Sustaining Public Service: The Alumni Engagement Program’s 2024 Highlights

The Alumni Engagement Program at Equal Justice Works has continued to grow since its launch in April 2021 and achieved many successes throughout 2024. Read more about the recent successes of the program below.  

The Equal Justice Works Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) expanded to 21 members, with the addition of 11 new members in 2024. This expansion allowed the Council to form a mentorship committee and begin formulating an alumni-Fellow mentorship program. Throughout the year, the AAC hosted two Alumni-Fellow regional events and facilitated two professional development workshops. Additionally, Equal Justice Works staff hosted several networking socials for Fellows and alumni, including one at the 2024 Equal Justice Conference in Detroit Michigan and another mix and mingle in the DMV area. 

At the 2024 Scales of Justice, Equal Justice Works presented its second Distinguished Alumni Award to 2000 Fellow alum Ahilan Arulanantham, who now serves as the Professor from Practice and Co-Director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP) at the UCLA School of Law. This year, the nomination process for the Distinguished Alumni Award expanded to solicit nominations from Equal Justice Works Fellows and Fellow-Alums. The Equal Justice Works Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an Equal Justice Works alum who has made outstanding contributions as a leader in public interest law; has distinguished their-self through creating lasting impact in the communities they serve; embodies the organizational values of passion, community, service, opportunity, and equal access to justice; and reflects the transformative power of an Equal Justice Works Fellowship

“I want you to know that I have found tremendous joy in this struggle,” Ahilan said in his remarks at the event. “My partners in it have become some of my closest friends. The fact that we have not won—not yet won—has made us re-think our strategies from time to time. But it has not weakened our resolve.” 

Equal Justice Works also expanded upon alumni participation in the Leadership Development Training this year. At the 2024 event, alumni served as affinity group leaders and were invited to attend an Alumni-Fellow Welcome Reception hosted by the AAC.  

“It has been inspiring to witness the alumni in our community band together to help create these great opportunities for current Fellows and alumni to connect,” said Lynbea Toombs, the director of alumni relations at Equal Justice Works. “We look forward to continuing to engage and recognize the accomplishments of our alumni through programming and volunteer opportunities next year!” 

To learn more about alumni programs at Equal Justice Works, click here.