Jake joined Beyond in September 2024 after graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Jake was born in Chicago and grew up in the western suburbs. He studied political science and philosophy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he developed an interest in activism and local politics. After graduating he moved to Chicago, where he worked in publishing for several years, including an internship at In These Times magazine and working for a book distributor.

Over the next several years, Jake got involved with local political and organizing efforts, with a focus on fighting gentrification and displacement. After moving to the Albany Park neighborhood in 2016, he became a volunteer tenant organizer with the Autonomous Tenants Union and joined the Albany Park Defense Network, a group of neighbors working to fight deportations. Through this work, Jake developed a deep love for the Albany Park community and a commitment to grassroots movement-building.

Organizing with ATU and APDN also introduced Jake to Beyond Legal Aid (then CALA) -- both groups’ legal partner -- which taught him how valuable community lawyering can be for social movements. Inspired by his collaborations with Beyond, Jake started law school in 2021 specifically to become a community and movement lawyer and is thrilled to have circled back to Beyond as a member of its staff.