Long-time Coast to Coast Legal Aid Executive Director Barbara Prager Set to Retire

 

 

BROWARD COUNTY, FL – The Board of Directors of Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) recently announced that its founding executive director, Barbara J. Prager, will retire on December 31, 2018.

 

Prager attended New York Law School with the intent of becoming a legal aid attorney. After a few years in private practice, she went to work with Legal Aid Service of Broward County in 1982, first as a litigator, then as supervising attorney of the Senior Citizen Law Project. When Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida was established in 2003 in response to a statewide reorganization of legal aid programs, Prager became its Executive Director.

 

Under her strong leadership, the vision to improve the lives of low-income senior citizens, victims of domestic violence, veterans and others in our community through advocacy, education, representation and empowerment has become a reality. Since opening its doors in January 2004, legal assistance has been provided in more than 57,500 cases enabling clients to achieve personal and economic stability.

 

“The Board expresses its tremendous gratitude to Ms. Prager for her years of service to our community, dedication and leadership. She has embodied everything good about legal aid programs. We thank her for her years of service to those without a voice,” said Steven Jaffe, Board Chair. “Because of Barbara’s efforts and leadership, tens of thousands of Broward County Seniors, families and Veterans have had access to the legal system and the justice it can and should afford.”

 

The evaluation team of Legal Services Corporation, the primary funder of CCLA, has hailed Prager as a highly effective leader, who inspires a culture of energy, excellence and achievement among her staff; praising her personal integrity and loyalty, and her vision for the future of the Program.

 

With Prager at the helm, the close-knit team at CCLA has merited many accolades including recognition as Outstanding Program of the year by the Broward Victim’s Rights Coalition, Broward Domestic Violence Council and Jewish Family Services, and has been distinguished by Nova Southeastern University and others. Prager was recently honored with the 2018 Community Leader Award by the Domestic Violence Council.

 

The Board has named Patrice Paldino, Esq., M.S.Ed., currently Director of Housing Rights Programs at Legal Aid Service of Broward County, as successor, effective January 2019.

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Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida is a not-for-profit law firm established in 2003 and funded, in part, by the Legal Services Corporation. Our mission is to improve the lives of low income persons in our community through advocacy, education, representation and empowerment. http://www.coasttocoastlegalaid.org/

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) is a 501(c)(3) corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer services (#CH19226).  All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the state OR VISITING WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM.  Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State.

 

 

Robert Friedman