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Mission Statement

The Tennessee Justice Center advocates on behalf of poor Tennesseans:

• in areas of public policy having the greatest impact on their health and welfare;
  
• by means which afford clients opportunities to make their own voices heard; and
  
• in ways which emphasize collaboration across lines of race, class and generation.

Our clients inspire and drive the work that we do. The Center also supports the work of others engaged in similar advocacy efforts, beyond state boundaries, on behalf of the poor.

Click here to read more about TJC in "Battling Goliath in Tennessee," an article by Ted Parks that appeared in Sojourners magazine.

READ YEAR-END LETTERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2007• 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000

Staff

• Executive Director Gordon Bonnyman

• Managing Attorney Michele Johnson

• Staff Attorney Chris Yerian

• Office Manager Cathy Austin • Secretary Christie Lockard

• Paralegals & Client Advocates Sarah Allen, Jane Beasley, Emily Einstein, Eric Sidler, Jennifer Tlumak

• Client Advocate & Educator Susanne Bennett

• Intern Claire Ackerman

• Princeton Intern Vanessa Rodriguez

• Law Clerks Melissa Cohen and Jason King

Henry Hill and Kavi D'Souza Stevick complete document review during litigation. As the adage goes, it takes a whole nonprofit to raise a baby.

TJC is a family-friendly employer.  Employees who welcome infants into their families are permitted to bring their newborn children to work with them until the child celebrates his or her first birthday.  Six children have spent the first year of their lives as part of our office.  We find that our policy both enhances the ability of employees with young children to be productive while striking a good work-family balance, and also allows the entire office to enjoy the stress-relieving presence of babies at work.

Many thanks to Ed Kashi, who donated his time and talent to TJC by photographing our staff. View his work at www.talkingeyesmedia.org.

Board

The Tennessee Justice Center is privileged to have an experienced, knowledgable Board.

*Affiliations are listed for informational purposes only.

TJC Heroes

TJC could not exist without the support of volunteers. We are inspired daily by the generosity of the individuals and companies who have come to the aid of our clients. The "TJC Heroes" featured here are just a few of the outstanding individuals and companies who have made much of our work possible. Click here to read more.

Click to read more about our work.

Click to get involved.