Terry Pastika, Esq. Founder/ Board Member/ Executive Director.
Terry began her community lawyer career at the Citizen Advocacy Center in 1999, served as executive director from 2001-2013 and joined the organization's board in 2014. Terry has assisted a vast number of community groups and pursued numerous policy reforms from the local to state level. She was recognized locally by the NAACP DuPage County Area with a Leadership Award for advancing civic rights, statewide by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform with a Leadership Award for advancing Illinois' transparency laws, and nationally by OMB Watch with their inaugural Public Interest Rising Star Award for leading a new generation in pursuit of social justice. Notably, the Citizen Advocacy Center was recognized in 2014 by the Illinois House of Representatives for their 20th Anniversary with a Resolution that highlighted the community lawyer model, the promotion of civic engagement and their pursuit of political reforms. Additionally the organization was highlighted as a model of hard work and integrity. Terry moved to the East Bay in 2013 and launched the Community Advocacy Center to continue building democracy through community lawyering. Terry is licensed to practice law in Illinois and California.
Theresa Amato, Esq. Board Member.
Theresa has primarily practiced public interest law for more than two decades. She founded the award winning 501(c)(3) Citizen Advocacy Center (1993) and has served on its board since inception. The Citizen Advocacy Center is a state-based nonprofit community lawyering organization dedicated to strengthening citizen capacity to fully participate in the democratic process. Theresa also helped start Citizen Works (2001), a national organization, to work for greater citizen participation in power. Theresa is nationally recognized in the fields of government and corporate accountability and federal elections as well as a published author. Theresa has also taught law and college course on Community Lawyering and Civic Rights and has extensive experience in policy advocacy, litigation, media relations, fundraising, and organizational development.
Mark Daniel, Esq. Board Member.
Mark has practiced law for more than two decades and is recognized as one of Illinois' top lawyers for litigation, zoning, land use, and real estate. Mark has represented developers, municipalities and individuals and citizen groups seeking to hold government entities accountable. Mark also practices First Amendment law and has defended First Amendment principles of Free Speech, Assembly, Association and Religion. Mark has extensive public policy experience on the local and state level, has run for public office and understands the value of engaging and organizing community members to fully participate in the democratic process while also ensuring that government entities advance best practice principles. Mark has contributed significant pro bono hours to non-profit organizations and has experience sitting on several non-profit boards.
Tracy Dressner, Esq. Board Member.
Tracy is a California appellate lawyer who has been defending clients in death penalty cases and other serious felony cases for 20 years. Tracy has argued many cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of California, and the California Court of Appeals. She has dedicated her professional career to pursuing justice and holding prosecutors and judges accountable. Tracy demonstrated her commitment to training the next generation of lawyers through her previous work as a legal writing instructor and the mentoring of new lawyers. An active community member, Tracy served for many years on the executive board of her synagogue and was honored by a local elementary school for her hundreds of hours of volunteer service.
Jennifer Pfaff, Board Member.
Jennifer was a journalist for twelve years, most recently serving as a long time managing editor for a 45 person news office that produced eight weekly community newspapers and maintained 26 websites. Jennifer developed reporter training programs on urban development and public financing; public school financing; access to public records and government meetings while also overseeing newsroom open government initiatives that included directing reporters in how to file records request, addressing government entities when records were not produced, and working with media lawyers to pursue accountability of government entities. Jennifer has reported on dozens of citizen initiatives and hundreds of local government meetings. Jennifer currently serves as an editor and project manager for a medical institution, identifying best avenues for publication of professional journals and producing newsletters.