the
National Immigrant Justice Center and its
awardees and joins their dedication to human rights.
Illinois | Iowa | Indiana | Kansas | Missouri | Nebraska | Wisconsin
Wiedner & McAuliffe, Ltd. All Rights Reserved
60

61

BE AN NIJC PRO BONO ATTORNEY
The National Immigrant Justice Center’s (NIJC) Pro Bono Program partners with
legal volunteers to provide free legal representation for low-income immigrants
seeking family- or protection-based relief.
Pro bono representation can save lives. Without an attorney, people may be
separated from their family or sent to dangerous situations.
NIJC pro bono attorneys defend the legal rights of immigrants regardless of
background and transform the immigration system to one that affords equal
opportunity for all.
Pro Bono Opportunities with NIJC:
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Predicate Orders
• Clinics:
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Naturalization
• Asylee/Refugee Family Petitions and Petitions for Permanent Residency
• Detained and non-detained asylum, including for adult, child, family, and
LGBTQ asylum seekers
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and U Visa
To set you and your client up for success, NIJC provides in-depth training, attorney
support, document review, and technical assistance throughout the life of the
case.
Join our network of more than 2,000 active pro bono attorneys who represent
thousands of people each year.
To learn more about being an NIJC pro bono attorney
and to join us, visit
www.immigrantjustice.org/be-pro-bono-attorney
62

WINSTON & STRAWN
PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE
————
National Immigrant
Justice Center and its
Winston 23rd Annual & Strawn Human
is Rights proud Awards to support
We applaud this year’s honorees and
National Immigrant Justice
commend their unflinching commitment to
Center
obtaining
and
human
its
rights
21st
and
Annual
access to justice
Human for immigrants. Rights A special Awards congratulations
to one of our own, Pat O’Meara, on being
We named would a like 2022 to congratulate NIJC Rising this Star. year’s
honorees, Aarti Namdev Shahani, Ankura,
and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. We commend
their commitment to human rights and access to
justice for immigrants.
winston.com
____
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
EUROPE
ASIA
63

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The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) ensures human rights protections and
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combination of direct services, policy reform, impact litigation, and public education.
www.immigrantjustice.org
NATIONAL
IMMIGRANT
JUSTICE CENTER
A
PROGRAM
224 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 660-1370