NLSLA hosted its 11th annual Just Neighbors event at the Skirball Cultural Center, where 300 friends and supporters gathered to celebrate the organization’s work changing lives and transforming communities across Los Angeles. Guests at the September 25 gala joined the organization in honoring this year’s award recipients, whose work has expanded access to healthcare, housing, economic opportunity and justice for people living in poverty throughout the county.
This year’s honorees included Director of Los Angeles County Health Services Agency Dr. Mitch Katz, whose bold vision—which recognizes that access to stable housing is a key to better health—is revolutionizing the delivery of health care services in Los Angeles and shaping the national conversation about health.
The organization also recognized the John M. Langston Bar Association for providing pro bono services to low-income communities in South Los Angeles, ensuring people can benefit from recent criminal justice reforms that have opened doors to economic opportunity.
The final honoree was Marta Sanchez, a community advocate who worked tirelessly to protect family homes from the devastating wave of foreclosures in Los Angeles County. Sanchez first came to NLSLA as a client looking to save her family’s home. She quickly became a courageous advocate who never stopped working to save her entire community.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s event a huge success!
NLSLA's Paula Clamurro and Andres Rapoport
NLSLA's Fred Nakamura with Michael Chung
NLSLA Board President Richard Tom with his daughter
Steve Nissen and Lynn Alvarez
Antonio Kizzie and Damon Brown
NLSLA' Neal Dudovitz and Yvonne Mariajimenez
NLSLA Board Member Tzung-Lin Fu with her husband
NLSLA's Akiko Nishino and her husband
NLSLA Executive Director Neal Dudovits and Deputy Director Yvonne Mariajimenez with 2016 Award Recipient and Director of Los Angeles County Health Services Agency Mitch Katz, and presenter Dennis Hsieh
NLSLA's Neal Dudovitz and Board Member Jeffrey Ehrlich
Stu and Barbara Siegel, Neal Dudovitz and Shira Frankel Grock
NLSLA's Lauren Holzer and Amy Goldman with Amy Hayden
From left: The Langston Bar Association's Antonio Kizzie, Marie Maurice, Capri Maddox, Felton Newell, Kimberly Willis and Damon Brown
Barbara and Stu Siegel and Yvonne Mariajimenez with students from the NLSLA interdisciplinary curriculum and clinical program at USC’s Gould School of Law and Keck School of Medicine
Back row, from left: Ben Reznik, Janice Kamenir Reznik, Stu Siegel, Barbara Siegel, Dennis Hsieh, Yvonne Mariajimenez and Neal Dudovitz
Front row, from left: Sarah Kamenir, Beverly Kamenir, Charlotte Kamenir, Shira Frankel Grock and Andy Grock
From left: NLSLA's Lynne Hiortdahl, Kelly Prado, Beatriz Gil and Roselyn Tan
NLSLA Board member Tiffany Tai with her daughters and husband
NLSLA staff members stand to be recognized
Honoree Mitch Katz with husband and daughter after receiving the 2016 Leadership Award
Senator Bob Hertzberg presented the 2016 Legal Excellence Award to Langston Bar Association President Kimberly Willis
Kimberly Willis accepting the 2016 Legal Excellence Award on behalf of the Langston Bar Association
From left: Lulu Hernandez, Patty Garcia, Monica Garcia, and NLSLA's Ana Mari Garcia and Diana Avendano
NLSLA's Sharon Bashan (left) and Elizabeth Brown (right) with Board Member Kathy Bañuelos (center)