Inland Counties Legal Services is excited to announce Jen Okerlund, Director Counsel, International Trade at Target Corporation, as this year’s Volunteer of the Year – due to her efforts in helping ICLS launch our Gender Marker and Name Change Clinic and steadfast commitment to serving clients and communities in need.
Jen, who is based in Minnesota, first learned about ICLS’s interest in providing gender and name change services to the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) community at Lavender Law, a national LGBTQIA+ legal conference, in 2022. Despite her being halfway across the country, Jen immediately jumped into action, joining planning calls, mobilizing resources to support our efforts, and learning the intricacies of the gender and name change process in California.
In 2023, Jen co-counseled with ICLS to help our first client seeking updated identity documents. Since then, she has recruited, trained and managed a network of volunteers, and she continues to volunteer with ICLS today.
Because of Jen, ICLS’s LGBTQIA+ Program has grown exponentially, assisting over 50 clients since program launch—a milestone reached in July 2024.
Beyond helping our clients, Jen also provided a training to ICLS staff on our gender marker and name change services, providing culturally competent care, and what the process looks like for clients receiving help from Target volunteers.
Overall, Jen is a shining example of the difference one person can make. Her energy and positivity are contagious, and she has brought in new volunteers, supporters, and a higher level of excitement to our program. “Simply put, Jen is that special colleague every person hopes to meet, but rarely does,” shared ICLS Pro Bono Director, Matt Kugizaki. “Every time we connect, whether it’s an email on Friday afternoon, or a program planning call, we not only learn about all the behind-the-scenes work Jen is doing on behalf of ICLS, but we feel a sense of energy, inspiration to do more.”
We are honored to award Jen as our Volunteer of the Year.