May 2025 Newsletter

CDEL's May Newsletter

Estate Planning with CDEL Brings Peace of Mind for Client
Please Welcome CDEL's New Staff Attorney Kate Milvert!
CDEL Honored at Pro Bono Network Awards
CDEL Holds Five Community Events in One Day!
CDEL Staff Members Attend Equal Justice Conference
Thank You to our May Pro Bono and Community Partners!

Estate Planning with CDEL Brings Peace of Mind for Client

CDEL staff attorney Lissette Ortegon and client ''Maggie'' with her executed estate planning documents at CDEL's office

Earlier this month, CDEL Client Maggie came to CDEL's office to draft and execute her estate planning documents. CDEL staff attorney Lissette Ortegon and Program Coordinator Margaux Shields helped her through the whole process to draft, notarize and execute a Power of Attorney for Property, Power of Attorney for Healthcare, and will. Having these documents completed put clients like Maggie and their loved ones at ease knowing that everything is in place.

"Thank you for explaining everything and being so considerate!" CDEL Client Maggie

Please Welcome CDEL's New Staff Attorney Kate Milvert!

Kate Milvert (she/her) is CDEL's newest staff attorney working with CDEL's monthly community clinics in Chicago and suburban Cook County. She graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts from Indiana University Bloomington in 2019 and graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022.

“I’m excited to contribute to CDEL’s work empowering older adults and people with disabilities with legal resources. I very much look forward to working with CDEL’s community clinics and supporting CDEL’s ongoing collaboration with our incredible community partners and volunteers.”

Learn about Kate and the CDEL Team at CDEL's website.

CDEL Honored at Pro Bono Network Awards

On May 22nd, CDEL was honored to accept the Pro Bono Network’s (PBN) inaugural Alliance for Justice Award. PBN has been a trusted longtime community partner of CDEL’s. Their vision to make pro bono work more successful, impactful and community driven are values close to CDEL and our mission.

CDEL staff members Executive Director Caroline Manley, Director of Development Jeanette Ruby, Legal Director Michael Stone, and Senior Attorney Cheryl Lipton attended the event on behalf of CDEL.

We extend our grateful thanks to PBN for this award. We are proud to continue this important work with a partner like the Pro Bono Network!

CDEL Holds Five Community Events in One Day!

CDEL was busy in the community on May 14th at five different events throughout Cook County! We held appointments with clients at CDEL community partner and embedded clinic, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation. We also held a Power of Attorney outreach for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and a Wills and Transfer on Death Instrument’s outreach at HANA Center. In addition, CDEL was also represented at the Worth Township Resource Fair and the 48th Ward Resource Fair.

CDEL prides itself on being present in the community we serve!

CDEL Staff Members Attend Equal Justice Conference

Earlier this month, CDEL Executive Director Caroline Manley and Supervising Attorney Rachel Zummo attended the Equal Justice Conference in San Francisco — a national gathering of advocates committed to expanding access to justice.

Rachel had the honor of presenting during a session on eviction diversion programs, where she shared insights from her work with the Early Resolution Program. Her contributions helped highlight the importance of coordinated legal responses that keep people stably housed and connected to services.

CDEL Supervising Attorney Rachel Zummo and Executive Director Caroline Manley at the 2025 Equal Justice Conference in San Francisco

It was a powerful week of learning, collaboration, and renewed commitment to the work ahead. Thank you to the American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association for hosting this important convening!

Thank you to all of our pro bono and community partners who have volunteered with us! 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 in May:

Accenture
Federal Signal Corporation
Kraft Heinz
Pro Bono Network
Salesforce

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
BUILD, Inc.
Center on Addison
Chicago Methodist Senior Services
Dolton Park District
EZRA Multi-Service Center
Frisbie Senior Center
Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation

HANA Northwest Center
Lyons Township
Pathlights
Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
Solutions for Care
University of Chicago Law School

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