Dear Beyond Legal Aid community,
On behalf of Beyond Legal Aid and its Board of Directors, I write to inform our community of a leadership transition at Beyond Legal Aid effective September 1, 2024. Lam Ho, Beyond’s esteemed Founder and Co-Director, will be departing. Lam has been an extraordinary force in our organization, tirelessly supporting and organizing alongside communities and individuals for the past decade. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for Lam’s many contributions in his exemplary tenure, his dedication to the mission, and the fierce fire he brought to transforming legal aid.
In light of Lam's departure, we are thrilled to announce the promotion of Bindhu Vijayan to Executive Director. Since joining us in 2017, Bindhu has played a vital role in shaping Beyond’s mission and impact. Her recent achievements include developing and implementing our response plans to support newly-arrived migrant families, facilitating the launch of our new partnership with CIWOC (Chicago Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee), and overseeing our continued expansion into the legal deserts of the Western suburbs. Bindhu’s collaborative leadership style, unwavering commitment to community accountability, and expertise in program design will be pivotal in expanding our innovative model.
The Board of Directors, comprising leading organizers, attorneys, and non-profit professionals, has unanimously approved this transition. We have also received overwhelming positive feedback from our staff, community partners, and stakeholders regarding this transition. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support as we continue our crucial work.
Reflecting on this transition, Bindhu notes, “I am deeply honored and thrilled to step into this role at Beyond. I greatly admire the incredible foundation that Lam and the team have built, and I am determined to build on this success and lead Beyond into an exciting new phase of growth.”
Under Bindhu’s leadership, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing our mission of collaboration, innovation, and community activism through our community activism lawyering model. Since our founding in 2014, Beyond has provided over 20,000 instances of legal support across Chicagoland. I am proud to be part of this organization and excited about what lies ahead, knowing that Bindhu’s vision and dedication promise an exciting new chapter for our organization.
This transition comes during a pivotal moment in our history as we celebrate a decade of Beyond. To all of our partners, allies, and steadfast supporters, please consider making a contribution to our 10-year anniversary fund so that we may continue forging the path for the next 10 years and beyond.
Thank you for your continued support of Beyond Legal Aid.
With Gratitude,
Elizabeth Arumilli
Board President