Evanston Community Defender Office, Inc.
Integrated Legal and Social Services for Evanston Youth
Our StaffNaria K. Santa Lucia, Executive DirectorMs. Santa Lucia is responsible for the overall development, strategic planning and programmatic direction of the Evanston Community Defender Office. Prior to serving as the Executive Director, Ms. Santa Lucia was an Associate at the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Ms. Santa Lucia also served as Program Manager at the Seattle Youth Involvement Network and Program Director at the Center for Ethical Leadership. Ms. Santa Lucia is a graduate of the Law School and the College at the University of Chicago, where she graduated with honors and was elected phi beta kappa.
Tom Verdun, Senior Staff AttorneyWith over 25 years of experience, Mr. Verdun is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney. Prior to his current position as Senior Attorney at our office, Mr. Verdun served with distinction as an attorney for the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Verdun handled hundreds of cases, ranging from drug charges to capital offenses. For over 15 years, Mr. Verdun was a memberof the Murder Task Force and defended numerous clients on capital cases. Mr. Verdun is a graduate of The John Marshall Law School and Northern Illinois University, where he graduated with honors.
Andrea Lubelfeld Senior Staff AttorneyMs. Lubelfeld has over 20 years of practice as a criminal defense attorney. Prior to joining our staff, Ms. Lubelfeld served in the Juvenile, Felony Trial and Multiple Defendants Divisions of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. At the Evanston Defender, Ms. Lubelfeld represents clients injuvenile delinquency and school disciplinary matters. Ms. Lubelfeld received her law degree from the IIT Chicago Kent College of Law and a B.A. from DePaul University.
Sylvia Corcoran, Director of Social Work Services
Ms. Corcoran is a licensed clinical social worker with years of experience as a practitioner dealing specifically with relationship and family issues. As the Director of Social Work Services, Ms. Corcoran creates social work plans, provides case management, crisis intervention counseling, community outreach and conducts family and individual counseling. Ms. Corcoran also supervises Master of Social Work interns. Prior to joining our office, Ms. Corcoran was a staff therapist at the Family Institute at Northwestern, where she continues her affiliation with her private practice. Ms. Corcoran is a graduate of Loyola University's School of Social Work. Ms.Corcoran also holds an M.A. in Christian Education from Garret Evangelical Theological Seminary and a B.A. from Northern Illinois University. Meghan Helder, Program CoordinatorMs. Helder joined the Evanston Defender in her current position as Program Coordinator in fall of 2009. Ms. Helder's primary responsibility and role is to act as a coach and coordinator for the Full Life Future Planning program. Prior to joining the Evanston Defender, Ms. Helder was an Americorps Vista volunteer in Seattle, WA where she worked on community development and capacity building for Campfire USA. Ms. Helder is Magna Cum Laude graduate of St. Norbert College where she studied Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Human Services and Spanish. Robert Roy,Of Counsel Mr. Roy has an extensive career as a juvenile justice advocate in the Evanston area. For over 25 years, Mr. Roy has represented Evanston Residents in legal proceedings ranging from juvenile delinquency to school disciplinary proceedings. Mr. Roy also regularly advocates for clients before various city and state agencies, and provides trainings on a wide range of topics including expungements and restorative justice. Mr. Roy graduated with honors from The John Marshal Law School and Bradley University.
|