Thank you for joining us for our #GivingTuesday celebration of people and organizations who collaborate with us in building a just society. Find our posts on Facebook and LinkedIn to congratulate this year’s recipients of the John P. Sarbanes Courage Award and Outstanding Partner Awards.
John P. Sarbanes Courage Award
Jessica Leggette
Outstanding Partner Awards
Vera Institute of Justice
Legal Defense Fund
Progressive Maryland’s Enclave Tenant Association
Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA
John P. Sarbanes Courage Award
The John P. Sarbanes Courage Award honor clients and others who exhibit tremendous courage in the face of injustice.
Jessica Leggette
Jessica Leggette advocated with the PJC against disastrous legislation that would have put many Maryland families in danger—while dealing with extreme adversity and trauma following a rental scam that put her family’s housing at risk. After moving into their new home, she learned the person she had paid for the first month’s rent and security deposit was not the owner. The owner filed a wrongful detainer eviction case, in which she successfully negotiated time for her and her children to move. During the 2025 legislative session, Ms. Leggette testified in front of the Senate Judicial Proceedings and House Judiciary Committees urging them to reject “evict first” legislation that would circumvent the due process rights of families in her situation. Her testimony helped persuade the Maryland General Assembly to keep due process rights of people who had been scammed intact, ensuring they would be given their day in court.
Outstanding Partner Awards
The Outstanding Partner Awards go to individuals and organizations whose work makes a difference for our clients and the issues we work on.
Vera Institute of Justice
Vera Institute of Justice works to transform the criminal justice and immigration systems nationwide so that fewer people are incarcerated and everyone behind bars is treated with dignity. Aligned with that mission, Vera has been an outstanding partner in advocacy for the Fair Chance in Housing bill introduced in the 2025 legislative session. John Bae, Caroline Iosso, and Celia Strumph of Vera wrote and submitted testimony in the Maryland General Assembly, supported research and data in favor of the bill, and conducted public relations with media outlets for the Fair Chance Coalition’s demonstration in Annapolis. Because of their hard work, the Fair Chance in Housing bill is set up to have strong support in the 2026 legislative session. Support Vera.
Legal Defense Fund
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) defends the humanity and advances the rights of Black people in America. In that work, LDF has been instrumental in advancing legislative advocacy with the PJC and Renters United Maryland. In support of Good Cause Eviction legislation, LDF effectively named that Black renters in Maryland face the highest rates of lease non-renewal and retaliation by their landlords. In advocacy for the Fair Chance in Housing bill, LDF provided new research showing that Black prospective tenants with a criminal record face worse treatment from their landlords and lower access to housing opportunities than white prospective tenants with a criminal record despite evidence that a criminal record is not an effective predictor of whether someone will be a good tenant who abides by the terms of their lease and pays rent on time. David Wheaton of LDF, in particular, has made a tremendous contribution to ensuring the Good Cause Eviction and Fair Chance in Housing legislation remain a high priority of the Legislative Black Caucus—giving these bills a fighting chance in the 2026 legislative session. Support the Legal Defense Fund.
Progressive Maryland’s Enclave Tenant Association
Progressive Maryland’s Enclave Tenant Association is a leader on housing justice in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland—advocating for tenants’ rights, improving living conditions, and fostering community awareness. The Association is a clear, effective voice for their members and has co-led successful campaigns passing the Tenant Safety Act and Tenant Eviction Notice Act. Members of the Association are also leading the charge to ensure that landlords must provide a legitimate reason for any eviction. Their commitment to building power and collaborating with partners around the state has advanced the rights of all Marylanders to fair, safe, affordable, and accessible housing. Support Progressive Maryland’s Enclave Tenant Association.
Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA
Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA recommended to the court in Amaya et al. v. DGS Construction, LLC, et al. that the PJC receive a donation of unclaimed class action funds (i.e., a cy pres award); the result was a substantial award that will build our capacity to protect and expand rights for Marylanders and people in communities around the world. Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA represented the construction workers in their fight for compensation by their employer for required travel time. From 2019 to 2022, three PJC Murnaghan Fellows authored amicus briefs joined by the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers’ Association in support of the workers, who ultimately prevailed in their lawsuit.
Your generous #GivingTuesday contribution will support the PJC staff who stand with our clients and partners to change laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate racial and economic inequities.
