Milo Mumgaard Named Executive Director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA)

Following a nationwide search that began in October, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Board of Directors has confirmed Milo Mumgaard as the organization’s pick to take the reins as executive director, effective Feb. 26.

Mumgaard, a native of Nebraska, will come to MMLA—the state’s largest nonprofit law firm—having helmed legal aid organizations in Nebraska and Arkansas. “Throughout my career in legal aid and public interest law,” Mumgaard says, “I’ve used MMLA’s high quality legal services as a model for equal justice in my own efforts to bring impactful change to people who need it most. I’ve long admired MMLA’s people, accomplishments and ideals. It’s truly an honor to know I’ll soon be part of the organization’s next chapter.”

Board Member, Bree Dalager, who led all phases of the search process adds, "Milo stood out for his depth and breadth of experience, having dedicated his entire career to the pursuit of justice for underserved communities. He is well-known in legal aid circles as an engaging, communicative leader focused on innovation, staff development, and above all, increasing access to justice.”

Prior to holding the executive director position at both the Center for Arkansas Legal Services since 2022 and Legal Aid of Nebraska since 2015, Mumgaard was the legal senior policy aide for the mayor of Lincoln, Neb.; regional director for Common Cause; associate general counsel for the AFL-CIO; and held posts as executive director and founder of Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, later serving as the Appleseed Foundation’s immigrant policy program director.

Mumgaard earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the school’s “Review of Law and Social Change.” He is currently licensed by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Nebraska State Bar.

Daniel Morris Named Executive Director of Central Minnesota Legal Services (CMLS)

The board of directors of Central Minnesota Legal Services (CMLS) is pleased to announce that, following a nationwide search, Daniel Morris has been selected as CMLS’ next executive director. Morris succeeds Jean Lastine who retired on September 29, 2023, after serving twenty-seven years as the program’s executive director. 

Morris’ background in supervising the legal work and operations of legal aid non-profit offices, combined with a deep commitment to clients facing barriers in the justice system, will serve to advance CMLS’ mission throughout central Minnesota. Morris joined CMLS in 2018 and has served as the managing attorney of the St. Cloud and Willmar offices and the volunteer attorney program.

“I am thrilled to continue my work with CMLS in a new capacity,” Morris said. “I admire the strong client-centered values of the staff and volunteer attorneys who dedicate considerable resources to serving their communities across a large and diverse service area. I am especially fortunate to step into a role that was established as a leader in the legal services community by the outgoing executive director.”

Prior to joining CMLS, Morris served as managing attorney of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s (MMLA) Willmar office. He also practiced with Anishinabe Legal Services (ALS) in Cass Lake and served as a tribal attorney with the White Earth Band of Ojibwe in White Earth, Minnesota. Morris is a 2010 graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

CMLS provides free civil legal assistance through direct representation, brief advice, and community legal education programs to Minnesotans with low incomes. With offices in Minneapolis, Anoka, St. Cloud and Willmar, CMLS serves a 21-county service area where an estimated 185,000 people are experiencing poverty.

ILCM and Twin Cities PBS Almanac Discuss Driver's Licenses for All

On February 10, Veena Iyer, executive director of Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), joined Cathy Wurzer and Eric Eskola of TPT – Twin Cities PBS Almanac to talk about the implications of the Driver’s Licenses for All bill (HF 4) recently passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives.

If fully legislated, the bill will restore driver’s licenses to all Minnesotans regardless of immigration status (an option formerly in place until it was revoked in 2003) and as long as applicants pass written and practical tests and obtain insurance.

Iyer emphasized the lack of a relationship between whether you’re a citizen and the ability to drive. She noted that a driver’s license just confirms that you know the rules of the road, have insurance, and can drive. The bill decouples citizenship and the privilege to drive.

Iyer also stressed that businesses and communities in greater Minnesota will benefit in terms of job access by a workforce currently not able to commute due to a lack of public transportation. The group also discussed concerns, law enforcement support, and numerous public safety benefits. The driver’s licenses segment of the video begins at 7:48.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Announces Danielle Shelton Walczak as New Executive Director

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) has named Danielle Shelton Walczak as its new executive director overseeing the agency’s efforts to bring free civil legal assistance to people throughout twenty counties in central Minnesota including Hennepin County, as well as statewide services to individuals with disabilities through its Minnesota Disability Law Center – the state’s protection and advocacy system. Walczak is a veteran of the local legal community and most recently served as the City of Minneapolis’ Director of Strategic Initiatives where she oversaw the divisions of Race & Equity, Sustainability, Human Trafficking, Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and the north Minneapolis Promise Zone.

“Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid does the work that has been important to me for my entire career – providing voice, access, and opportunities to people in society who don’t easily have those options,” Walczak said. “My ambitious goal is to grow the capacity of Legal Aid, so we don’t ever have to turn away anyone who qualifies for our services.”

MMLA was founded more than 100 years ago and today receives more than 100,000 calls for service each year.

“In Danielle, we found the type of visionary leader who brings a vast knowledge of the law and how law and society interact and how we can help those who are most vulnerable and in need navigate this,” said Rachhana T. Srey, MMLA Board Chair. “Danielle’s varied work and leadership experiences, relationship building skills, and strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will help hone our mission and guide our staff.”

Walczak succeeds former executive director Drew Schaffer and will oversee a staff of 185 lawyers, paralegals, and other team members who provide services to those in need free of charge.

“After the murder of George Floyd, I don’t think any organization, particularly in Minnesota, can afford to ignore the cries for racial justice and the imperative to dismantle antiracist systems and exhibit antiracist behaviors.” Walczak said. “These cries don’t just exist in the communities we serve, they exist among those who work in and with those communities, and all of us who simply care about our client communities and humanity as a whole.”

MMLA has seen an exciting mix of new methods to deliver justice over the past year and break down barriers to justice, including the introduction of new legal kiosks and web portals as well as the Justice Bus, a mobile legal clinic that travels the area to provide legal services where needed.