As a lawyer, advocate, speaker, and author, I’m deeply passionate about racial and social justice, education equity, children’s rights, and LGBTQ rights. Through my legal and advocacy work, I’ve acquired a deep understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable children and youth as well as the legal issues that often contribute to or result from those circumstances.My rich and varied professional career has included a mix of academia, legal work, nonprofit management, board service, and community leadership. As a lawyer, I’ve handled government enforcement litigation and appellate practice at Am Law 100 firms as well as a combination of in-house counsel and amicus/advocacy work for civil rights, social justice, and children’s rights. I bring extensive knowledge about adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress, as well as critical race theory and social justice knowledge (and orientation), to my matters. I currently serve as the Vice President of Legal Affairs for Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco. We work every day to support and care for the kids and families who need us most. Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. I'm deeply proud to play a role in supporting this work as in-house counsel.I am an elected member of the American Law Institute and participate(d) in the Members Consultative Groups for the Restatement of Children and the Law and Restatement of Constitutional Torts. As of August 2024, I am a Commissioner of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Commission of the American Bar Association. I served as member and ultimately Chair of the Center for Youth Wellness, a nonprofit founded by California's Surgeon General, Nadine Burke Harris. CYW, now a program of Safe & Sound, is committed to improving the health and well-being of children and young people affected by adverse childhood experiences. I serve on the Advisory Council of the United Way of the Bay Area and as amicus committee chair of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. When I’m not working, you can find me hiking, biking, traveling, or cooking with my husband and twin teens. An SF native, I’m also a former elite cyclist and runner who loves the challenge of endurance sports and the great outdoors.I appreciate connecting with others who are also passionate about civil rights, social justice, and children’s advocacy. "We are greater for, and greater than, the sum of us"--Heather McGhee
Listed skills include Civil Rights, Child Advocacy, Litigation, Non Profits, and 21 others.
