The Board

Made up of lawyers and non-lawyers, our Board of Directors consists of 21 dedicated men and women who are committed to social justice in Chicago and throughout the nation. Our board members give generously of their time and talents to assist staff and volunteers on a variety of projects and advocate for change in local governmental systems.

Staff

Malcolm C. Rich, Executive Director
Mr. Rich has also served as the Executive Director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers since 1986. He is a 1979 graduate of Northwestern University School of Law where he was the recipient of a Northwestern University Center for Urban Affairs Research Fellowship. Mr. Rich is of counsel to the law firm of Whitted Cleary + Takiff LLC where he specializes in special education and mental health law, and is the former Executive Director of the Foundation for Educational Research.

Rodney Tonkovic, Paralegal
Mr. Tonkovic has worked for Chicago Appleseed since 1997, and received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999.

Amanda J. Grant, Development Director
Ms. Grant has over seven years of experience in fundraising, grant writing, event planning and public relations with non-profit organizations.

Julie Dona, Research Associate
Ms. Dona is a graduate of Grinnell College, and received a Fulbright scholarship in 2003 to study how low-income residents of Mumbai, India accessed resources from municipal and nonprofit organizations. Ms. Dona was a researcher and caseworker at the Legal Services Center for Immigrants at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago as an Americorps Vista volunteer.

José Melendez, Research and Policy Associate
José W. Meléndez graduated from Oberlin College in 2001. Previously he worked as a Research Associate for the Tobacco, Drugs and Alcohol Division of Danya International, Inc., an international public health and education firm. He's also worked for the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization (LLEGÓ), providing leadership development and community mobilization in addressing health disparities.

Nicole Martorano Van Cleve, 2007 Harvey and Selma Badesch Fellow
Nicole Martorano Van Cleve received her B.A. at Northwestern University- where she was the recipient of the Farrel Grant for Public Policy.  She served in The Office of the Chief of Staff at the White House during the Clinton Administration and subsequently worked for five years as a Consumer Brand Planner for Leo Burnett, USA.  She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Sociology at Northwestern University and was a 2005 National Science Foundation Fellowship, Honorable Mention.  

Kim Conte, Research Associate

2007 Summer Interns

Melissa Derr, Duke University

James Ktsanes, University of Chicago (PILI Fellow)

Sara Lind Nygren, University of Chicago (PILI Fellow)

Cassandra Watson, University of Utah (PILI Fellow)