Center for Civil Justice 70th Anniversary

The Center for Civil Justice (CCJ) is currently celebrating our 70^th anniversary.  

CCJ began as the Genesee County Legal Aid Society in 1951 to provide lawyers for people who were unable to pay fees for legal services.  In 1996, the Society evolved into the Center for Civil Justice.  Today, CCJ advocates for low-income people in Michigan to ensure greater access to basic needs and services, particularly related to food and nutrition, healthcare, housing and monetary support to improve economic stability and self-sufficient.   CCJ does this work through impact litigation and legislative and policy advocacy.  CCJ is also committed to advancing racial justice by combating structural and institutional racism and advocating for access to resources and opportunities in society so that ALL individuals can live a full and dignified life.

Recent examples of our successful impact work include:

• Restoration of $52 million in food assistance program benefits to approximately 17,000 Michiganders that were unlawfully cut off due to an alleged outstanding warrant;
• Elimination of the illegal work requirement for beneficiaries of the Healthy Michigan Plan preventing an estimated 183,000 individuals losing health coverage;
• Elimination of the Michigan Secretary of State’s policy of transferring titles from owners of mobile homes to the mobile home park without notice or compensation.

If you’d like to help us celebrate our anniversary, the best way is to donate.   Doing so will allow CCJ to continue fighting poverty through advocacy.  

With gratitude,

Kelly Bidelman                                               

Executive Director       

CCJ Board Members

Antwan Edson, President

Ameer Rutherford, Secretary

Samuel D. Angus

Amy Hendrickson

Psalm Bingham

Michael Heron

Bria Gregory