CentrolLegalProgramBook2025

Centro Legal de la Raza

56th AnniversaryGala

Thursday, April 17, 2025 Bloc15

Welcome!

Dear Friends – Welcome! Bienvenidos!

Long before November 5, 2024, Centro Legal de la Raza began preparing for the storm we feared was coming.

The new Administration has confirmed those fears, unleashing a wave of reckless, baseless policies designed to destabilize and intimidate our communities. Each morning now brings a new challenge, a new threat—but also a renewed sense of purpose. In these trying times, we believe it is more important than ever to come together—to draw strength from one another, to lift up the heroes among us, and to celebrate the powerful legacy we’ve built together over the past 56 years.

Tonight, we are so pleased to have CA Assemblymember Liz Ortega with us as our Keynote Speaker to share a bit of her personal story as well as of her work in Sacramento and how we can support her efforts to protect Californians!

We will also honor two very special Campeonas (champions): Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez – our true Campeona de Comunidad, who has fought side by side with Centro Legal de la Raza to ensure our community has the resources needed to meet the growing crisis.

Hanson Bridgett – our amazing Campeones de Justicia, for their stellar work as our pro-bono partner, in defending our clients’ rights around immigration, housing, and employment The selfless leadership of these honorees to rise up and meet the challenges faced by our clients has been so encouraging. They are not alone, but they have stood up and stood out this year, and we are glad to have you with us to acknowledge them.

We know that even in darkness we must find joy. So, tonight we invite you to be moved by the music of our Trio -and, to close the evening out on the dancefloor to the sounds of our DJ Maryela. Square49 has prepared a fabulous meal – and we have time to be together.

Our staff has been stretched as we work (nearly) around the clock to meet the demands of our clients. We know that our immigrant community is counting upon us to defend them, and with you, we will continue doing so with strength.

In gratitude,

Monique Berlanga Executive Director

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

1

Embrace diversity.

Pursue justice.

© 2025 Cooley LLP, 3175 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304 www.cooley.com

2

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Centro Legal de la Raza • 56th Anniversary Event Program

6:00 pm Reception

Music by Trio Appetizers prepared and served by Square49 Catering Auction Ticket Sales

7:15 pm

Dinner & Program Caheri Gutierrez, Emcee DINNER SERVICE Music by DJ Mare.E.Fresh STORIES OF INSPIRATION & GRATITUDE Monique Berlanga, Executive Director Stephanie Tang, Board Chair THIS MOMENT IN TIME Monique Berlanga Alvin Lopez Torres, Client, Centro Legal de la Raza WE WILL RISE ABOVE – FUND A NEED Sandra Sertel, Board Member & Maciel Jacques, Deputy Director KEYNOTE ADDRESS Hon. Liz Ortega-Toro, CA Assemblywoman

AWARDS Campeones de Justicia – Hansen Bridgett presented by Samantha “Sam” Beckett, Tenants’ Rights Directing Attorney

Campeona de Comunidad – Hon. Elisa Márquez presented by Monique Berlanga CONCLUDING REMARKS & AUCTION WINNERS ANNOUNCED Thank you and good evening, we will see you next year for our 57th Anniversary Celebration!

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

3

Kirkland & Ellis is proud to support the

Kirkland & Ellis is proud to support the

Centro Legal de la Raza 56th Anniversary Gala

Centro Legal de la Raza The Firm commends the work of Centro Legal de la Raza to provide access to justice forGala low-income 56th Anniversary individuals throughout Northern and Central California.

The Firm commends the work of Centro Legal de la Raza to provide access to justice for low-income individuals throughout Northern and Central California. www.kirkland.com/probono

4

Centro Legal de la Raza’s www.kirkland.com/probono

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Thank You to Our Sponsors Leader

Visionary

Ally

Partner Chip and Rebecca Conradi

Hero

Media Sponsor

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

5

Campeones de Justicia Hanson Bridgett

As a California-born firm, it’s in our DNA to celebrate our people and clients and to take pride in the work we do to support the communities where we live and work.

From growing and developing our diverse team of attorneys and professional staff to fostering an environment where they can take real action on social justice issues and acts of service—we’re proud to be leading the way toward a more invested and inclusive industry.

• Our attorneys and professional staff take real action on social justice issues, mobilizing resources and committing time to acts of service.

• Our culture is collaborative, with interdisciplinary attorney teams who work closely with administrative professionals.

• We invest in our people, providing extensive professional development offerings, formalized mentoring program and competitive compensation model.

• We offer a customized and pragmatic approach to legal skills training and merit-based advancement opportunities to ensure a thriving and dynamic career path.

• We push ourselves to foster open dialogue and connect a diversity of perspectives.

• We are an extraordinary place to work, with many industry and business accolades, including recognition as a Best Law Firm for Women since the inaugural list in 2010.

Environmental, Social and Governance Our commitment to sustainability shows in our daily business and through our achievements. All of our offices are green certified for our sustainability efforts, and we’re a certified B Corp with several LEED® Accredited professionals on our team with access to resources to help evaluate and improve our sustainability practices.

With the help of these individuals, we formed an internal committee to implement green policies and teach us how going green can be good for our business and our communities.

6

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Campeona de Comunidad Hon. Elisa Márquez

A lifelong, locally educated resident of District 2, Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez proudly represents the vibrant communities of Hayward, Newark, Union City, as well as Fremont’s Ardenwood, Bayside, Canyon Heights/ Vallejo Mills/Niles Crest, East Industrial, Lakes & Birds, Northgate, and Warm Springs neighborhoods.

Throughout her two decades of public service, Supervisor Márquez has championed the creation of safer, more sustainable communities with affordable homes, solutions to homelessness, and a thriving, inclusive economy with good paying jobs.

Prior to her unanimous appointment to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Márquez served as a Planning Commissioner, Hayward City Councilmember, and immediate past Chair of Ava Community Energy.

She continues to advocate for real solutions to our housing challenges at the county level. This includes expanding options that lower costs, increase home ownership, and promote common-sense protections for renters, especially for low-income children and their families, seniors, persons with disabilities and their caregivers.

As the Chair of the Public Protection Committee, Supervisor Márquez is focused on ensuring that first responders, public safety professionals, crisis communicators, and non-profit providers have the resources and training needed to keep everyone in our community safe, while also investing in essential community infrastructure like St. Rose Hospital to safeguard access to life-saving care in Alameda County.

Supervisor Márquez is also passionate about access to high-quality education for all as a daughter of an immigrant family with a deeply rooted strong work ethic.

She serves as the Vice Chair of the Alameda County Together For All or “ACT” Ad-Hoc Committee to ensure the County is prepared to support local residents, especially immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ community members, and those seeking comprehensive reproductive healthcare, from harmful federal policy and budgetary actions.

Supervisor Márquez holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and is deeply committed to making local government work better with residents, workers, and city officials who share her vision of a safer, cleaner, brighter future for Alameda County.

It is with pride and enthusiasm that Centro Legal de la Raza presents our Campeona de Comunidad award to Supervisor Márquez this evening.

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

7

56 Ye

of Justice, R and Com

Centro Legal de la Raza was fou students and community activist neighborhood to fight police bru We began as a grassroots, biling free legal support to the most vu we have stood alongside comm dignity and rights.

By the 1980s, Centro expanded in immigration, housing, and lab Area. We launched our first imm programs, offered legal clinics, a broader policy change. Over tim statewide leader in community-

Today, we serve over 10,000 peo immigration defense, workers’ rig our Youth Law Academy. From d wage recovery to housing stabil in the lives of those most impact 56 years, we honor the past — a a just future.

ears

Resistance, munidad

unded in 1969 by Chicanx ts in Oakland’s Fruitvale utality and systemic injustice. gual legal collective offering ulnerable. From day one, munity in the struggle for

to meet growing needs bor justice across the Bay migration and tenants’ rights and began pushing for me, Centro became a -rooted legal advocacy.

ople each year through ghts, tenants’ rights, and deportation defense to lity, our work is anchored ted. As we celebrate and recommit to building

10

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

11

12

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Extends Congratulations to Centro Legal de la Raza on its remarkable milestone of 56 years dedicated to community advocacy, support and commitment to justice and empowerment

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

13

Chip and Rebecca Conradi

Keker, Van Nest & Peters is proud to sponsor Centro Legal De La Raza’s 56th Anniversary Gala.

At Keker, Van Nest & Peters we believe that people with varied life experiences, backgrounds and values spark innovation.

They bring novel situations to bear in solving our clients’ most difficult problems, in contributing the success of our firm, and in reforming systemic injustices in our communities.

We are proud to support

Centro Legal de Ia Raza and to ensure access to justice to all, including the most vulnerable in our community.

The Port of Oakland is proud to celebrate 56 years of Centro Legal de la Raza!

Thank you for your service to our community!

© 2025 Morrison & Foerster LLP, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation

14

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

15

Congratulations on 56 years!

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center joins in congratulating Centro Legal de la Raza for 56 years of immigration practice focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable in our community.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees: The Honorable Elisa Marquéz Hanson Bridgett LLP

16

Centro Legal de la Raza’s

Gala Fundraiser • Celebrating 56 Years!

Centro Legal de la Raza Board of Directors Stephanie Tang, Chairperson Luis Hoyos, Vice Chair Sandra Sertel, Secretary Jay SchwartzCoffey, Treasurer Claudia Perkins, Executive Committee Member Aidin Castillo Mazantini Ellie Dehghan Diane Downs Monique Berlanga, Executive Director Leadership Team Maciel Jacques, Deputy Director Klaudia Kristina Apolinar Casanova, Director of Finance & Operations Jesse Newmark, Litigation Director Samantha Beckett, Tenants’ Rights Directing Attorney Lourdes Martinez Diaz Barriga, Immigrants’ Rights Co-Directing Attorney Abby Sullivan Engen, Immigrants’ Rights Co-Directing Attorney Mara (Rama) Chavez, Youth Law Academy Director

Mission Statement Founded in 1969, Centro Legal de la Raza is a legal services agency protecting and advancing the rights of low-income, immigrant, Black, and Latinx communities through bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy. By combining quality legal services with know-your-rights education and youth development, Centro Legal de la Raza ensures access to justice for thousands of individuals throughout Northern and Central California.

www.centrolegal.org