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." 

Charles Bates joined Maxwell Street Legal Clinic an Immigration Attorney in March of 2024. A native of Campbellsville, KY, Charles graduated from Campbellsville University with a degree in Communications with a Theater emphasis. He graduated from Roger Williams University
School of Law located in picturesque Bristol, RI.

While at Roger Williams, Charles participated in
the RWU Criminal Defense Clinic.

Charles was admitted to the Kentucky Bar Association in 2005 and spent more than a decade with the Department of Public Advocacy working with
indigent clients.

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In July 2024, Charles was appointed Program Director of Maxwell Street Legal Clinic.

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Jess Bowman (she/her) joined KEJC in September 2024 as a Resource Coordinator for the Lexington Housing Justice Team and moved into the role of Project Manager in December 2024. 

Jess has a decade of experience in relationship building and advocacy within the community of Lexington as well as statewide. She is also the co-founder of Kentucky’s first and only summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth. Jess brings compassion, an empathetic ear, and a steadfast commitment to every client interaction, believing that we are here to support and love our neighbors.   

Jess lives in Lexington and is the mother of two children as well as her sweet pup, Gizmo. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, camping, and reading as well as board games (especially a competitive game of UNO).  

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.

A masterful storyteller with almost 20 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 and holds a  Bachelor of Science in Event Management from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts in Legal Studies with a focus on criminal justice and police reform from American Public University. As a proud Gator grad, Natalie also spends her fall Saturdays cheering on Gator football and hoping for another season like 2006. She has thus far been sorely disappointed.

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.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Jackson attended the University of Louisville on a full scholarship, where he earned a degree in Computer Information Systems. He spent a decade as an IT professional before pursuing a career in law at DePaul University College of Law, graduating cum laude with a Juris Doctor and a certificate in Information Technology Law.

Jackson's legal career began with ten years as a prosecutor in the Jefferson County Attorney’s office, where he honed his skills as a trial attorney and developed a passion for advocacy and justice. He transitioned from prosecution to serve marginalized communities in Kentucky, aiming to defend the rights of those lacking adequate legal representation. Jackson is licensed to practice in both Kentucky state and federal courts.

Jackson’s role encompasses all legal programming for KEJC. He serves as a mentor to our legal staff as well as provides support for advocacy, executive leadership for the organization’s advancement, and strategic direction for the KEJC mission. 

Outside of his professional achievements, Jackson is an avid outdoorsman. His passion for nature began during his time as an Eagle Scout, and he continues to enjoy camping and hiking with his wife and their three dogs.

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 became a DOJ-accredited representative in August of 2023. Before that, she received a certification as an immigration paralegal and worked with our VOCA clients. Gaby is also a certified medical interpreter. She loves working as a DOJ Accredited Rep, having her own caseload, and helping our clients bridge the language barrier. She enjoys traveling, reading, eating pasta, and hanging out with her hubby and her furry babies: Harper (golden), Nala (pit), and Phoebe, the feisty cat.

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!  

Idalia was born and raised in Lexington. Growing up in a low-income Latino household, she saw and experienced the needs of under-served communities. Growing up with immigrant parents inspired her ever-growing passion for providing resources, education, and safe spaces. 

Idalia attended Berea College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in political science, and held a
labor position at the Craft Education and Outreach Program. There, she focused on educating the community about the history and the importance of preserving traditional Appalachian crafts. 

Outside of work, Idalia enjoys learning different languages and about different cultures,
hiking,and traveling. 

Shay Hutchinson brings nearly 15 years of dedicated nonprofit leadership experience to her role as Executive Director of KEJC. With a profound commitment to philanthropy and advocacy, Shay has spent her career fostering positive workplace cultures and forging connections between donors and impactful causes.
Before joining KEJC, Shay served as the Regional Advancement Director for the Ohio River Valley Region of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where she led efforts in revenue advancement, donor cultivation, and expanding market outreach strategies. Her strategic leadership not only drove substantial growth but also deepened community engagement and support for critical initiatives.
Shay holds a diverse educational background, including an undergraduate degree in theater studies, a master's of divinity, and a master's in arts administration. This unique blend of studies reflects her creative interests and her ability to engage with individuals from all walks of life.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Shay enjoys spending time with her husband, Adam, and their energetic toddler, Llewyn. Together, they cherish weekends exploring public parks with their beloved dogs, Lucy and Barney. An avid sports enthusiast, Shay and her family enthusiastically support the Pittsburgh Steelers during football season and cheer for the Kentucky Wildcats in college sports.

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.

Ana Pineda, a native from Mexico, joined Maxwell Street Legal Clinic in March of 2024 as a DOJ Accredited Representative.

Ana strives to provide her clients with excellent communication about and understanding of their immigration proceedings. Having gone through the immigration process herself, she is uniquely able to relate to clients’ needs and concerns and understands the life changing opportunities that come with citizenship.

Ana has practiced immigration law since 2019 and enjoys traveling, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Emily Rohr (she/her) joins KEJC as an Outreach Coordinator for the Housing Justice Team, bringing over a decade of nonprofit experience to the organization. Before coming to KEJC, Emily dedicated ten years to PETA, advocating for animal rights. She also served on the board of Project Q&A, where she championed the rights of the LGBT+ community, and volunteered with Food Forward, focusing on food justice initiatives.

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Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Science from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Murray State University. She is thrilled to apply her experience and academic knowledge to advance housing justice and serve her fellow Kentuckians.

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Outside of work, Emily enjoys learning Japanese, traveling, and spending quality time with her three rescue cats and dog.

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. 

Abigail joined Maxwell Street Legal Clinic as a legal assistant in September 2024. She grew up in Southeast Kentucky and graduated from Berea College in 2022 with a BA in Spanish and Music. Abigail is also a certified interpreter for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

She loves to read and travel, and she has lived in Spain and Honduras. She is passionate about language access and immigration justice, and she is proud to serve Lexington's immigrant community.

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. 

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.