Blog

We recently sat down with Shiva Kooragayala, a volunteer from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Shiva told us how he helped LCBH clients remain housed during the pandemic. Thank you, Shiva!

How did you get involved with LCBH?

I connected to LCBH through Kaitlin Cutshaw. She knew that I have a long-standing interest in working on a variety of housing issues and particularly public and affordable housing policy. I’m trained as an Urban Planner and worked at the Urban Institute, where I researched local and national housing policy. When I got to Skadden, I knew I wanted to continue working in this space as an attorney.

Why is volunteering on matters related to housing important to you?

Housing is a platform for people to improve their lives. While at Northwestern for law school, I spent two years as a clinical advocate and worked on several eviction defense matters in tandem with Legal Aid Chicago. I typically took on cases for tenants who had vouchers or project-based assistance. It was a great experience. Housing is fundamental to everything else. If you lose your voucher, you can’t get back on the list, so you are functionally homeless. Getting access to housing, and keeping it once you have it, is so important.

Skadden attorneys have a long history of volunteering at LCBH. What are some recent examples?

Frank Avellone recently retired from LCBH. We sat down with Frank to learn about his time at the agency and his advice for new attorneys starting civil legal aid careers. Frank served LCBH in many capacities, including as Senior Attorney and Policy Director.

HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK AT LCBH?
LCBH is the place where I worked the longest. I started my legal career in 1981 at Toledo Legal Aid Society and I was there for three years, before I was recruited to be the clinic director at Ohio Law School. I was there for seven years, until my kids grew up and left the nest. We came to Chicago and I worked at LAF for seven years. Then, I was recruited by Mark Swartz to LCBH in 2013 and stayed until 2021.

Anita Lewis has been named Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing's Director of Social Services. Lewis joins LCBH from Metropolitan Tenants Organization, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering tenants to exercise their rights to affordable and adequate housing. She has extensive experience in the field. We are happy to have Anita on board. Learn more about her story below.

What have you done prior to joining LCBH?
I have spent the last twenty plus years of my career in housing with a concentration in mental health and related instabilities. A large part of my experience has been mental health advocacy as it relates to the housing market. I previously worked at Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO) as the Associate Director. I then transitioned to Envision Unlimited, where I worked in the mental health division. I am still involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as an active volunteer, and I am also associated with Horizons for Youth and other local food pantries and distribution centers.

How did you get involved with LCBH?
MTO and LCBH had a strategic partnership. We collaborated on a lot of development work. We also did intakes and directed many of our clients to LCBH so that they could take advantage of legal services, as that was something that we did not provide. We were able to connect them with LCBH through a hotline.

What can you tell us about your background?
I was born and raised in St. Andrew, Jamaica and lived in Jamaica until the age of 10 when my family moved to New Jersey. After a few years on the east coast, we transitioned to Boca Raton, Florida. I completed my undergraduate studies at Florida State University and obtained a master’s degree at Georgia State University before becoming a high school English teacher in South Florida. I moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago Law School in 2010 and fell in love with the city of Chicago.

What is your involvement outside of LCBH?
I joined Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg in 2013, after interning there during my second year of law school. I currently serve on the board for the Alumni Club of the University of Chicago, where I am the chair of the By-Laws Committee in addition to playing an active role in fundraising, service and community engagement. I also serve as a mentor to UChicago’s Black Law Student Association. I previously served as an associate board member for the Chicago Committee on Minorities for Large Law Firms.