NELA
Empowering Workers' Rights Attorneys
Law students, recent law graduates, and those new to plaintiffs’ employment law are invited to join NELA and the National Institute for Workers’ Rights for an engaging and interactive discussion on how a career in plaintiff-side employment law offers a unique and meaningful way for new lawyers to use their skills to drive progressive social change. Experienced employment law practitioners will discuss their work as advocates for workers’ rights and how it intersects with and advances other social justice issues including civil rights, immigration, environmental justice, LGBTQ rights, and gender equality. The panelists also will address how to enter the plaintiffs’ employment law field and what skills and experience can help law students be successful advocates as they begin their legal careers.
Click to Read Bio
Shifa Al-Khatib
HKM Employment Attorneys, LLP
Ms. Shifa Alkhatib is the managing partner of our Phoenix, Arizona office. Ms. Alkhatib represents employees in all aspects of employment law matters. Prior to joining HKM Employment Attorneys, she served as a Public Defender for Maricopa County where she gained extensive jury trial experience. Ms. Alkhatib graduated from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2013. As a student, she worked with the Arizona Justice Project, the ACLU, and the Clark County Public Defender’s Office. Ms. Alkhatib also interned for an international NGO that advocated for prisoners rights. Ms. Alkhatib is a board member for the Homeless Legal Assistance Project and the Treasurer of the Central Arizona National Lawyers Guild.
Click to Read Bio
Clara Coleman
Nichols Kaster, PLLP
Clara Coleman is an associate attorney in the firm’s wage and hour practice. She has extensive experience advocating on behalf of workers seeking unpaid wages in class and collective actions in federal courts nationwide. She has also handled numerous individual arbitration proceedings, including those filed as part of a mass arbitration strategy, from filing through to the final hearing.
Click to Read Bio
Joseph W. Gibson
The Employment Law Center of Maryland
Joe Gibson is a Maryland employment and civil rights lawyer. Joe practices in every Maryland state Circuit and District court, as well as the federal U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Click to Read Bio
Sacred B. Huff
Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, PC
Sacred B. Huff, an Associate at This program is generously sponsored by
Law Students & New Practitioners Program
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
4:00–6:00 p.m. Central
June 28, 2023
Reception 6:00 p.m.
The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) empowers workers’ rights attorneys through legal training, promoting a fair judiciary, and advocating for laws and policies that level the playing field for workers.
We aspire to a future in which all workers are treated with dignity and respect; workplaces are equitable, diverse, and inclusive; and the well-being of workers is a priority in business practices.
President’s Welcome Reception
Wednesday, June 28
6:30 p.m.
Convention participants are invited to join NELA President Linda M. Correia, the NELA Board, and the 2023 Annual Convention Committee for an informal gathering to celebrate 38 years of workers’ rights advocacy, renew friendships, and make new ones. First-time Convention participants are especially encouraged to attend.
The President’s Welcome Reception is generously co-sponsored by AARP Foundation Litigation & NELA/Illinois.
Passport to Success
Throughout the Convention
Grab a Passport to Success card for a chance to win a complimentary registration to a 2024 CLE of your choice! Throughout the 2023 Convention, visit our exhibitors and NELA program tables to get your passport stamped. Turn in your completed passport at the registration desk to be entered into a drawing for a complimentary registration to a 2024 CLE of your choice!
Annual Convention Keynote & Luncheon
Thursday, June 29
NELA is proud to welcome worker organizers who are leading the charge in uniting their co-workers in pursuit of living wages, safer working conditions, and freedom from harassment and discrimination. Join our moderator Kim Bobo (Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy) and panelists Roberto Clack (Temp Worker Justice), Stacy Davis Gates (Chicago Teachers Union), and Brandi McNease (Chipotle United) to hear their incredible stories of grassroots advocacy and how NELA members can support workers as they engage in the fight to unionize.
Click to Read Bio
Kim Bobo
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Kim Bobo is a nationally known promoter of social justice who leads Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy’s advocacy, outreach, and development work. She literally wrote the book on faith-based organizing. Kim joined Virginia Interfaith Center in 2016, where she mobilized a historic faith advocacy campaign and played a leadership role in the statewide Healthcare for All Virginians coalition advocating Medicaid expansion, which passed in 2018. Kim moved to Virginia from Chicago, where she founded and served as executive director of Interfaith Worker Justice, the nation’s largest network of people of faith engaging in local and national actions to improve wages, benefits, and conditions for workers. Prior to that, Kim was national organizing director for Bread for the World and an instructor at the Midwest Academy. Born in Cincinnati, Kim has a B.A. in religion from Barnard College and an M.A. in economics from the New School for Social Research.
Click to Read Bio
Roberto Clack
Temp Worker Justice
Roberto Clack is the Executive Director of Temp Worker Justice. Roberto has spent time organizing in the housing, peace, and labor movements. As part of his work in the peace movement, Roberto helped organize Iraq Veterans Against War’s (IVAW) Winter Soldier event in 2008 and IVAW’s NATO Ceremony in 2012. As part of his work with worker centers, he has been a part of winning major legislation in Illinois, including the Fair Work Week campaign, the Chicago Sick Time ordinance, and the Illinois Clean Jobs Act, and helped stop new temporary staffing agency offices from gaining special use permits in his home town in Joliet. Roberto started the first worker center-based labor and environment department in the country and was a founding executive board member of the Illinois Green New Deal Coalition along with serving as an elected board member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. Roberto has helped raise millions of dollars for grassroots organizations in his two decades of organizing and his communications work has been featured in publications including: Vice News, The New Republic, USA Today, In These Times, The Progressive, The Chicago Tribune, and WBEZ Radio, along with many others.
Click to Read Bio
Stacy Davis Gates
Chicago Teachers Union
Stacy Davis Gates is president of the Chicago Teachers Union and executive vice president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Before she was elected CTU president in 2022, Stacy served four years as vice president of the union. Prior to that, she was the CTU’s political and legislative director. In fall 2019, she helped lead a 15-day strike and negotiate a historic contract that provides for smaller class sizes, ensures a nurse and social worker in every Chicago public school, secures sanctuary protections for immigrant families, and supports students and families experiencing homelessness. Stacy has spearheaded statewide legislative campaigns to pass the strongest charter school accountability measures in the country, push for the restoration of the bargaining rights of Chicago Public Schools employees and fully fund public education by ending tax loopholes for the 1 percent. Stacy is currently on leave from the classroom, where she taught high school social studies for over a decade at Englewood, Clemente, and Mason Community Links high schools.
Click to Read Bio
Brandi McNease
Chipotle United, Augusta, Maine
Brandi McNease is the lead organizer of Chipotle United in Augusta, Maine. Brandi worked in the food service industry for over 20 years, three of those at Chipotle prior to 2022. When she returned to work at the Chipotle location in Augusta, Maine, Brandi led the charge to organize the staff in pursuit of safer working conditions, sustainable staffing levels, and living wages. The Augusta Chipotle was the first Chipotle in the United States to file for a union election, and the store was closed less than a month later. The National Labor Relations Board found that Chipotle broke Federal law when they closed the store hours before a union hearing where the election was set to be scheduled and blackballing workers. In March of 2023 a settlement was reached on behalf of the workers at the Augusta Chipotle location. Brandi wants fellow workers to know they have the power to make change and ensure corporations must follow the same laws as everyone else.
Annual Convention Keynote & Luncheon
12:15–1:45 p.m. Central
June 29, 2023
1 ticket included with registration.
Additional tickets available at the door.
Gala Awards Presentation
Thursday, June 29
5:15 p.m.
All are invited to help us honor five of your colleagues for their inspiring contributions to the NELA community and the cause of justice for workers. The National Institute for Workers’ Rights will also present its annual Impact for Workers Award. Read more about the Awards Presentation.
Gala Awards Presentation
5:15–6:30 p.m. Central
June 29, 2023
Entry included with registration.
Annual Reception
Thursday, June 29
6:30 p.m.
Join your fellow workers’ rights advocates as we gather after the first full day of sessions. Come by for light refreshments, make plans for dinner with long-time friends and new, and enjoy all Chicago has to offer.
The Annual Reception is included in the registration fee for Convention registrants only. Guest tickets for the Annual Reception may be purchased at the Registration Desk or at the door.
Tobias 5K Run
Friday, June 30
Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:00 a.m.
Gather in the hotel lobby Friday morning for the Annual Tobias 5K run. Start your day with a fun run through downtown Chicago with your fellow advocates. Prizes will be awarded!
Footer
