The labor movement, women's movement, and civil rights movement fought hard to establish basic rights. But those rights only have meaning if workers know about them and can enforce them. At the Heartland Center, our team strives to do just that.
DIRECTORS
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Patricia has over a decade of experience in civil rights-centered impact litigation, policy, and public education advocacy. She began her legal career as an attorney at the “NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund” and law clerk in both the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, after graduating from Columbia Law School and Yale University with distinction.
Patricia Okonta, Litigation Director
Gary Rhoades, Executive Director and Attorney at Law
Natalie carries with her motivation and lessons learned from the students, families, and clients she’s worked with in communities across South Bend, New Orleans, and the D.C. area. Natalie started her legal career in Maryland, where she was a judicial law clerk, then a housing/consumer law attorney and leader in early implementation of the state’s “tenant right to counsel” program with Maryland Legal Aid, and she is now energized to be continuing in the fight in her hometown of Kansas City.
Photo credit: suzanne corum-rich
From the moment I've arrived, the team at HCJF has been incredibly welcoming and committed to the communities we exist to serve. I am immensely honored to be a part of this work and look forward to carrying on the vision of our organization alongside my wonderful colleagues.
Andrew Zonoozi, Operations Director
Natalie Branch, Eviction Defense Director
EVICTION DEFENSE
John Michael-Pipes, a UMKC School of Law Grad, has been representing tenants in eviction court the entirety of his career and helped to implement and carry out Kansas City, Missouri’s “Right to Counsel” Program since its start in June 2022. John Michael collaborates with his clients to maintain their housing and strives to ensure Jackson County landlord-tenant proceedings are fair and just.
Erin O'Leary provides free legal representation for tenants facing eviction in Kansas City with the “right to counsel” program. Erin is a graduate of Rockhurst University and Saint Louis University School of Law, and has prior experience as a public defender and clerk for the Missouri Court of Appeals.
John Michael Pipes, Eviction Defense Team Lead
Erin O’Leary, Eviction Defense Attorney
Nate Longoria is an attorney and advocate dedicated to supporting marginalized communities and expanding access to justice. He brings a background in higher education, public service, and bilingual (English/Spanish) client advocacy.
Eli Pearce is a native Kansas Citian who returned to the metro to defend tenants after graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
Eli Pearce, Eviction Defense Attorney
Nate Longoria, Eviction Defense Attorney
Ruth has over three decades of experience working with clients in poverty in the areas of criminal law and landlord tenant. She is adjunct faculty at UMKC, and is a founding member of the TAP in Center of KC.
Theo found a passion for eviction defense law while working for the 16th Circuit Court. In their free time they like to sew, crochet, pursue justice, and spend time with their partner and pets.
Ruth Petsch, Eviction Defense Attorney
Theo Blackwood, Eviction Defense Paralegal
IMPACT LITIGATION
Amy is committed to advocating alongside tenants and workers to challenge unjust systems that prioritize profit over people, using impact litigation to drive systemic change and build a community where dignity, safety, and fairness come first. She graduated summa cum laude from Missouri State University and earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif.
photo credit: suzanne corum-rich
Sydney has dedicated her legal career to advocating for people disproportionately harmed by inequities in the legal system. From helping exonerate the wrongfully convicted at the “Midwest Innocence Project,” to clearing unjust criminal records at the “Clear My Record Expungement Project,” to now representing low-income tenants facing housing instability, Sydney has consistently championed fairness, equality, and justice for underserved communities.
Sydney Ragsdale, Stable Homes Attorney
Amy Sweeny Davis, Safe Homes Attorney
Nathan Cho has worked for nonprofits and governments for the last decade, and has zealously represented tenants at Heartland Center since May 2023.
PHoto credit: Suzanne Corum-rich
Photo credit: nick coleman
Jordan Hoffman-Kahle, Worker Power Attorney
Nathan Cho, Tenants' Rights Attorney
After nearly a decade of experience as a Litigation Paralegal with corporate law firms representing businesses and employers, Becca Preisendorf is both honored and thrilled to now utilize the insights and skills gained from working for "the other side" to fight on behalf of tenants and workers.
Becca Preisendorf, Litigation Paralegal
SUPPORT STAFF
photo credit: Suzanne corum-rich
Organizer
Chris Carpenter, Volunteer Attorney
L. has over a decade of experience organizing low-wage workers, tenants, and students in Kansas city. with a b.a. in english-creative writing from the university of missouri-kansas city, l is excited to uplift worker and tenant stories.
Chad Moore has been an activist and organizer since 2014, with experience ranging from work with the Occupy movement to helping unionize workplaces. He also serves as the organization's in-house IT support, bringing years of experience across multiple help desk environments.