The Clearinghouse presented Chrystal with its Stephen M. Nolan Leadership Award in recognition of her commitment to community development and the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Massachusetts, causes she has championed throughout her 20+-year career.
The event also marked another successful year of fundraising for the Clearinghouse’s pro bono programs. The organization raised $160,000 from over 100 sponsors, thanks to an active Leadership Committee chaired by Richard Henken, President of The Schochet Companies, and Timothy Sullivan, Managing Director at UBS.
Jeff Sacks, a longtime member of the Clearinghouse Board and a partner at Nixon Peabody, kicked off the evening’s speaking program, welcoming attendees and sponsors on behalf of Nixon Peabody.
Clearinghouse Board President Chris Lindstrom, a partner at Nutter McClennen & Fish, then provided a brief overview of the Clearinghouse’s past year, calling it “one of great accomplishment and great change.”
In September 2018, after 30 years operating out of two small basement offices at the Boston Bar Association, the Clearinghouse moved to a new location at 7 Winthrop Square in downtown Boston, where it now shares space with the Volunteer Lawyers Project. Chris said the change of scenery had been invigorating for staff.
Chris introduced attorney Bryan Connor, an associate at Morgan Lewis. Bryan spoke about a successful case he and his colleagues, associate Nathaniel Bruhn and partner Daniel Savrin, had recently taken on behalf of a Clearinghouse Legal Clinic client, a refugee of the Somali Civil War who was facing eviction from her home.
“As attorneys, it’s easy to forget how scary any legal situation can be when you don’t have somebody you can call to help you figure out the problem,” Bryan said. “There are many people like [our client] who face that problem, and there are many lawyers like those in this room who want to fill that gap. Lawyers Clearinghouse does an excellent job of setting up folks who want to help with folks who need help.”
Clearinghouse Vice President Liz Lintz, a director at Goulston & Storrs, presented the Clearinghouse’s newest award, the Pro Bono Excellence Award, to Jim Kelleher, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group.
The Clearinghouse chose to honor Jim in recognition of his successful efforts in advancing a robust and active pro bono volunteer program within Liberty Mutual’s legal department.
Clearinghouse board member Kathy McGrath, Assistant Vice President and Senior Corporate Counsel at Liberty Mutual, accepted the award on behalf of Jim, who was unable to attend.
Liberty Mutual attorneys have been volunteering with the Clearinghouse’s Legal Clinic for a decade now, and Kathy thanked the Clearinghouse for providing the training and mentorship that enables volunteers to take on such important work.
“It takes a partnership like this one to empower people to do pro bono work and discover the satisfaction that’s inherent in it,” she said.
Liz Lintz then introduced event co-chairs Rick Henken and Tim Sullivan to present the Stephen M. Nolan Leadership Award—previously known only as the Leadership Award—to Chrystal. The Clearinghouse had recently renamed the award to recognize the incredible contributions of longtime board member Steve Nolan, a partner at Nolan Sheehan Patten.
“Steve’s dedication to the Clearinghouse over the past 27 years has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Liz said. “We wanted to honor Steve for all that he’s done in a special and lasting way.”
Before presenting Chrystal with her award, Rick and Tim played a special video message from Governor Charlie Baker, who Chrystal worked with for many years in her role as the Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development.
“Chrystal is one of those people–she’s a little bit like a tornado; you don’t really know what hit you after it’s all said and done, but you’re pretty sure she was there,” Governor Baker said. “And I know in many respects, for our administration, the work that Chrystal’s done in so many areas around housing, community, and economic development, have made an enormous difference for the people here in the Commonwealth.”
Governor Baker’s remarks highlighted what an important figure Chrystal has been within the affordable housing and community development world for so many years, and the subsequent remarks from Rick and Tim made her impact even more evident.
“Every one of us who ever had the opportunity to know her, to work with her, can’t help but just say great things about her,” said Rick. “It’s amazing to watch the way that she works. She is tenacious; she has made a professional career out of looking out for those who are less fortunate, and will always find a way to get it done, whatever it is.”
After accepting the Nolan Leadership Award from Rick and Tim, Chrystal provided the final remarks of the evening. She expressed her thanks to the many people in attendance who she had worked with over the years.
“Al Sharpton was the keynote speaker [at my nephew’s college graduation], and one of the things Al reminded me was I get to do what I do because of all the people before me,” she said. “So I hope that you all feel like this is not my Leadership Award, this is your Leadership Award. You guys taught me everything I know … I learn a lot from you, I learn a lot from being around you, and it really is all about getting things done.”
Clearinghouse board member Jessica Lisak, counsel at WilmerHale, thanked attendees, sponsors, the Leadership Committee, and the Clearinghouse board and staff for their contributions to such a successful event.
