On May 19, 68 advocates representing each of the Legal Aid programs in Ohio, converged at the Statehouse for a joint legislator outreach day. Meeting with a total of 85 legislators, advocates discussed the breadth of services we provide their constituents, explained how to make referrals, and alerted them to the experiences of Legal Aid clients in their districts. 

We kicked off the day with a panel discussion of Legal Aid advocates and clients moderated by Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio Director Stephanie Moes. Attorney John Roszczyk (Community Legal Aid) and client Sargent Johnnie Downs spoke about fighting unlawful foreclosure. Attorney Esther Herbers (Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio) and former client Michelle Blackshear spoke about human trafficking expungement. And Attorney Alexandria Ruden (The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland) and former client Liz Peoples spoke about domestic violence. 

A special shout out to the planning team who spent many hours preparing the first Alliance of Ohio Legal Aid sponsored statehouse advocacy day: Erik Meinhardt of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Kathy Folkerth of Community Legal Aid, Dianna Parker of Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, Stephanie Moes and Mike Reiser of The Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, Patty Hernández of Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Makiedah Messam and Jefferson Diaz of Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, and Liz Rose-Cohen of the Alliance of Ohio Legal Aids.