Chloe (she/her) joined KEJC in October 2022 as our Health Justice Attorney. Through litigation, advocacy, lobbying, and centering systemically oppressed and marginalized groups, Chloe is committed to achieving a Kentucky in which income and identity no longer predict healthcare access and health outcomes. A proud Kentucky native and Berean-turned-Lexingtonian, Chloe attended the University of Kentucky for seven consecutive years, where she earned her BA in political science and her law degree. Now tethered to Lexington by her deep commitments to the local community and the Kentucky Wildcats, Chloe is a dog mom, a burgeoning home cook, and the product of twenty years of Kentucky public education.

"I'm excited to use my legal education to make it easier for Kentuckians to get and pay for high-quality healthcare. The road to health is full of trapdoors and tripwires, and it's a great honor to help my people navigate that." 

Having navigated through the stormy seas of homelessness, racism, and domestic violence, Phoenix’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and grow.

As an organizer, Phoenix channels these lived experiences into a powerful force for change, working alongside tenants and the broader community to foster unity and collective action.

In addition to their community work, Phoenix is also a dedicated student pursuing a major in Political Science and a minor in Social Work. Their academic pursuits reflect their unwavering commitment to effecting lasting, positive change for tenants and communities impacted by similar adversities.

Miranda Brown conducts community education in English and Spanish about accessing healthcare and exercising workers’ rights. She is a Certified Application Counselor for kynect health coverage, including Medicaid. Serving on the Consumer Rights and Client Needs Technical Advisory Committee to Kentucky's Medicaid Advisory Council, Miranda channels consumer experiences and stories into advocacy. She hosts "Kentucky Equal Justice Radio" and "Reclama tus derechos" shows in English and Spanish on community radio RADIOLEX. She also works as a consultant for cultural arts organization Casa de la Cultura Kentucky and serves on the board of HealthFirst BlueGrass, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and the advisory board for the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Corazon de la Familia study. She's a passionate learner about everything from cooperatives to languages to growing herbs, spices, and teas in Kentucky.

After growing up in Lexington and Russell, Kentucky, Ben Carter attended Davidson College and UK College of Law. Before joining KEJC in the fall of 2018, Ben litigated individual and consumer class actions at Ben Carter Law, PLLC. From 2008-2010, he worked at Louisville’s Legal Aid Society and helped Jefferson County build an innovative, county-wide response to its foreclosure crisis. At KEJC, he litigates cases, lobbies policymakers, and works with communities, organizations, and government agencies to ensure all Kentuckians live within fair systems that are open to all. Get all of his dad, politics, and podcast tweets at @notbencarter.

A masterful storyteller with more than 15 years of experience in communications, Natalie specializes in advancing the missions of progressive issues-focused organizations by crafting and sharing narratives that truly matter.

After beginning her public relations career in Miami’s luxury real estate industry, Natalie transitioned to the public service sector when she joined the state of Florida’s employment services division as a policy analyst and program developer. From there, Natalie managed communications and events for the American Cancer Society, curated national level partnerships and advocacy strategies for the Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Programs Office, developed communications strategies for almost 40 organizations serving under-represented communities that were partnered with a large scale federally funded clinical research initiative, and created communications strategies focused on health equity for a non-profit women's health organization.

Outside of work, Natalie is an avid rower with the Capital Rowing Club and holds a  masters in legal studies with a focus on criminal justice and police reform. As a proud graduate of the University of Florida, Natalie also spends her fall Saturdays cheering on Gators football and hoping for another season like 2006. She has thus far been sorely disappointed.

Jackson Cooper grew up in Louisville, Kentucky where he attended Seneca High School and the University of Louisville. He graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems and spent ten years as an IT professional. He then attended DePaul University College of Law, graduating cum laude with his Juris Doctor degree and a certificate in Information Technology Law. He learned his love of the outdoors while attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and goes camping and hiking with his wife and three dogs as often as he can.

Jackson spent ten years as a prosecutor in the Jefferson County Attorney’s office where he developed his skill as a trial attorney, drive to advocate for others, and passion for seeking justice. He is licensed to practice in Kentucky state courts as well as the Eastern and Western District federal courts of Kentucky.

Gaby joined Maxwell Street Legal Clinic in November 2018. A native of Venezuela and now a long-time Lexingtonian, she has had many years of legal and medical office experience. She received a certification as an Immigration paralegal.  Gaby is a Certified Medical Interpreter serving various agencies around town. She loves working as the VOCA Legal Assistant and helping our clients bridge the language barrier. She enjoys traveling, reading, and eating pasta!

Yoko joined Maxwell Street Legal Clinic as a Legal Assistant in November of 2021. She is a native of the Dominican Republic and has learned from a very young age the need to interpret for others including her parents, relatives, and friends. Yoko has noticed that the city of Lexington has a growing community of non-English speaking immigrants and she's excited to help with their legal needs. Yoko lived in Ohio for over twenty years but now lives in Lexington with her husband and her very spoiled puppy dog Lála. She loves the beautiful scenery of Lexington’s countryside and watching horses graze on green pastures. 

As Resource Organizer, Raaziq works collaboratively with the KEJC team on fundraising. He focuses on engaging donors, managing grants and building brand recognition. Prior to joining the KEJC team, Raaziq worked as a Community Manager at The Plantory, focusing on communications and community building. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology and Educational Studies from Transylvania University. A lifelong Lexingtonian, Raaziq is proud to be serving fellow Kentuckians!  

Allison Hight came to Maxwell Street in the summer of 2018 as a VOCA Immigration Fellow. She graduated from Ohio University in 2013 with a B.A. in English and earned her law degree from the University of Michigan in 2018, where she concentrated on immigration and refugee law. Between undergraduate and law school, Allison spent two years teaching English in Hokkaido, Japan, as part of the JET Program. She speaks conversational Japanese and Spanish

Laura Harper Knight joined the KEJC team in 2022 as a Housing Outreach Organizer. Kentuckians deserve safety and respite in their homeplace, and Laura is willing to fight for a world in which housing is a human right and available for all people. She worked with Kentuckians For The Commonwealth as the Western Kentucky Regional Organizer prior to joining KEJC, and supported KFTC members and allies in taking collective action and shifting the balance of power in the Commonwealth. Laura is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and lives in Bowling Green.

Robin joined KEJC to strengthen and support the Kentucky Food Action Network in August 2023. A lifelong Kentuckian, she has spent the last seven years organizing in the south with Fight Toxic Prisons, an abolitionist environmental justice network. She has also organized with the Central Kentucky chapter of SURJ and the Take Back Cheapside campaign, which successfully removed two confederate statues from the site of a former auction block at the now renamed Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park. She believes that all struggles intersect and we can only make true progress by standing together and ensuring everyone's basic needs are met no matter what. 

When not focusing on social justice work, she spends time stage managing various central Kentucky theaters, sewing, and gardening. 

Tyler Offerman joined KEJC in 2019 as the Food Justice Fellow. Tyler believes everyone, whether black, white, or brown, old or young, deserves access to nutritious and adequate food. Before joining KEJC, Tyler worked with Kentuckians For The Commonwealth as a community organizer around tax reform, public budgets, and public pension policy. Prior to KFTC, Tyler owned an outdoor adventure guiding company, where they took people backpacking, kayaking, and white water rafting across Eastern Kentucky. Tyler currently lives and works in Lexington, but is originally from South Florida where he received two undergraduate degrees from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Abigail Rundell joined Maxwell Street Legal Clinic in the summer of 2023. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2019 with a B.A. in Foreign Language and International Economics. She earned her law degree from the American University Washington College of Law in 2023, where she was a member of the Refugee Law and Policy Brief and the Immigrant Justice Clinic. Abigail speaks conversational French and German. 

A native Kentuckian and first-generation American, Suraya grew up in Lexington and studied Spanish and International Economics at the University of Kentucky. She joined the KEJC team as a Health Coverage Specialist in the fall of 2023. She is a Certified Application Counselor for kynect health coverage, including Medicaid, and believes everyone deserves access to health insurance coverage. 

Suraya is involved in the local theatre community as an actor and as a board member for Antagonist Productions, whose mission focuses on local artists. She is active in her child’s school PTA and endeavors to create and promote opportunities for fellowship within the community. 

Rich Seckel has worked at Kentucky Equal Justice Center since 1979. He often has served as an advocate on poverty law issues before state agencies and the Kentucky General Assembly. Mr. Seckel is a founding Board Member of Kentucky Voices for Health and served as chair of the initial Community Advisory Committee of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.  He holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MSW from West Virginia University. Before graduate school, he volunteered as a boycott organizer for the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO. In November 2016, he was recognized with the Distinguished Nonprofit Leadership Award by the Kentucky Nonprofit Network.

Hailing from Brownsville, TX, Carmen moved to Lexington Kentucky six years ago. As a dedicated community advocate, she currently works as Legal Intake Coordinator and Court Advocate and Facilitator at The Nest as well as with the YAP Program as a Youth Advocate guiding youth at risk. She is also a Certified Medical Interpreter as qualified by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Language Access Section.

When she isn't working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading motivational books, and playing kickball.

Hailing from Warsaw (Gallatin County), Kentucky in Northern Kentucky, Jane Connell Young attended the University of Kentucky and obtained her law degree from Chase College of Law of Northern Kentucky University. Jane worked in private practice for many years and also worked with the Office of the United States Trustee and other organizations. Most of her legal experience has been in bankruptcy and general civil law. Jane obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2018. She then worked with Legal Aid Society in Louisville for 4 years. Jane and her husband have an adult son. They enjoy walking, working on their homes, and travel.