About This Event
Join the Law Center for Better Housing on Thursday, October 9th, at our 2025 Fall Benefit, celebrating 45 years of renters' rights!
Enjoy delicious food, live music, and networking at Chicago's legendary blues club, Buddy Guy's Legends (700 S. Wabash), while we honor the people who've made our work possible for 45 years and counting. Whether they've been with us since 1980 or joined our fight along the way, they've each been instrumental to navigating challenges and victories, allowing us to serve more renters this year than ever before.
Don’t wait to purchase your tickets! The early bird sale ends October 1st, 2025. Questions about sponsorships? Email Allen Hailey at ahailey@lcbh.org.
Meet our Award Winners:
Barbara Grau Outstanding Housing Advocate Award - David Orr
In 1980, David Orr co-founded the Law Center for Better Housing, previously known as Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, to combat rampant conditions issues in 10 Rogers Park apartment buildings where he served as alderman. Under his leadership, LCBH received its first grant and hired our first Executive Director, Jack Kaplan, and Staff Attorney, Barbara Grau, for whom this award was named.
Since then, he’s played a vital role in the continued vitality of the organization, including his service on the LCBH Advocates Council, where he gives advice on funding opportunities, organizational development and growth, and political advocacy. David’s passion for housing extends beyond his role at LCBH to his political career where he championed housing justice in multiple roles, including seven terms as Cook County Clerk before retiring in 2018.
Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award - Richard (Dick) Astle
Richard (Dick) Astle joined the LCBH Board of Directors in 2015. Since then, he’s played a role in LCBH’s long-term financial stability and donor stewardship. Using his legal expertise in corporate and securities transactions, Dick worked with LCBH Board and team members to successfully navigate a more than threefold increase in our operating budget since 2019 due to the expansion of pandemic-era funding and government contracts, allowing LCBH’s staff to serve more renters last year than ever before.
Outside of LCBH, Dick spent more than 40 years helping people with business and corporate issues as a partner at Sidley Austin LLP before retiring last year. Among other things, he handled matters for electric and gas utilities, an oil refiner, a state authority assisting tax-exempt hospitals with bond financing, and a public-private partnership operating an urban zoo. He also assisted several organizations on a pro bono basis to secure tax-exempt status, including Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Farm Aid. Dick was recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers for his work with clients on energy and corporate matters. In 2016, he was named a BTI Client Service All-Star for his service and leadership.
Sharon L. King Distinguished Alumni Award - Sherrill Frost Brown
Sherrill Frost-Brown started her career at LCBH in 1987, serving in an administrative role alongside LCBH’s founders. Sherrill oversaw the daily operations of the agency for nearly a decade, managing the front desk, performing intake interviews, and maintaining the office. Later, as she grew more familiar with Chicago’s housing issues, Sherrill also assisted with cases. In 1987, she played a vital role in a case involving a slumlord who was sexually harassing his tenants, which emphasized the importance of legal aid in bringing vulnerable tenants justice. It also solidified her lifelong passion for fair housing.
Today, Sherrill is the Senior Vice President of Member Services at the National Fair Housing Alliance where she directs programs that support NFHA’s membership and build partnerships between the private fair housing movement, federal government, state, and local housing agencies. As the leader of NFHA’s Education and Outreach activities, she supports the development of training programs that create sustainable tools and resources for the next generation of fair housing advocates.
About LCBH
The Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH) is the only legal aid nonprofit in Chicago focused exclusively on housing justice issues. In 2024, LCBH reached nearly 20,000 low- and moderate-income renters in Chicago and suburban Cook County through our free legal and supportive services, community outreach, and public policy advocacy. Our programs holistically address both the short-term housing crisis and underlying causes, so that more families can move from a path leading to homelessness to one of safe and stable housing.
Inside eviction court, LCBH provides free brief advice for renters and landlords through the Early Resolution Program. When a settlement cannot be reached, eligible renters can also receive extensive services through the City of Chicago Right to Counsel Pilot Program, where LCBH serves as the lead agency. Online, LCBH's Rentervention chatbot provides renters with on-demand information about their rights and connects them with volunteer attorneys so they can take control of their current housing situation.
Learn more about our work and 2024 Impact here.
About This Event
Join the Law Center for Better Housing on Thursday, October 9th, at our 2025 Fall Benefit, celebrating 45 years of renters' rights!
Enjoy delicious food, live music, and networking at Chicago's legendary blues club, Buddy Guy's Legends (700 S. Wabash), while we honor the people who've made our work possible for 45 years and counting. Whether they've been with us since 1980 or joined our fight along the way, they've each been instrumental to navigating challenges and victories, allowing us to serve more renters this year than ever before.
Don’t wait to purchase your tickets! The early bird sale ends October 1st, 2025. Questions about sponsorships? Email Allen Hailey at ahailey@lcbh.org.
Meet our Award Winners:
Barbara Grau Outstanding Housing Advocate Award - David Orr
In 1980, David Orr co-founded the Law Center for Better Housing, previously known as Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, to combat rampant conditions issues in 10 Rogers Park apartment buildings where he served as alderman. Under his leadership, LCBH received its first grant and hired our first Executive Director, Jack Kaplan, and Staff Attorney, Barbara Grau, for whom this award was named.
Since then, he’s played a vital role in the continued vitality of the organization, including his service on the LCBH Advocates Council, where he gives advice on funding opportunities, organizational development and growth, and political advocacy. David’s passion for housing extends beyond his role at LCBH to his political career where he championed housing justice in multiple roles, including seven terms as Cook County Clerk before retiring in 2018.
Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award - Richard (Dick) Astle
Richard (Dick) Astle joined the LCBH Board of Directors in 2015. Since then, he’s played a role in LCBH’s long-term financial stability and donor stewardship. Using his legal expertise in corporate and securities transactions, Dick worked with LCBH Board and team members to successfully navigate a more than threefold increase in our operating budget since 2019 due to the expansion of pandemic-era funding and government contracts, allowing LCBH’s staff to serve more renters last year than ever before.
Outside of LCBH, Dick spent more than 40 years helping people with business and corporate issues as a partner at Sidley Austin LLP before retiring last year. Among other things, he handled matters for electric and gas utilities, an oil refiner, a state authority assisting tax-exempt hospitals with bond financing, and a public-private partnership operating an urban zoo. He also assisted several organizations on a pro bono basis to secure tax-exempt status, including Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Farm Aid. Dick was recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers for his work with clients on energy and corporate matters. In 2016, he was named a BTI Client Service All-Star for his service and leadership.
Sharon L. King Distinguished Alumni Award - Sherrill Frost Brown
Sherrill Frost-Brown started her career at LCBH in 1987, serving in an administrative role alongside LCBH’s founders. Sherrill oversaw the daily operations of the agency for nearly a decade, managing the front desk, performing intake interviews, and maintaining the office. Later, as she grew more familiar with Chicago’s housing issues, Sherrill also assisted with cases. In 1987, she played a vital role in a case involving a slumlord who was sexually harassing his tenants, which emphasized the importance of legal aid in bringing vulnerable tenants justice. It also solidified her lifelong passion for fair housing.
Today, Sherrill is the Senior Vice President of Member Services at the National Fair Housing Alliance where she directs programs that support NFHA’s membership and build partnerships between the private fair housing movement, federal government, state, and local housing agencies. As the leader of NFHA’s Education and Outreach activities, she supports the development of training programs that create sustainable tools and resources for the next generation of fair housing advocates.
About LCBH
The Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH) is the only legal aid nonprofit in Chicago focused exclusively on housing justice issues. In 2024, LCBH reached nearly 20,000 low- and moderate-income renters in Chicago and suburban Cook County through our free legal and supportive services, community outreach, and public policy advocacy. Our programs holistically address both the short-term housing crisis and underlying causes, so that more families can move from a path leading to homelessness to one of safe and stable housing.
Inside eviction court, LCBH provides free brief advice for renters and landlords through the Early Resolution Program. When a settlement cannot be reached, eligible renters can also receive extensive services through the City of Chicago Right to Counsel Pilot Program, where LCBH serves as the lead agency. Online, LCBH's Rentervention chatbot provides renters with on-demand information about their rights and connects them with volunteer attorneys so they can take control of their current housing situation.
Learn more about our work and 2024 Impact here.