Tova Perlmutter, Executive Director, has over 20 years experience in administration, communications, fundraising and public education for nonprofit organizations. She obtained professional certification as a Senior Human Resources Professional while working to promote fair employment practices at a major corporation. She has been responsible for designing and monitoring many projects aimed at empowering people and attracting press coverage to social justice efforts. Tova also has conducted doctoral research on ethnic and racial politics in American cities.
Tova’s work for the Center includes building collaborations and partnerships with GLC’s allies in the struggle for justice, maximizing the Center’s public visibility in order to maximize its impact, managing daily operations, and raising funds to ensure the Center’s ability to continue the fight.
John Philo, the Center’s Legal Director, is responsible for litigation, legal research, delivery of training, and supervision of all staff and interns working on legal tasks. John is an attorney with over fifteen years experience representing and advocating for workers and other disenfranchised people. John has represented employment, personal injury and product liability plaintiffs as well as refugees seeking asylum; supervised Detroit City Council’s legal research team; drafted municipal ordinances including Detroit’s six ordinances on living wage and privatization; and published multiple articles on individual and group rights under the US legal system.
John has also completed a master’s of law thesis on “Health and Safety Rights and Transnational Liability.” This research and writing specifically addresses the use of international human rights instruments in holding corporations accountable for harm to employees and other citizens.
Tony Paris, Staff Attorney, is a 2007 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. Tony started at Sugar Law Center as an intern, and was hired upon graduating. He has worked on Michigan ACORN’s living-wage campaign, as a law clerk at Legal Aid and Defender of Detroit in the consumer law field, and with Community Legal Resources in Detroit.
Tony attended East Dearborn's Fordson High School and majored in Math and Political Science at Adrian College. At Wayne State, Tony was president of the Wayne Labor and Employment Law Association, Secretary of the Public Interest Law Association, and a member of the National Lawyers Guild.
Patrina Griffin, Office Manager, has been with the SLC from the start. Trina’s responsibilities encompass all of our legal and administrative work. She has an Associate degree in Legal Assistance from the Detroit College of Business (aka Davenport University), where she is a continuing member of the alumni association.
Alumni
We remain grateful for the dedication and skills of our former colleagues, without whose efforts the Center would not be where it is today.
Susanne Meredith, Staff Attorney, has moved on to a position with the AFL-CIO as a Research Analyst.
Julie Hurwitz, after two stints as SLC Executive Director, is back in private practice. She continues to serve on the SLC Board of Directors.
Mark Fancher, Senior Staff Attorney, moved on in late 2005 to a position at the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
Thomas W. Stephens, Of Counsel Staff Attorney, moved to full-time private practice in fall 2005.
Cheryl Graunstadt, Development Director, left the Center in spring 2006 and continues her service as an elected member of the Westland City Council.
Gary Gant, Paralegal, is currently working on police misconduct and other civil rights cases with Julie Hurwitz, former SLC Executive Director, as well as working as a freelance paralegal.
Sheila Harris, Administrative Assistant, is providing expert office management assistance and enjoying the flexibility of working for a variety of companies.
Shanell Lyons, File Clerk, completed her college certificate and is working in retail while looking for a professional office position.
Tonya Myers, Attorney Fellow, is now the President and Founder of Vision Legal Services PLLC, a law firm specializing in small business, nonprofit organizations, and estate planning.
Nancy O'Neale, Development Director, moved on from the Law Center in 2004 to fulfill other dreams.
Brenda Smith, Environmental Justice Community Training Organizer, became a community organizer with the United Catering Restaurant Bar & Hotel Workers, local 1064.
Phoebe Crandall, Development Director, left the Law Center in 2003 to return to private practice and grantwriting.
Alma Lowry, Environmental Justice Staff Attorney, is now Assistant Professor of Law at Syracuse University and Director of Public Interest Law Firm I.
Hector Ricardo (Ric) Urrutia, Community Trainer, left the Law Center in 2002 to enter a masters program in labor studies at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.
After leaving the Law Center in 2002, Charlie Grose, Development Director, created GrantWorks Detroit, an independent consultancy providing fund development, marketing and proposal writing.
