Staff members
Judy was hired as Director of the Davenport Civil Rights Commission on March 1, 1999. Judy began her legal career in June of 1991 working as an associate attorney for Hines, Pence, Day, and Powers, P.C. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While she was an associate attorney, she worked in the areas of employment and labor law, and performed work as corporation counsel for City of Marion, Iowa. Judy left her employment in Cedar Rapids in July of 1993 to return to work in the Quad-Cities where she and her family have been life long residents. Judy took a one-year position as law clerk for the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa located in Davenport and worked for the Judges during the term of the clerkship in 1993. After the clerkship ended, Judy again went into the private practice of law in Davenport practicing primarily in the area of employment law. Judy continued to work in the private practice of law until she took the position of Director for the Davenport Civil Rights Commission in 1999.
Judy earned her B.A. degree in Political Science from St. Ambrose College in 1987 and her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1990. Judy was a published writer for the Journal of Corporation Law while in Law School. In addition, she served a clerkship for the United States Attorney's Office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa during her second year of law school. Judy is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, League of United Latin American Citizens, Illinois/Iowa Center for Independent Living, Iowa Bar Association, Women and Minorities Committee of the Iowa State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section of the Iowa Bar Association, Iowa League of Human Rights Agencies, and an officer on the Regional Executive Council on Civil Rights.
Michelle earned her B.A. degree in Legal Studies in an American Bar Association certified paralegal program from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She graduated from St. Ambrose University with her Masters in Business Administration with a Health Care Concentration in 1996.
Michelle worked as a paralegal at Prairie State Legal Services in Rock Island for over fifteen years. With a strong commitment to social justice Michelle advocated for clients in the areas of public benefits and social security law, landlord/tenant law including subsidized housing with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, consumer law including the Fair Debt Collection Act, and was staff lead on issues affecting senior citizens. Michelle conducted a number of Community Legal Education programs, served on the board for several advocacy agencies as well as developed and supervised the paralegal intern program at Prairie State. Additionally, Michelle worked as the Coordinator for the Volunteer Lawyer Program for several years.
Michelle became the Investigative Paralegal for the Davenport Civil Rights Commission in September 1997. Michelle is certified as a Legal Assistant from the National Associations of Legal Assistants as well as the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.
Keirsten Anderson earned her B.A. degree in political science and Scandinavian studies from Augustana College. She received her J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1997 with honors. While she was in law school, she was a Note Editor for the Valparaiso University Law Review. She has been licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois since 1997.
Keirsten was a staff attorney at Prairie State Legal Services in Rock Island for over three years. She represented clients in the areas of family law, landlord/tenant law, orders of protection, consumer, and senior issues, among others. After Prairie State, Keirsten was Manager, Benefits Administration at Modern Woodmen of America. She was part of the team that administered their employee defined benefit pension plan.
Keirsten became the Housing Analyst for the Davenport Civil Rights Commission in September 2002. She is a member of the Rock Island County Bar Association and she is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Scandinavian Association. She was formerly chair of the public relations committee for Habitat for Humanity-Quad Cities for three years.
Beth Badillo earned her B.S. degree in journalism from Western Illinois University in Macomb Illinois in 1998. She returned to the Quad Cities where she later received her Masters in Counseling Education from Western Illinois University in 2003.
Beth was a Customer Service representative for Trinity Medical Center's pharmacy for a year before moving into a secretary position in the EMS department in Moline. After Trinity Medical Center, she worked for the Radisson as Secretary for a 18 months before being promoted to Sales Assistant where she held the position for two years. Beth then worked at Family Resources for over two years working with families and children involved in the court system, providing resources and life skills.
Beth joined the Davenport Civil Rights Commission in May 2006 as Secretary.
Heather Roberts earned her B.S.S. degree in performance arts from Cornell College in 2009 which combined the performance aspect of Theatre along with the creative side of English. Heather has been a student program coordinator at Cornell's Intercultural Life Department where she helped create many programs for the campus along with organizing a multimedia event highlighting African-American performance art from the time of slavery till the present. She has facilitated programs and networked with surrounding schools to help increase participation and spread awareness in various categories. She volunteered several times at grammar schools, high schools and colleges to speak on how to get to college and maintain the status of a college student. Heather also had the pleasure of directing a play, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf" by Ntozake Shange which debuted in Davenport at the Capitol Theatre in May 2009.
Heather became an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Davenport Civil Rights Commission in September 2009.She will be serving as a capacity builder for the Commission, networking with area stakeholder groups, producing our commission's newsletter, help the Commission develop fact sheets, trainings and outreach events.
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