Gina Chiala, Current Executive Director
Gina Chiala is the Executive Director and Staff Attorney for the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom. Gina has years of experience with both social justice campaigns and public interest litigation. Motivated by a strong belief that one’s income should not determine the quality of one’s legal representation, Gina began her legal career as a public defender. At the public defender’s office, Gina vigorously defended the rights of her clients and gained valuable trial experience. Gina next had the good fortune of joining Slough Connealy Irwin & Madden, Kansas City’s oldest and best known public interest law firm. There, Gina represented low-income clients in cases against abusive credit card companies, pay day lenders, finance companies, car dealerships, and debt buyers. Among the cases she tried at Slough Connealy, Gina won a historic victory against Portfolio Recovery Associates, one of the largest debt buyers in the country.
Since co-founding the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom, Gina has conducted numerous legal rights workshops for nonprofit organizations that work with underpaid workers, she helped establish a tenant's rights clinic at the Jackson County courthouse, and she is partnering with lawyers in the community to hold businesses accountable for gross workplace and consumer abuse.
In addition to practicing law, Gina has launched a leadership development program for low-wage workers who are advocating for higher wages and better working conditions. Gina has also participated heavily in campaigns to raise the minimum wage, cap Missouri’s pay day lending rates, and improve wages and working conditions for fast-food and other low-wage workers.
Gina obtained her law degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 2006, where she graduated cum laude. She received recognition as a National Member of the Order of Barristers. She also received the Ralph S. Latshaw Award for outstanding studies in criminal law, the National Moot Court Team Competition Award, and awards for excellence in the areas of civil rights, torts, legal writing and constitutional law.
Gina sits on the boards of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights and Neighborhoods of Hope Community Housing.
The UMKC Alumni Association awarded Gina with the Pro Bono Public Service Award of 2018.
The Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City awarded Gina and the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom with the 2017 Public Service award.
The National Consumer Law Center awarded Gina with the Rising Star Award for making a "major contribution to consumer law".
In 2016 Missouri Lawyer's Weekly awarded Gina as the "Plaintiff's Attorney with the largest reported verdicts judgments".
Gary Rhodes, Incoming Executive Director
We are honored to welcome Gary Rhoades as our incoming Executive Director starting June 1, 2026. A native Missourian, Gary recently returned from California and is ready to expand upon Heartland’s many successes.
Gary is a civil rights attorney with more than thirty years of leadership experience in public interest law, impact litigation, municipal civil rights enforcement, community education, and legislative approaches. He is recognized nationally for advancing fair housing protections and expanding access to justice.
His impressive professional experience includes:
1993 - 2000: Managing Attorney at Legal Services of Northern California, specializing in fair housing, affordable housing and consumer protection litigation
2000 - 2004: Litigation Director for Southern California Housing Rights Center, and received the “California Public Interest Lawyer of the Year” and “Alumni Public Service” awards
2004 - 2007: Partner for civil rights practice with emphasis on fair housing litigation
2007 - 2023: Deputy City Attorney in the Consumer/Tenant Protection Division in Santa Monica, enforcing laws regarding fair housing, affordable housing, and consumer protection.
2026: Appointed on Kansas City, Missouri’s “Housing Trust Fund Board” by Mayor Lucas
Not only does Gary have the professional experience, but he has collaborated with grassroots organizers to pass and implement pro-tenant municipal policies. As the Deputy City Attorney in Santa Monica, he researched, drafted and helped pass various fair housing protection laws, including a pioneering voucher discrimination ban. He also spearheaded and implemented Santa Monica’s “Right to Counsel” legislation.
Gary has published over thirty articles and co-authored two manuals on housing discrimination, fair housing rights, reasonable accommodations, consumer protection, political asylum, and right to counsel. His work has also appeared in the “Kansas City Star” and “The Pitch,” regarding the civil rights movement in Kansas City, sports, music, and fossils.
Additionally, he is the Co-Founder of “Rhoades to Justice Scholarship” with Kansas City Community Foundation and has organized the October 2024 conference “Fair Housing laws & Litigation: KC Edition.”