CDEL's June Newsletter

Michael Stone Reflects on One Year as CDEL Executive Director

June marked a meaningful milestone as it was the first anniversary of my serving as Executive Director of CDEL. It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead this remarkable organization, and as I reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude—for our dedicated staff, remarkable volunteers, committed Board members, community partners and our many supporters. 

I am also deeply grateful to my predecessor, Caroline Manley, whose leadership positioned CDEL for continued success. The accomplishments of this past year have been possible because of the strong foundation she built over many years of dedicated service. I have been fortunate to build upon that legacy as we continue writing CDEL's next chapter together. 

This has been a year of growth and momentum. We launched our 2025–2027 Strategic Plan: Advancing Forward, establishing a bold roadmap to expand access to justice, strengthen advocacy, invest in our people, and build a more sustainable future for CDEL. That vision is already becoming reality through new partnerships, expanded outreach, stronger operational systems, and increased investment in the communities we serve. 

CDEL closed more than 3,000 legal cases last year, helping thousands of older adults and people with disabilities preserve their housing, protect their financial security, plan for the future, and navigate complex legal challenges. Behind every case is a person whose life has been changed because someone cared enough to make justice accessible. 

We also made significant progress in strengthening CDEL for the future. We secured new funding, expanded relationships with longtime funders, welcomed new philanthropic partners, and invested in the infrastructure needed to sustain our mission for years to come. These investments allow us not only to respond to today's needs but also to prepare for tomorrow's challenges. 

At the same time, we broadened our impact beyond individual representation. By expanding our advocacy capacity and strengthening collaborations across the legal, aging and disability communities, CDEL is helping address the systemic barriers our clients face every day. We believe that lasting change comes from combining outstanding legal services with thoughtful advocacy and strong community partnerships. 

Throughout the year, we also worked to elevate CDEL's visibility through public education, statewide leadership, professional presentations and community engagement. These opportunities have strengthened awareness of the legal challenges facing older adults and people with disabilities while reinforcing CDEL's role as a trusted leader and advocate for access to justice. 

While I am proud of what we have accomplished together over the past year, I am even more excited about what lies ahead. Every milestone has been made possible by people who believe in our mission and invest in our work. Thank you for being an essential part of CDEL's journey. Together, we are creating lasting change—one client, one family, and one community at a time. 

Michael  

Michael Stone  

Executive Director, Center for Disability & Elder Law  

On June 11th, CDEL held its annual Appreciation event for its supporters at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Before the event, CDEL’s Governing Board held its annual meeting where it elected a new Executive Committee. Please join us in congratulating new Governing Board President Allison Disney, MixMix; Vice President Mary Quigg, Quigg & Associates; Treasurer Doug Graham, Outside GC LLC , Secretary Kristine Iida, TransformCo, and Immediate Past President Russ Molter, Cornerstone Research!

CDEL also welcomed seven new board members:

• Mae Espina, Huntington Bank
• Adriana Hernandez, Mars Global Services
• David Latham, Federal Signal Corporation
• Amy Schoeffel, Northern Trust Company
• Michael Sievertson, RWE
• Charles Wright, Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
• Jacqueline Yang, FTI Consulting

CDEL also thanked and said goodbye to Eric Carlson, Molson Coors; Anthony O’Neill, O'Neill Group, LLC; and John Schumacher, True Financial POV, LLC for each of their years of dedication and service on CDEL’s Governing Board.

Eric Carlson reflected on his time at CDEL: "What a pleasure it has been for me to be a part of this organization for these past 10 years.  The organization has grown and evolved tremendously during these past ten years through your vision and stewardship, and the vision and stewardship of your predecessor.  The commitment of your entire team to the CDEL mission and purpose is praiseworthy.  It's been my privilege to have - in some small part - contributed to the organization.  It is always such a rewarding experience to get out into the community and provide legal support to persons in need, be it a Power of Attorney workshop or a guardian workshop, and I hope to continue to support in that way.

Anthony O'Neill remarked on his time at CDEL: "After nearly two decades, I’m stepping down from the board of the Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) — and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what this organization has meant to me. I had the privilege of serving in several leadership roles over the years, including as Board President and as Chair of the Winter Awards Benefit. Watching CDEL grow, and seeing firsthand the impact of its work providing legal services to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them, has been one of the most meaningful parts of my professional life. CDEL will always have a special place in my heart. I’m grateful for the memories, the people, and the chance to contribute to an amazing mission!"

John Schumacher had this to say about his service with CDEL: "It was a pleasure and a privilege to serve Center for Disability & Elder Law and the communities it serves, as a Board member, Treasurer, and non-lawyer volunteer at CDEL workshops around Chicago. I look forward to continuing the latter, as well as my overall support of CDEL, in its mission to provide free legal aid to people with disabilities and the elderly who do not have the financial resources to do so on their own. Participating in, and observing, CDEL execute on its mission via in-house and volunteer attorneys, and the rest of the CDEL team around them, was very gratifying. It's clear that the other part of CDEL's mission, fostering pro bono legal services, is alive and well in metro Chicago/Cook County."

It was such a great night of celebration with our dedicated supporters. Thank you to Chicago-Kent for hosting our Board meeting and event!

CDEL ERP Client Spotlight

When Deborah found herself facing a $20,000 consumer debt, she was carrying far more than a financial burden. Like many people, competing financial responsibilities such as the high costs of housing had made it impossible to keep up with payments, and the debt had been turned over to a collection agency. 

Determined to find a path forward, Deborah connected with the CDEL through the Cook County Early Resolution Program (ERP), part of the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt initiative. The program helps Cook County residents resolve eviction and consumer debt matters before they become life-altering crises. 

For Deborah, the legal process presented an additional challenge: her primary language is Polish. Through professional interpretation services and the dedication of a CDEL paralegal, Deborah was able to fully understand her options, advocate for her circumstances, and pursue a solution. Together, they successfully negotiated a hardship dismissal that eliminated the entire $20,000 debt. 

That outcome was more than financial relief. It gave Deborah the opportunity to move forward without the weight of overwhelming debt and with renewed confidence about her future. 

Stories like Deborah's demonstrate what becomes possible when legal help is accessible to everyone, regardless of income or the language they speak. Every day, CDEL's Early Resolution Program—staffed by three attorneys and two paralegals—partners with individuals and families to protect their financial stability and preserve their independence. In 2025 alone, the program successfully resolved 1,126 consumer debt and housing cases, helping hundreds of Cook County residents find a path toward greater security and peace of mind.  Together with our clients and partners, CDEL ensures that a financial setback does not define a person's future, and that everyone has the opportunity to move forward with dignity, hope and confidence. 

CDEL’s Young Professionals Board (YPB) invites you to our Summer Friendraiser! Join us for an evening by the lake at The Dock at Montrose Beach  on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm for a casual evening of drinks, connection, and fun. Your ticket provides funding for CDEL and all of our programs!

Tickets are $45 each and include two drink tickets and appetizers. Purchase your tickets now!

Over the past few weeks, CDEL has welcomed 14 summer interns including two Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) fellows (sponsored by Sidley Austin LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP); PILI interns; law student interns; undergraduate interns; and a social work intern. They will be working on a variety of CDEL projects throughout the summer.

Interns came to us from: Bates College; Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology; Loyola University Chicago School of Law; University of Michigan Law School; University of Minnesota Law School; Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law; Northwestern University; University of Illinois Chicago School of Law; University of Chicago Law School; and University of Chicago.

We are excited to have Kai, Jonah, Ella, Nora, Tatiana, Morgan, Jacob, Kelly, Max, Grace, Morgan, Eric, Claire, and Andi here with us to support our mission!

Thank you to all of our pro bono and community partners who have volunteered with us in June! Because of you, we are able to reach and serve more of our clients in the communities they live.

Thank you to our Pro Bono Partners who have volunteered with us:

Accenture
BP
Pro Bono Network
Salesforce
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Thank you to our community partners listed below, for allowing us to continue to conveniently and accessibly serve our clients in the communities in which they live.

Bloom Township Senior Services
Blue Door Neighborhood Center South Lawndale
BUILD, Inc.

Center on Addison
Chicago Methodist Senior Services

Cook County Clerk's Office
Dolton Park District
Dolton Public Library

EZRA Multi-Service Center

Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation

Richard J. Daley Center
Roseland Place Apartments
Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
Solutions for Care
University of Chicago Law School

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