Clare joined the McCrummen Immigration Law Group in 2017 as an associate attorney. Her practice is mainly focused on humanitarian-based applications, including asylum. She also manages the firms contract to represent children in the United States without a parent or guardian and who are facing deportation. Clare has an extensive background in non-profit work including attaining 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, writing by-laws, and establishing boards. She is an accomplished grant-writer and has submitted grants for a broad scope of community-based organizations. Clare is a 2005 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and is fluent in Spanish.

Leslie is a former corporate legal executive who joined the ACKC board in 2020 with a desire to become more involved in helping the immigrant community in the United States. Leslie has recently joined the ACKC practice to begin working hands-on in immigration law. After she left her corporate practice, she has volunteered at a local immigration office working on T-Visa applications and spent the winter of 2019 in Peru learning Spanish. In addition to 25 years of corporate and transactional practice, Leslie has experience doing nonprofit organizational work, serving on other nonprofit boards, and working with tax exempt entities.

Joanna joined McCrummen Immigration Law Group and ACKC May 2022. She is a UMKC School of Law and Creighton alumna. She grew up in Wyandotte county participating in local organizations like HDF (Hispanic Development Fund), LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), and Turner Boxing Academy. At ACKC, Joanna assists in drafting, compiling, and filing applications with USCIS and immigration court. Joanna also translates documents, conducts application review with clients, and provides case updates to clients.

Karina joined McCrummen Immigration Law Group and ACKC in May 2021 as the new Program Assistant. She is responsible for client communications and direct services, as well as presenting weekly Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations and legal screenings as part of the UC Program. Karina has lived in Kansas City most of her life, graduating for JC Harmon and attending Kansas City Community College. She and her family are native to Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and she is a native Spanish-speaker.

Susie joined McCrummen Immigration Law Group and ACKC in October 2021, bringing with her, experience in bilingual service coordination and advocacy for immigrant, refugee, and other under-resourced communities in Kansas City and Texas. She is responsible for case initiation, connecting clients to services and resources and supporting clients through legal and service-related processes. Susie earned a B.A. in Spanish & Hispanic Studies and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Texas Christian University in 2014, with additional training in child development and trauma-informed care modalities. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Kansas.

Ayse joined McCrummen Immigration Law Group and ACKC as the Afghan Legal Services Project Assistant in September 2021. She assists with organizing clinic events, volunteer coordination, managing grant administration and the preparation of submissions to the United States Citizen and Immigration Services on behalf of the project’s direct clients. Coming from a human rights background, Ayse brings nonprofit experience having worked with unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in London, UK as well disadvantaged girls in Cambodia. She earned an M.A. in Understanding and Securing Human Rights from the School of Advanced Study, University of London, receiving the school’s Albie Sachs Prize. She spent the beginning of 2019 traveling Central and South America and enjoys experiencing different cultures.

Haeli is a third-year law student and Delmas Hill Scholar at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, KS. Haeli started in May of 2022 as a summer law clerk for McCrummen Immigration Law Group and ACKC. Haeli currently works with the Afghan Legal Services Project, the Asylum Clinic KC pro bono clients, and the Vera project. Haeli also manages our social media accounts, website, and online presence.

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Haeli is the President of the Washburn Law Diversity & Inclusion Student Organization, member of the Washburn Law School Moot Court Team, and an active member of Pro Bono Society. Last semester, Haeli received the Irvine E. Ungerman Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice as well as the Outstanding Advanced Intern Award for her work with immigrant clients in the Washburn Law Clinic. 

Becky is a third-year law student and Second Century Scholar at UMKC School of Law. Becky returned to school after an almost 20-year break so that she could learn and have the tools necessary to help those seeking legal status in the United States. Becky thrives on the support of her husband and three beautiful daughters. She is the past Secretary and current President of the International Law Society at UMKC School of Law, and the student chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Kansas City Chapter. Becky helps organize the Asylum Clinics and prepares the cases for the volunteer attorneys. She writes legal closing statements and helps to compile the filings to be submitted to USCIS.

Manda is a third-year law student and Second Century Scholar at UMKC School of Law. She has an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, and a background working in the non-profit field in Kansas City. She has lived in Kansas City most of her life and is passionate about the people of Kansas City having accessible, affordable, quality legal representation. Prior to returning to school for her law degree, she was a Director of Youth Programs for a non-profit in the Northeast of Kansas City. Manda assists in drafting, compiling, and filing applications with USCIS for the Afghan Legal Services Project. 

Areli Cardoza is a third-year law student at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law. She is a member of the Latino Law Student Association and Co-chair of Hablemos. Areli was born in Acapulco, Mexico, and moved to the United States when she was 9 years old.  Areli is a native Spanish speaker. Areli joined ACKC in January 2023 as a legal intern. Prior to law school, she worked for a local immigration attorney where she discovered her fondness for immigration law. Upon graduating law school, she would like to continue serving underrepresented communities, especially in their immigration journey.