Charlene Gilchrist is a housing consultant with over 30 years of experience. Charlene started as a receptionist for the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization at Station 7. She quickly became interested in housing counselling after many conversations with housing counsellors about the programs and services they offered to the community. Growing up and continuing to live in Ward 7, she saw housing counselling as a way to help her community improve its quality of life. After working for Marshall Heights Community Development for 25 years, Charlene continued her career as a housing consultant when she joined University Legal Services (ULS) in March 2010. Her commitment to providing quality services to surrounding communities continued as she partnered with University Legal Services through programs, services and advice such as the Home Buyers` Assistance Program, the Single Family Rehabilitation Program, mortgage default and delinquency, fair housing, credit counselling, budget and financial management, landlords` and tenants` rights, etc. CTV has been a P&A since ULS was named P&A in 1997 and continues to work as an attorney in the PAIMI, TBI and PAD programs. She brings her training and experience as a licensed social worker in the District of Columbia to her work, representing individuals who want consumer-centered plans to support exit planning and the development of strong services in the community. Jaclyn earned a double degree, receiving a JD magna laude from Widener University Delaware Law School and a PsyD from the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University. She received the Reed Hamilton Memorial Award for Excellence in Health Law.
During her graduate training, Jaclyn has worked in various areas of health and law, including as a member of the psychology team at an inpatient addiction treatment facility, as an external judge of federal justice, and as a mental health intern at HELP: MLP, a medical-legal partnership focused on providing services to low-income mothers. Since joining ULS in 1997, Sandy has directly represented hundreds of people with disabilities to ensure they receive quality services and supports, are fully integrated into their communities, and their civil rights are protected. In addition to overseeing all legal and advocacy work at ULS, much of her recent practice is focused on ensuring that county residents with developmental disabilities receive the community services to which they are entitled, from the Department of Disability Services and the Department of Health Care Finance. André spent nearly 20 years at DC Prison and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In 2016, he was released to DC, where he grew up. Two years later, while André was still a JPAP client, he volunteered to testify before the DC City Council about his reintegration experience and the need for programs like JPAP “to build trust while being inside and not feeling like I can trust anyone.” André was such an effective spokesperson for those involved in justice with mental illness that JPAP hired him to provide services to returning citizens who were victims of crime. In January 2021, André was promoted to peer navigator for the ULS Men`s Back-to-School Housing pilot project. Andrew is a disciple of the deity and constantly helps other members of the community who need help. We defend the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities in the District of Columbia. University Legal Services (ULS) is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that provides housing, tenant buying/asset management advice to low- and middle-income individuals throughout the District of Columbia. ULS also serves as the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for the District of Columbia through our Disability Rights DC (DRDC) unit.
Through DRDC, we promote the mission of defending human, civil and legal rights and the protection of persons with disabilities. Tammy Seltzer is Director of the DC Jail and Prison Advocacy Project at Disability Rights DC (DRDC. DRDC founded the DC Jail and Prison Advocacy Project in 2007 to help DC residents with severe and persistent mental illness return to the community after prison and prison, remove barriers to reintegration, and connect individuals with services and support. The DC Jail and Prison Advocacy Project is the only legal service provider in Washington that helps people with disabilities apply for an SSI and SSDI prior to their release from custody. Tammy has been advocating for the civil rights of people with mental illness in various areas, including the justice system, for over 20 years. Tammy spent two years as Director of State Policy at the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the national association for mental health and addiction providers. Through her work at the National Council, Tammy has provided technical assistance on a variety of policy issues related to mental health and substance use disorders, such as funding for home and community services and health care reform. Tammy also spent 10 years practicing law with Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, where she focused on children and criminal justice, including an SSI benefits project to support the children of Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange. In 2016, Tammy received the 2016 Justice Potter Stewart Award from the Center for Court Excellence for her work with people with disabilities.
Tammy graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Public Policy and received her law degree from the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia. Abraham became a staff attorney at Disability Rights DC at the University`s Legal Services in early 2019. Its primary responsibility is to assist persons with disabilities to receive appropriate vocational rehabilitation services from the District of Columbia. In addition, he advocates for beneficiaries of Social Security disability insurance and supplemental security income programs and advocates for people with disabilities to receive the rights guaranteed by the Help America Vote Act. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Jane was a supervising lawyer at ULS, where she oversaw housing advisory staff and represented tenants in Landlord and Tenant Court. She represented tenants looking for residential property as part of the tenant buying process, giving them the opportunity to own their apartment buildings and convert them into co-ops. She has advised on all phases of purchase, renovation of real estate and project financing. Jasmine Pondexter is the receptionist and admissions specialist for our far northeast location on Benning Road. Jasmine greets clients with a smile and warm voice, makes recordings for programs, and provides information and referral services.
Peter Stephan joined Disability Rights DC in early 2019. He represents D.C. residents with disabilities to promote their access to vocational rehabilitation services, Medicaid community longterm care services, polling stations, and public housing. Before joining ULS, Mr. Stephan was a partner at Correia & Puth and represented plaintiffs in workplace discrimination lawsuits, where he was selected as Washington, D.C.