About CRFC
Mission
The Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) works with elementary and secondary schools to develop critical thinking skills, civic participation, and commitment to the rule of law among young people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, CRFC is a national leader in the design and implementation of quality law-related education (LRE) programs for local, national, and international projects. CRFC was founded in 1974 as part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles and became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 1990.
CRFC reaches out to our youngest citizens-elementary and high school students-by providing:
Student Programs
Students from diverse backgrounds are provided with opportunities to learn first-hand about legal and political issues.
Teacher Training
Teachers learn in-depth content about the American legal and governmental system, as well ways to incorporate interactive methods such as mock trials, Socratic discussions, case studies, and role-plays into their classrooms.
Resource Experts in the Classroom
Lawyers, judges, police officers, and other public officials are recruited and prepared to work with teachers and students.
Innovative Curricula
Designed for use in government, Constitution, civics, and other social studies classes, CRFC curricula give students background on our legal and political system and challenge them to apply this knowledge through case studies, mock trials, discussions, and other interactive means.
History
CRFC was founded in 1974 as part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles. In 1990, the Chicago office established itself as an independent 501(c)(3) organization. CRFC and CRF-LA continue to work together on several projects, including national projects.
What is Law-Related Education?
"Education to equip non-lawyers with knowledge and skills pertaining to the law, the legal process, and the legal system, and the fundamental principles and values on which these are based." (U.S. Department of Education, 1978) More information about law-related education is available here
Chairman
James A. Klenk, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
Vice Chairmen
Gary Feinerman, Sidley Austin LLP
Michael D. Freeborn, Freeborn & Peters LLP
Andrew A. Kassof, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Treasurer
Dennis F. Regan, The Northern Trust Company
Secretary
Victor P. Filippini, Jr., Holland & Knight, LLP
Immediate Past Chair
Susan G. Gallagher, Huron Consulting Group
Members
Ronald J. Allen, Northwestern University School of Law
Steven L. Bashwiner, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Hon. William J. Bauer, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Myles Berman, Foley & Lardner LLP
Suzanne Bettman, R.R. Donnelley
Hon. Paul B. Biebel, Circuit Court of Cook County
Scott V. Bruner, City of Chicago, Office of Administrative Hearings
Hon. Ruben Castillo, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Renee Citera, LexisNexis
Sonia D. Coleman, BlueCross and BlueShield of IL
Patrick M. Collins, Perkins Coie LLP
Jeffrey D. Colman, Jenner & Block, LLP
Philip H. Corboy, Corboy & Demetrio
Brian L. Crowe, Shefsky & Froelich, Ltd.
Alex Dimitrief, General Electric Company
Steven M. Elrod, Holland & Knight, LLP
Hon. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, Supreme Court of Illinois
Karen H. Flax, Tribune Company
Benjamin Ghess, Brothers & Thompson PC
Diane Green-Kelly, Reed Smith LLP
Margaret A. Hickey, Office of the U.S. Attorney
Bernard Judge, Law Bulletin Publishing Co.
Robert T. Markowski, Jenner & Block, LLP
David Moes, Navigant Consulting, Inc.
Paula J. Morency, Schiff Hardin LLP
Donald L. Mrozek, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Sonya D. Naar, Attorneys' Liability Assurance Society, Inc.
Gordon B. Nash, Jr., Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Julian A. Oettinger
Craig A. Roeder, Baker & McKenzie LLP
John F. Sandner, Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Gloria Santona, McDonald's Corporation
Donald A. Shindler, DLA Piper LLP (US)
R. Ryan Stoll, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Thomas P. Sullivan, Jenner & Block, LLP
Earl A. Talbot, Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP
Jeffrey R. Tone, Sidley Austin LLP
Hugh J. Totten, The Valorem Law Group
Georgia L. Vlamis, Motorola, Inc.
Dan K. Webb, Winston & Strawn LLP
James S. Whitehead, Sidley Austin LLP
Diane P. Wood, U.S. Court of Appeals - 7th Circuit
David N. Yellen, Loyola University School of Law
Life Trustees
Eleanor S. Barnard, Molner Foundation
John J. Jemilo, Wayne and Jemilo
Frank J. McGarr
Stephen A. Schiller
Carolyn Pereira, Executive Director
x204, pereira@crfc.org
Nisan Chavkin, Associate Director
x206, chavkin@crfc.org
Gary Coleman, Finance and Systems Manager
x207, coleman@crfc.org
Jessica Chethik, Elementary Programs Director
x218, chethik@crfc.org
Marlene Bennet-Stanley, Elementary Programs Associate Director
x219, stanley@crfc.org
Dee Runaas, High School Programs Director
x208, runaas@crfc.org
Margie Chan, Events Director
x205, chan@crfc.org
Tawny Lane, Office Administrator & International Programs Coordinator
x203, lane@crfc.org
Amina Majeed, Coordinator, Elementary and Middle School Programs
x201, majeed@crfc.org
Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago
407 S. Dearborn, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60605
312-663-9057 | fax 312-663-4321
crfc@crfc.org
web inquiries: webmaster@crfc.org
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