Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Open Hands Legal Services Board of Directors, I am delighted to introduce Kathleen Slocum as Open Hands’ new Executive Director.
Kathleen’s personal, professional and spiritual experiences reveal that God has been preparing Kathleen to take the helm at Open Hands for many years. She has over 15 years of legal experience, ranging from corporate finance to representation of immigrant victims of domestic violence. She is a co-founder of Restore NYC, a faith-based organization dedicated to serving human trafficking victims, and brings a valuable combination of policy, fundraising, and management experience to Open Hands.
Kathleen acts and speaks out against injustice. She serves the people that society ignores. Of her new role, Kathleen says that she is “[h]onored to be a part of Open Hands Legal Services, which following the model of Christ, meets people where they are, advocates on behalf of them to correct injustice, and restores them to the flourishing individual God intended them to be."
Our Board of Directors recently adopted an aggressive and exciting strategic plan for the organization. We believe that growing and deepening Open Hands’ services is imperative to best serve the thousands of low-income New Yorkers that daily face the justice system alone. We are confident that under Kathleen’s leadership, we will move steadfastly towards our vision of “all lives transformed by the power of justice and hope.”
We are deeply grateful to C.J. Masimore for her leadership as Open Hands’ Executive Director over the past five years. During her tenure, our services to low-income New Yorkers have significantly expanded in breadth as well as in depth. C.J. has been instrumental in helping to guide the strategic vision of the organization, and has led with boldness, compassion, and humility. C.J. will assist in Kathleen’s transition through August 2016. We wish C.J. and her family all the best as they prepare to move to London.
Thank you for your friendship and support of this work that the Lord has given to us. We are grateful for His provision, and humbly request your continued prayers for Open Hands, our clients, staff, and volunteers.
Sincerely,
Karen Wu
Chair, Board of Directors