Chicago, IL ( June 30, 2014 ) — The Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law ( Chicago Lawyers' Committee, or CLC ) will host its 45th Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, July 31, 2014, at the Palmer House Hilton ( 17 East Monroe Street ). While the Annual Meeting is always an occasion to celebrate CLC's efforts to promote civil rights in Chicago, this year's event is doubly meaningful, as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
July 2, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act; this year also marks the 45th anniversary of CLC's fight for equal justice under the Act. To honor our history, the event will unveil the inaugural members of our LEGACY CIRCLEindividuals whose demonstrated commitment to advancing civil rights in Chicago first laid the foundation for the success of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee. Legacy Circle members include lawyers, activists, and former directors of the organization: Lowell E. Sachnoff, Ronald S. Miller, Allison S. Davis, Joan M. Hall, David S. Tatel, Sybille C. Fritzsche, Thomas J. Boodell, Jr., Merrill Freed, Gilbert A. Cornfield, Gilbert Feldman, and Roslyn Lieb.
"This is an exciting time in our agency's history and an important opportunity for the legal community to come together and express its commitment to creating positive futures for communities of color and low-income persons in greater Chicago," says Jay Readey, Executive Director of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee.
The luncheon will feature as a keynote speaker Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson, who received a standing ovation after his 2012 TED talk, is recognized nationwide for his commitment to advancing civil rights through fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.
"We are thrilled to welcome Bryan Stevenson as this year's Keynote Speaker," says Readey "[He] has transformed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people, and continues to bring attention to gross failings of the criminal justice system."
CLC's Annual Meeting serves as a yearly forum for Board Members and more than 300 of the city's top attorneys and civic leaders to recognize the work of the agency and its partners; discuss the region's most pressing civil rights issues; and raise funds for the organization's pressing need to promote community development and civil rights.
This year's esteemed honorees include the firm Grippo & Elden, recipient of the Pro Bono Award, and Michael Zuckerman of the firm Jones Day, recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Attorney Award. Northern Trust will receive the Corporate Leadership Award.
Tickets are $150.00 per person and $1,500.00 for a table of 10. To register for the 45th Annual Meeting, or to learn more about the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. visitwww.clccrul.org .