Grounded in the Work, Ready for the Fight
As we navigate this season of change at CLS — both in our leadership and across the communities we serve — we’re staying grounded in the work. Thank you for your continued partnership as we hold both the complexity and the momentum of this moment.
In response to an inhumane federal administration, our advocates are working alongside community partners to build real solutions. We’re investigating serious systemic harms — from dangerous detention conditions to medical neglect in prisons and the exploitation of women farmworkers. We’re also researching policy options, convening cross-sector strategy spaces, and planning for the long road ahead.
This is only the beginning. We need your support during this time, as the need for bold, sustained advocacy has never been greater. Thank you for standing with us.
CLS Leadership Team
🎉Celebrating the Remarkable Careers of Amy Crewdson & Maureen Janega
After more than 40 years each of tireless advocacy and unwavering dedication to justice, Amy and Maureen are stepping into a well-earned new chapter: retirement!
Please join us in honoring their remarkable careers and celebrating the profound impact they’ve made over the decades. From fighting for justice to inspiring those around them, Amy and Maureen have touched countless lives with their work and their hearts.
“Amy Crewdson has done systemic cases for decades, ensuring that thousands of people got benefits they were entitled to. She made many lives better and no doubt saved some too. Amy’s luckiest clients were her individual clients, though. Once Amy signed up to help someone, she didn’t quit until she solved the problem, whether that meant saving a hurricane Katrina refugee’s house in New Orleans or getting pension checks to someone in Bulgaria. She was a generational advocate, and we will miss her dearly.”
-Andrea Schmitt, CLS Attorney
“Just a huge thank you to Maureen for everything AND the stewardship role she has taken on in recent years. Maureen is our resident expert in all things DOC, CLS historian, and strategic legal guru.
Personally, Maureen has been my mentor these past few years. She gently nudges me in the right direction and sometimes has to bring out the airplane traffic wands or even the bowling bumper guards to make sure I’m getting something right.”
-Tony Gonzalez, CLS Deputy Director of Advocacy
2025 Legislative Reflections
The 2024 legislative session may be over, but the important questions it raised about budget cuts, federal interference, and long-term strategy continue to guide our work. Many of our policy goals faced serious challenges this year, but we remain committed to creating lasting change.
Read Antonio Ginatta’s, CLS Policy Director, full reflection on the session and what we are planning for 2026.
Our Latest Advocacy Updates
Columbia Legal Services is actively litigating multiple cases to challenge injustice and protect communities across Washington. From defending farmworkers’ rights and youth in custody to pushing back against unreliable prison drug testing and wage suppression, our teams are taking bold legal action every day.
Learn more about our current cases, where they stand, and how we are fighting alongside impacted communities for long-term change.
2025 Imagine Justice Week
Get ready for 2025 Imagine Justice Week, September 17 – 24! We’re bringing the celebration to Yakima with an inspiring in-person event showcasing the bold and brilliant art of this year’s Imagine Justice Youth Art Contest winners.
Can’t make it in person? Join us for a virtual event during the week to take part in the celebration from anywhere. Come be part of the creativity, power, and vision for justice!
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