Columbia Legal Services Spokane

Boozhoo! Madeline nindizhinikaaz. Kijisibianishinaabe nindoonjibaa. Duwamish nindaa. Hello, my name is Madeline. I am Algonquin Anishinaabe from the Ottawa River Valley and currently live on Duwamish Land in the city of Seattle. My family has lived in the Coast Salish region since I was a kid, so this place is now my home. Before going to university, I worked for several years as a legal assistant in family law, where I set foot in the legal department. This experience seems to me to have been following ever since. After graduating from Evergreen State College, I pursued Native American studies and studies, including Native American laws and policies. During my studies and soon after, I continued to develop my administrative and operational skills as an assistant in the office of the president of Evergreen State College and as a program and events manager at the ACLU in Washington. I ended up at Columbia Legal Services after taking a break from office life to run Loki Fish Company, a family-owned wild salmon business, where I deepened my understanding of finance, human resources, and everything it takes to run a small business. I`m excited to bring together my diverse experience and support the incredible work here at Columbia Legal Services. See the following legal topics or use the search box to find information.

I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and moved to the United States at the age of seven. I am a naturalized U.S. citizen — although my mother was born in Boston, she lived abroad for most of her life, and because of U.S. immigration laws at the time, she was prohibited from giving her U.S. citizenship to her children. I took the oath of naturalization in the middle of my 20th birthday. I speak Spanish although I would like to speak it and read more. After Ecuador, I lived mainly between Miami, Washington DC and the Pacific Northwest. I have a master`s degree in criminology and started law school with the goal of becoming a criminal defense attorney, but after an internship at the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (now Americans for Immigrant Justice), I was drawn to working in civil law, especially with immigrants. I have worked twice for Columbia Legal Services, for two governors, for Human Rights Watch, and for AMC Theaters as a bailiff and concessionaire. I have a soft spot for the state of Georgia because that`s where I met my wife. I believe in Columbia Legal Services` mission: we work to dismantle the structures that support poverty and injustice.

One of these structures is the U.S. immigration system. I believe that people who have lived in the United States for 10 years should have their immigration status regularized (for children, 5 years). It`s not a difficult concept, and it`s worth it. For many years, Columbia Legal Services has represented communities facing poverty and oppression, and we use all available legal instruments on their behalf. We have a special responsibility to serve individuals whose access to free legal services is limited due to their institutionalized or immigration status. We share a deep commitment to serving and defending our clients as we fight for justice together. Our role in serving people and using advocacy that might not otherwise make our work an integral part of the Washington Alliance for Equal Justice. Mr. Anthony E. Hamilton is originally from Seattle, WA and played basketball for Franklin High School.

He himself was adopted at birth and has a passion for reuniting families separated by adoption and foster care, and is an advocate for combating youth gang violence. Mr. Hamilton would like to share his experience, expertise and knowledge of the criminal justice system, particularly the Ministry of Corrections. Hamilton appreciates the work of CLS and wants to be able to share this message. Racial justice. We hold ourselves accountable for the principles of racial justice and human rights. Through our community-led legal representation, we hold government agencies, institutions and other actors accountable for addressing the causes of racism and its manifestation through unfair treatment and unequal access to resources, power and opportunities based on race. Media ContactAdriana Hernandez, Communications Coordinator (509) 374-9336, media@columbialegal.org I was born and raised in Washington State and feel so fortunate to live in Seattle. I received my Bachelor of South Asian Studies and My Juris Doctor with a specialization in Public Interest Law from the University of Washington. I went to law school knowing that I wanted to use the legal system to correct systemic errors. What I have learned since then is that the legal system and its actors have been (and often still are) the main perpetrators of injustice. More than 25 years ago, I was a social assistance program client at a local legal aid office and now run a legal aid organization that works to change the world for the better.

My life experience was influenced by other people who believed I could be more and do more than the limited options that seemed available to me. People and institutions have helped me overcome the challenges of poverty, mental illness and addiction to lead an incredibly wonderful life. I want the same organizations, people and institutions to work to end racism so that everyone can enjoy a full life free of trauma and abuse. In addition, I prefer to be as free of pronouns as possible. I grew up in Washington State and received my B.A. from the University of Washington in 2010 and my J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2015. I am passionate about social and economic change and am committed to improving access to justice for low-income individuals and communities. As a law student, I articled and volunteered in legal services programs and clinics in the areas of utilities, landlord and tenant issues, social housing, and workplace discrimination. My appreciation of the legal system began with my first legal job at an employment and industry law firm over 20 years ago. The aspects of helping, interacting, and achieving the same results for people were satisfactory.

Since then, I have worked with various law firms and in different areas of law, but my desire has always been to support the community. Knowing that I can help and that I have made a difference in a person`s life is very rewarding. Please note that these documents have been created for general information purposes only and not as legal advice or opinions. A lawyer should be contacted for advice on certain legal issues. I was born and raised in Wenatchee, Washington, which is officially known as the “Apple Capital of the World.” Growing up in a farming community, I was exposed to socio-economic and racial inequalities. Despite these differences, I am proud to come from a committed and hard-working community so that other communities and nations can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Every time I take a bite of an apple or pear, I remember the very people who continue to provide me and others with delicious products. At a young age, I was passionate and committed to social justice and social justice in our local communities, and this is reflected in my academic, professional and personal efforts. Most recently, I earned a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University with knowledge of the nonprofit and government sectors. In 2006, I also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Diversity from Western Washington University and a paralegal certificate from Highline College.

I have been with Columbia Legal Services for 6 years and am honored to work in an organization that empowers local communities and builds relationships with community members through their unique vision of social and economic justice. It is my intention and desire to grow in this sector, where I work not only to fight injustice, but also by educating my communities on imaginative solutions and social sustainability.