For IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/18/2013

From Paul Vlachos, Board President, Legal Aid of Western Michigan

JUAN SALAZAR TO SERVE AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID OF WESTERN
MICHIGAN
The appointment of Juan Salazar as the Interim Director of Legal Aid of Western Michigan was
announced this morning by Board President Paul Vlachos. Michael C. Chielens, who had served as
Executive Director since 1995 and had been an attorney with the agency for more than 30 years, died
on November 2 after a seven month battle with cancer.
Legal Aid provides legal assistance in civil matters to low income persons and Seniors in 17
counties in southwestern Michigan. Making the announcement, Vlachos stated, Mike Chielens left
big shoes to fill. Legal Aid has a budget of $4 million with nearly 50 staff in 6 offices. It's a big job
and the Board feels that due diligence requires that we spend the time necessary to recruit and hire the
right person as the next Executive Director. Juan is one of the elder statesman of the program and the
Board has confidence in his ability to keep the team running.
Salazar echoed that sentiment, Successes for our clients at Legal Aid are a team effort. It takes
everyone working together and, for the time being, I see my role as making sure that happens.
Salazar is a 1978 graduate of Central Michigan University and joined the staff of Legal Aid in
1980 as paralegal handling mainly Social Security Disability matters. While at Legal Aid, he has
provided leadership in the community serving on the boards of Catholic Charities of West Michigan,
RAVE (Relief After Violent Encounters), Kent County ARC, Citizens for Better Care, Michigan
League for Human Services, and FSU Legal Studies program. In 2007 he was awarded the Liberty
Bell award by the Grand Rapids Bar Association. This annual award is made to a non-lawyer who has
contributed to the Justice system by volunteer activities in the community. He has also been active in
the Legal Aid community serving on the boards of state and regional organizations such as the
Committee on Regional Training and the Michigan Poverty Law Program.
The choice of Salazar was greeted positively by staff.
During Chielens' illness, the executive director's responsibilities have been shared by Deputy
Director Mary Ellen Drolet and Litigation Director Leslie Curry. Curry, who has been at Legal Aid in
Grand Rapids since her graduation from University of Michigan Law School, more than 30 years ago,
said, Juan has been a colleague and a friend since I joined Legal Aid. I have absolute faith in his
abilities. This will let Mary Ellen and I focus on our own jobs in a way that is necessary to make sure
the ED can do his.
Drolet, who also is a lifelong Legal Aid attorney having joined the staff at Berrien County Legal
Services while a law student at Notre Dame Law School more than 40 years ago, has been Deputy
Director at Legal Aid of Western Michigan since a merger of the programs in 2001. She had previously
served as Executive Director of the Berrien county program for more than 20 years. She also endorsed
the choice of Salazar, I have known Juan for nearly 30 years. He is known and respected by staff
throughout our program, in the community, and in Legal Aid statewide. I have complete trust in his
good judgment and skills as a team leader and am looking forward to working with him in this role.
Vlachos said that he expects that it will probably be at least six months before the Board will fill
the Executive Director position on a permanent basis. The Board plans to engage an outside firm or
consultant to assist in the search, Vlachos said. The Board wants to look at all options within the
program, the local legal community, and the state and national Legal Aid community. This is an
important job for the community and we want to make sure we make the right choice.