CHICAGO – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) paid tribute in Chicago last Thursday, June 12, to three leaders who have committed their lives and careers to improving the lives of those in the Latino community and throughout the country.
“The examples set by our honorees are needed now more than ever,” said MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz. “The Latino community must demonstrate its characteristic courage and resilience to play the role it must now play to preserve and expand democracy and the rule of law in our nation.”
Former MALDEF Board of Directors Chair, Charlene L. Aguilar, was given the Valerie Kantor Award for Extraordinary Achievement. The Kantor Award is MALDEF's highest recognition, reserved for organization leaders. Aguilar, served on the MALDEF board from 2008 to 2014, and chaired the board for two years. Aguilar is a senior partner at WittKieffer, an executive search firm and in her tenure there she has brought all her experience as the child of immigrants and a member of the Latino community to her work. Aguilar has also held various leadership positions in higher education. While at Stanford University she was the associate director of the Center for Chicano Research and worked with faculty on social science and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) research affecting Latino communities. At Stanford and the University of California at Santa Barbara, Aguilar developed initiatives that responded to and created access to higher education for first-generation students and students from marginalized communities.
“In life, I have been inspired by a deep connection to familia, and motivated by heroes daily who effect just and positive change with purpose, vision, and commitment,” said Aguilar. “Since its founding, MALDEF, the nation's leading civil rights voice for our abundant and diverse Latino community has been tireless in its advocacy for equality, equity and inclusion, so my service on the MALDEF board as member and chair was one of the most fulfilling in my personal and professional life. Then. as now, I experienced first-hand the dedication and generosity of staff and bore witness to the brave leadership, vision and courage of Thomas Saenz, who is an exceptional President and General Counsel. I will cherish this recognition forever.”
MALDEF honored Illinois Appellate Court Justice Jesse G. Reyes, with a Lifetime Achievement – Excellence in Legal Services Award. Elected to the Illinois Appellate, First District, Justice Reyes served as the Chair of the First District’s Executive Committee where he spearheaded efforts to improve access for Spanish-speaking and other immigrant litigants. He is president and a founding member of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, NFP, an organization of judges and attorneys who promote diversity in the legal profession by providing financial assistance to underprivileged and underrepresented law students. Justice Reyes’ service off the bench includes numerous awards from various bar associations including the North Suburban Bar Association which established a scholarship in his name. The Justice Jesse G. Reyes Scholarship promotes diversity and inclusion at the community level.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Lifetime Achievement – Excellence in Legal Service Award from MALDEF and its board of directors,” Reyes said. “I am proud to have my name associated with past recipients of this award and with this long-standing civil rights organization that speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Pedro Juan Windsor Jr., Associate Executive Director of the American Bar Association (ABA), was recognized with the Excellence in Legal Service Award. Windsor oversees the management of more than 70 staff members in 30 departments of the ABA, including the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Center for Professional Responsibility. Windsor has held several leadership positions at the ABA including Managing Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; there, he and his staff worked to eliminate bias, promote diversity, and advance civil rights within the legal profession. During his time at the ABA, he has helped to establish partnerships with legal, governmental, nonprofit, and corporate entities that led to the creation of groups such as the Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, and the Commission on Civic Education in the Nation’s Schools, which serve to further educate the public and promote understanding of the law.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Excellence in Legal Service Award from MALDEF, an organization whose unwavering commitment to justice and advocacy inspires me every day,” said Windsor. “This recognition reinforces my belief that service is the fundamental duty of every lawyer
— and a vital force in defending democracy and civil rights – especially in times of urgent challenge. I am grateful to be part of a community dedicated to creating a more just and equitable society, and I stand committed to advancing these principles with humility, passion, and purpose.”
MALDEF recognizes the significant contributions of these outstanding leaders and their dedication to advancing civil rights for all. The event draws notable government and community leaders from around the nation.