When I joined SeniorLAW Center (then known as Judicare) in 1997 as a young Executive Director, my first client was a great-grandmother. She was raising five great-grandchildren, ages two to thirteen. I was in awe of her stamina, patience and courage. She’d faced the loss of many family members to violence, illness, addiction. She endured. Would I ever be so brave, so strong, so determined, so resilient? 

Parenting is hard at any age. Imagine doing so as a grandparent or great-grandparent in your older years, often after the trauma of losing a child of your own or facing the fact that your own child can no longer parent and you must step in. That is the story of hundreds of thousands of grandparents across our nation, and the story of our client Celeste, whom you will meet below. Celeste inspires. After losing her daughter tragically and unexpectedly, she stepped in to raise her 4-year-old grandson at a time when they were both grieving, both broken-hearted. Theirs is a happy ending in that she could navigate the legal and other systems to give him a sense of permanency and the loving home and supports he needs. We are proud to have played a part in helping in her success. But it is her courage, her strength, her resilience, in the face of daunting challenges, that got her there. Like so many of our clients facing hardships and suffering many of us will never know. Imminent homelessness through eviction or foreclosure. Devastating physical abuse at the hands of loved ones or caregivers. Financial exploitation taking a life’s savings as well as one’s independence. 

We are proud to be there for those who need us, facing these types of crises as they face the dual hardships of poverty and aging. And we are grateful. To our clients for inspiring us and giving us the privilege of being a part of their lives. To our extraordinary staff, in the trenches every day doing this hard work of justice. To our board and other stellar volunteers. And to each of you, for being a partner in this work, and believing, as we do, that justice should be for all, not just those who have wealth or privilege. Thank you for joining us in believing that, just as we all will age, should we have the gift of long lives, we all stand upon the shoulders of those who came before us. We honor them through this work and are grateful for the privilege to do so.  

Warmest wishes, 

Karen C. Buck, Esq.

Executive Director

Meet our client, Celeste. We celebrate her courage, resilience and determination to raise her grandson, in the face of the tragic loss of her daughter and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her story is a testament to the strength and resilience of grandparents across Pennsylvania. Thanks to her team at SeniorLAW Center, Celeste was able to find the support and legal assistance she needed to ensure her 4-year-old grandson could thrive in her custody and receive the care, education, and resources he needs. Celeste quickly met with SeniorLAW Center’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren team. Celeste was dealing with a huge roadblock: she couldn’t locate her grandson’s father, who had never been involved in the child’s life, to serve the necessary legal papers. Without this step, the custody hearing could not proceed. 

With our expertise and resources, we were able to locate the child’s father in another state and represent Celeste at an expedited hearing in Family Court that secured an award of sole legal and physical custody for her grandson. In addition, our team prepared advance planning documents so her wishes and intentions for herself and her grandson’s care were legally documented. She was thus able to make the most important decisions for him, advocate for his special needs, and ensure a sense of permanency at a time of trauma. Her story is a true testament to the life-changing impact of our work. At SeniorLAW Center, we strive to provide hope and support to older people, empowering them to overcome daunting challenges. 

To read more about Celeste’s inspiring story and to support our work click here: Annual Appeal – SeniorLAW Center.

Please meet new leaders of our legal team, who have all ascended into new positions. SeniorLAW Center is proud to announce the latest staff developments, showcasing the growth and exceptional talent within our team. Sue Nolen, Esq. has been promoted to leadership as Supervising Attorney, Victim Services. Sue joined SeniorLAW Center in 2018 and has over 25 years of legal experience, having held positions at the Delaware County Public Defender's Office. Adam Weintraub-Barth, Esq., has taken on the new role of Senior Attorney, Tenant Rights, where he will supervise and lead the Tenant Rights team in fighting evictions, resolving landlord–tenant disputes, and other pressing legal issues facing low-income older renters in Philadelphia. 

Lucy Qiu, Esq. will step into the role of Senior Attorney, Victim Services. Before joining SeniorLAW Center in 2020, Lucy served as an Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County and as an Associate in the Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group at Reed Smith LLP. Dakota Levy received a well-deserved promotion to Senior Legal Advocate, Victim Services. She joined us in 2020 as our Legal Advocate in Bucks County and previously worked as a Human Resources Assistant at HomeServices Relocation. 

We continue to explore new growth and leadership opportunities for our team. Congratulations to all these new leaders on these remarkable achievements. 

We welcome Olivia Britlinger-Conn to the SeniorLAW Center team as the first Administrative Coordinator, Victim Services. Olivia is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and previously worked at our community partner Nationalities Service Center as Refugee Career Pathways Program Coordinator. We wish Olivia all the best in her new role and look forward to seeing the positive impact she will make.   

Congratulations to the newly elected Officers of our Board of Directors. We are grateful to our Board Members who share our mission of pursuing justice for older people through the power of the law, educating the community and advocating on local, state, and national levels. We are inspired by our Board's leadership, generosity and commitment to our vision of a world that values older people, hears their voices and guarantees their rights. 

We are delighted to announce that Board Member, President of Skyrocket Communications, Inc. and volunteer Tanya Simmons Reid will serve as Chair of our 2024 Gala, Celebrating Justice. Tanya's passion for service, leadership and giving back, coupled with her role as President of Skyrocket Communications, makes her the perfect choice to help us make our most important annual event a resounding success.  

"When I learned about the work SeniorLAW Center does in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania to seek justice for older people, I knew I wanted to help in any way that I could.

That is why it is such a blessing to chair SeniorLAW Center's 2024 Gala! As our organization prepares to celebrate justice in remarkable and memorable ways, I hope you will attend the Gala, give generously and invite others to join you."

- Tanya Simmons Reid

We are honored to share our gratitude for our generous and supportive network of donors, volunteers, and partners in our mission. Click the video to see a few of our staff members share their words of thanks and gratitude. We are proud to celebrate their exceptional work and grateful for the positive impact they have on the world.