Uptown People's Law Center
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Prisoners' Rights Program
UPLC has been working with prisoners for over 40 years, and is the only organization that leverages class action lawsuits to remedy the unconstitutional conditions in Illinois’ prisons. We receive over 100 letters from prisoners each week, and we respond to each one. UPLC also records the issue in every letter, in order to track problem trends within the Illinois Department of Corrections. These trends inform our lawsuits.
Tenants' Rights Program
For over four decades, UPLC has worked to ensure that tenants are not unlawfully evicted from their homes by providing direct representation to tenants facing eviction and recruiting and supervising pro bono attorneys willing to accept these cases
Social Security Disability Income Program
Uptown People's Law Center provides direct representation to individuals seeking Social Security disability income. Additionally, UPLC recruits and supervises pro bono attorneys who are willing to accept these cases, and provides training to the community about this process.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
For many people, UPLC is their last and only legal resort against negligent or unethical landlords, a slow-moving and insensitive Social Security bureaucracy, or an unjust prison system.
Because of our long-term and deep connection to Uptown, we do not view each individual case in isolation, but rather try to address the root of the underlying issues. Rather than just taking on a specific “legal case,” we look at the person as a member of the community who needs our help.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Every year, UPLC provides referrals, legal advice, and direct representation to hundreds of individuals and families seeking Social Security disability income and/or who are enduring landlord-tenant disputes. Additionally, our staff works to intervene to try and save subsidized units and affordable housing in the community.
UPLC is the only organization in Illinois that actively represents prisoners in both class action matters, as well as individual cases. UPLC receives over 100 letters from prisoners each week, and has amassed a database of correspondence from over 10,000 prisoners.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Uptown People's Law Center
Board of directorsas of 03/15/2024
Greg McConnell
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data