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| Staff |
Joyce Allen-Beckford - Director, Diversity Coalition Joyce Allen-Beckford joined MLAC as the Director of the Diversity Coalition in February 2007. She works to create a representative and collaborative atmosphere within legal aid programs that allows them to provide accessible and culturally competent services to clients of all backgrounds. She came to MLAC from Buckingham Browne & Nichols School where she was the assistant director of multicultural services for five years. Joyce received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University and a master’s degree in education from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. She has been a resident of Boston for 33 years and values leisure time with close friends and family. Thomas Brant - Communications & Government Relations Assistant Tom joined MLAC in September 2011. As Communications and Government Relations Assistant, he supports the communications and fundraising activities of MLAC and its grantees. He produces print and electronic publications for MLAC, and provides support for the communications efforts of MLAC-funded programs. Tom also works with the legislative campaign for civil legal aid coordinated by the Equal Justice Coalition (EJC). In this role, he manages EJC’s social media presence and helps organize the annual Walk to the Hill lobby day. Before joining MLAC in September 2011, Tom served with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance for Self-Sufficiency program as a legal advocate in Springfield, MA. He also has internship experience in both corporate and non-profit PR and communications. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College. Mary joined MLAC in September 2001 as Fiscal Director. In this capacity, she is accountable for directing all aspects of fiscal policy, financial management and planning for MLAC. She also coordinates all HR functions and employee benefits and provides technical assistance to recipient program Fiscal staff. Prior to joining MLAC, Mary spent 14 years as director of business services for North River Collaborative, a special education collaborative serving eight public school districts in Southeastern Massachusetts. During that time, she also served as director of the Summer Youth Work Experience Program. Mary is a member of the Non-Profit Financial Managers Group. She received a master’s degree in education / education management from Cambridge College and a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Northeastern University. Karyn Harding - Director of Information Technology Karyn joined MLAC in January 2007. As Director of Information Technology, she is in charge of the statewide Central Technology Project, which serves MLAC and MLAC-funded programs, including the operation and security of the statewide network, phone system, support services, case management system, training and oversight of staff and consultants. Karyn also is responsible for the development of policies and procedures effecting the functionality and usage of all technology-related systems and is tasked with identifying future technology requirements and needs. Danielle Hines-Graham - Operations Manager Dani joined MLAC in August 1999 as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director and Secretary to the MLAC board of directors. In July 2004, she became Operations Manager while continuing to serve as Board Secretary. Dani ensures all office functions are running smoothly. She also is responsible for the board mailings, meetings logistics and meetings. Previously, Dani worked for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, first with Rep. Shirley Owens-Hicks and later with Rep. Harold Lane. She attended Alabama State University. A Dorchester native, Dani lives in Stoughton with her husband and two daughters. Freddy Matute joined MLAC as its Bookkeeper in November 2003. In this role, he supports the Fiscal Director by maintaining accurate and timely financial records, processing accounts payable and payroll, providing support to Loan Forgiveness Program administrators, and more. Freddy also works part-time at Centro Presente, a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights of the Latin American immigrant community of Massachusetts. Before joining MLAC, Freddy worked full time at Centro Presente, serving as a paralegal in the Legal Immigration Department and the Administrative Department. He previously worked for the Consulate of El Salvador in Boston. He has completed college courses in business administration and is bilingual in Spanish and English. Brianne S. Miers - Communications Director Brianne joined MLAC in February 2008. As Communications Director, oversees all external communications activities including media relations, social media, e-communications, publications and events, with the goal of raising MLAC’s profile among key audiences and maintaining level funding for its state appropriation. She also provides support to MLAC’s grantees on their communications and fundraising efforts to enhance their visibility among key local audiences. Brianne relocated to Boston from Washington, DC, where she served as Manager, Marketing & Communications, for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Development Communications Specialist for World Wildlife Fund. Her first job was with Clarus Public Relations in Denver. Brianne received a master’s degree in public administration, with a concentration in non-profit management, from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science from Syracuse University. Lonnie A. Powers - Executive Director Lonnie A. Powers has served as Executive Director of MLAC since it was established in 1983. He has more than 41 years of policy and legal experience at the state and national levels, having devoted the majority of his career to establishing, building, sustaining and revitalizing legal aid organizations. In his role as Executive Director, Lonnie’s primary responsibilities include increasing funding for civil legal aid; enhancing partnerships with the bar, the legislature, the judiciary, and the public; and strengthening legal aid programs across the Commonwealth. He serves on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Committee on Pro Bono and is active in the American, Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations. He directed the Massachusetts Legal Needs Survey (2003). Lonnie began his legal career in his native Arkansas, first with the Attorney General’s Office and later with Legal Services of Arkansas, where he served as Executive Director. He earned his JD from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and is admitted to practice in Arkansas, Missouri and Massachusetts. He lives in Newton with his wife, Nancy Israel, and daughters Amanda and Jessica. Patricia Shaughnessy - Support and Training Specialist Tricia joined MLAC as the Support & Training Specialist in April 2009. Her main responsibilities are user support and training as well as overseeing the Help Desk for MLAC and MLAC-funded legal aid programs. Prior to MLAC Tricia worked at the Boston law firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Donna Southwell - Director of Policy Analysis Donna joined MLAC in 1995 and served as Communications Director until 2006, when she became Director of Policy Analysis. In this role, Donna is responsible for overseeing all MLAC research and data analysis, with a particular focus on demonstrating the economic benefit of legal assistance to low-income people and to the Commonwealth. She also provides oversight to the Battered Women’s Legal Assistance Project, the Disability Benefits Project and the Medicare Advocacy Project. Donna received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from The George Washington University. Her varied career path includes stints as: a computer programmer for the U.S. General Accounting Office in the days of punch cards; a dress designer/shop owner; a machinist at General Electric; a machine shop teacher at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School; and a writer and editor of the Massachusetts Human Services Coalition’s publication State House Watch. Donna was born and raised in the Panama Canal Zone. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, Dave Kern, and has three grown children. Patricia Swansey - Program Director Pat joined MLAC in 1996 as Program Director. In this role, she oversees the peer-review monitoring process of MLAC’s grantees, to assure their compliance with MLAC’s performance standards. She also manages the Bart Gordon Fellowship and Racial Justice Fellowship and supports the activities of client-eligible board members. Pat received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Grinnell College, studied at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and received a master’s degree in management from Brandeis University. Her career path includes service in Massachusetts’ state government as Legislative Aide for the Legislative Black Caucus, Deputy Director for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Program Officer for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Program Officer for the Urban Initiative Fund at the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation. Pat was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She lives in Boston and is a single parent with two grown sons. She enjoys gardening, playwriting and travel. Wayne Welch - Network Administrator Wayne joined MLAC in April 2008 as Network Administrator. Two of his main responsibilities are maintaining the Citrix system and the ShoreTel phone system for MLAC and MLAC-funded legal aid programs. He previously worked in the health care software industry. |