The VAI Community Empowerment Legal Clinic (CELC) is a full service legal program operated in partnership with the Community Activism Law Alliance (CALA) which not only serves low-income immigrants and refugees on Chicago’s Northside, tackling legal issues and social welfare needs, but also engages community members through advocacy, civic engagement and organizing initiatives. By offering advice, case assistance, know-your-rights workshops, advocacy trainings and other pro bono services, CELC will strengthen the diverse community VAI serves in Uptown, Edgewater, Albany Park and the surrounding suburbs.

What CELC offers in legal aid is free or low-cost representation and assistance open to all regardless of immigration status, language ability or other obstacles to securing legal aid. The CELC legal aid component covers issues ranging from immigration court proceedings, asylum, deportation and family-based petitions, to family law, housing, employment, education, consumer rights and criminal records. Since its founding in July 2017 with generous funding from the Julian Grace Foundation and formal opening in August, the clinic has seen over 400 visitors, a majority of them new immigrant and refugee arrivals including Syrian, Iraqi, Vietnamese, Rohingya, Iranian, Ethiopian, Nigerian and other communities on the Northside. Services are offered in Arabic, Vietnamese, English and Spanish.
The CELC provides a one stop shop for legal services and advocacy for diverse immigrant and refugee communities; CELC’s civic engagement, advocacy and organizing component educates and empowers community members and VAI clients to exercise their civil and legal rights, address local issues, participate in voting and lobbying activities, influence policymaking and become grassroots leaders.

CONTACT
For more information on scheduling an appointment or participating in the CELC:
Clark Nguyen
(773)728-3700 ext. 37
