CBA Record October 2018

PRO BONOWEEK 2018– CELEBRATING THE POWER OF PRO BONO

was able to cover the $1.1 million purchase of the Albany Park Community Center, plus the cost of renovations and operations. Begay speaks highly of Zessar and Don- nelly’s work. “The time and expertise they put in was amazing,” says Begay. “They were on top of everything [...] and I really felt like, not only were they doing this because they were very good at it, but I felt like they were doing this because they had a real connection with us, and it was something they felt good about doing.” For Zessar and Donnelly, working with AIC to secure their new building turned out to be an unforgettable experience. “I feel that we have a duty as lawyers to give back to the community,” says Zessar. “There are so many organizations and individuals out there that don’t have access to the legal system based purely on cost.” For Donnelly, working with AIC brought dividends that were unlike any commercial client. “We have billion dollar projects,” says Donnelly. “There’s something to walking

JUSTICE: AN EVENING OF STORIES AND COMMUNITY

Tuesday, October 23, 6:00-8:00 pm

Revolution Brewing, 2323 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago

Get to know your fellow justice-minded colleagues and enjoy listening to stories of justice shared by volunteers from the audience. Interested in telling a story? Come prepared to share a five-minute story related to the theme (justice). Those who volunteer to tell stories will be entered in a prize raffle. Storytellers and listeners alike are encouraged to attend!

Learn more/register at chicagobarfoundation.org/probonoweek.

Les Begay, a member of the Diné (Navajo) tribe and Chairman of the AIC’s Board of Directors

older community members turned the lock on the new building, and younger members opened the doors to the new one. Community members performed a blessing, and then they began to hang up the dozens of tribal flags on the walls of their new gymnasium. “Once we did that, I think people really felt that the transition had taken place,” recalls Begay.

out the door and just talking to regular people getting through the day trying to do the right thing […] What this did was open up effectively an entire community that I had never been involved in, and it’s a spiritual community.” In March 2017, AIC invited its mem- bers for a symbolic two-mile walk from Uptown to Albany Park to inaugurate the new center. In a ceremonial transition,

Marjorie Zessar, left, and Katie Donnelly, right, of GGP, Inc.

CBA RECORD 45