Who We Are
We Advance Justice and Build Community
Mission
Our mission is to promote justice and build a community that is more secure, productive, healthy, and hopeful by providing legal services and policy advocacy that are responsive to the needs of low-income communities and law training that prepares future attorneys to be skilled and principled advocates, who are committed to addressing the causes and conditions of racial and economic injustice and poverty.
Vision
We envision a California where Black and Indigenous communities, and those at the intersection of multiple oppressions, are positioned to realize thriving, healthy, and dignified lives.
Clients and Staff at a Glance
87%
of our clients identify as BIPOC
48%
of our clients are women of color
74%
of our staff identify as BIPOC
Leadership
Zoë Polk
Zoë Polk is the Executive Director of the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC).
As Executive Director, Zoë leads EBCLC’s efforts to provide client-centered, holistic legal advocacy, dismantle structural racism, and build a resilient and healthy community. Zoë took the helm of EBCLC in January 2020, proudly joining the organization’s legacy of Black women executive directors.
Our Team and Board of Directors
Our talented and diverse staff are deeply committed to our dual mission of training the next generation of social justice lawyers and increasing access to legal services.
Our dedicated board of directors, most of whom are graduates of Berkeley Law, bring a broad range of experience and expertise to our agency and are active in our community.
Azizah Ahmad
Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Immigration
Easha Anand
Board Secretary
Michelle Wilde Anderson
Board Member
Abhay Aneja
Board Member
Luke Apfeld
Board Member
Carolina Avila
Social Worker, Immigration
Rosa Bay
Co-Deputy Director
Milo Manopoulos Beitman
Director, Health and Economic Security
Laura Bixby
Staff Attorney/Clinical Supervisor, Housing
Marian Avila Breach
Brian Lewinstein Youth Justice Fellow, Education Defense & Justice for Youth
Angie Castellon
Temp Administrative Assistant
Karla Cruz
Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Immigration
KellyLou Densmore
Deputy Director, Health and Economic Security
Ruby Ferguson
Executive Project Manager
Hannah Flanery
Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Housing
Shauna Fujimoto
Senior Contracts Officer
Lizzie Fulton
Co-Director, Immigration
Jocelyn Gomez
Board Member
Divya Gopal
Board Member
Meghan Gordon
Co-Director, Housing
Hanna A. Haile
Staff Attorney/Clinical Supervisor, Immigration
E. Venessa Henlon
Board Member
Kelsie Hoppes
Institutional Giving Manager
Luan Huynh
Board Member
Marc S. Janowitz
Of Counsel, Housing
Athena Johns
Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Immigration
Sandra Johnson
Board Member
Caitlin Jolicoeur
Data & Evaluation Manager
Ari Jones
Development Project Manager
Gracie Jones
Senior Project Manager, Housing
Carmen Jovel
Deputy Director, Housing
Ameil Kenkare
Staff Attorney & Clinical Supervisor, Education Defense & Justice for Youth
Jay Kim
Co-Deputy Director
Abigail L'Esperance
Co-Director, Immigration
Tanya Loftin
Administrative Assistant
Lina Lopez
Program Coordinator, Health and Economic Security
Isabella Mauceri
Student Board Member
Natalia Merluzzi
Board Member
Julia Miller
Board Member
Jenail Mobaraka
Finance Manager
Ingrid Murillo
Senior Paralegal, Immigration
Jeanette Muñoz
Senior Paralegal & DOJ Accredited Legal Representative, Immigration
Brigitte Nicoletti
Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Housing
Caleb Ontiveros
Facilities Manager
Rebecca Oyama
Director, Clinical
Melissa Phatharanavik
Senior Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Immigration
Zoë Polk
Executive Director
Brayan Ortiz Ramos
Student Board Member
Manaeha Rao
Student Board Member
Sneh Rao
Board Member
Abigail Rich
Senior Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Immigration
Michelle Natividad Rodriguez
Board Member
Rebecca Romero
Senior Paralegal & DOJ Accredited Legal Representative, Immigration
Whitney Rubenstein
Director, Social Work and Education Defense & Justice for Youth programs
Leticia Sampaio
HR Manager
Michael Santos
Board Member
Maureen A. Sheehy
Board Treasurer
Miguel Soto
Senior Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Health and Economic Security
Chaiquis Stephens
Program Coordinator, Education Defense and Justice for Youth
Julia D. Stewart
Director of Finance and Administration
Eva Thomas
Staff Attorney / Clinical Supervisor, Housing
Tiffany Renee Thomas
Board Chair
Alexis Turner
Clinical Program Coordinator
Marilyn Villanueva
Intake / Program Coordinator, Housing
Peyton Yen
Social Worker, Housing
Linda Yu
Co-Director, Housing